Kedara Ragini

c. 1650

Maker Unknown

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Kedara Ragini, c. 1650. Central India, Rajasthan, Malwa school, 17th century. Ink and color on paper; image: 18.7 x 14.8 cm (7 3/8 x 5 13/16 in.); overall: 20.8 x 16.4 cm (8 3/16 x 6 7/16 in.); with mat: 35.5 x 25.4 cm (14 x 10 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1964.452

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Maker Unknown
Classification: Painting
Formatted Medium: ink and color on paper
Medium: ink, color, paper
Dimensions: Image: 18.7 x 14.8 cm (7 3/8 x 5 13/16 in.); Overall: 20.8 x 16.4 cm (8 3/16 x 6 7/16 in.); with mat: 35.5 x 25.4 cm (14 x 10 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: On reverse is seal of Datia state and seven-line inscription: "The heroine Kedara, longing for her lover, has assumed the character of a yogi and waits intently for his return. She has smeared ash all over her body, which is reduced to a skeleton. Absorbed in love, she sings her lord's praise. In this yogic garb, her body is terrifying and looks like a male body. She sees that night seems to be prolonged and anticipates dawn eagerly. Lovesickness is killing Kedara."1 (This translation is paraphrased from V. Dwivedi, 1968, p. 27; in his article, Dwivedi gives a longer translation in addition to contextual information.)