Eight Lines of Musical Poetry of the Jajner Nauras (Rag Bhairav) of Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur (verso)

late 1600s

Maker Unknown

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Eight Lines of Musical Poetry of the Jajner Nauras (Rag Bhairav) of Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur (verso), late 1600s. Southwestern India, Karnataka, Bijapur, 17th century. Ink on marbled paper; page: 30.4 x 18.5 cm (11 15/16 x 7 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.330.b

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Maker Unknown
Classification: Calligraphy
Formatted Medium: Ink on marbled paper
Medium: ink, marbled, paper
Dimensions: Page: 30.4 x 18.5 cm (11 15/16 x 7 5/16 in.)
Inscribed: Translation: “Bhairav has a camphor-like fair complexion/ with the crescent moon on his forehead and three/ eyes and with a crown of matted locks over/ which the Ganges sparkles. In one hand he/ has a human skull, and in the other a trident. His/ vehicle is a bull, and his body is white [besmeared/ with ashes]. He has the skin of an elephant and of/ a lion on his back and wears snakes as ornaments; he / sits under the shade of the heavenly/ wish-fulfilling tree [kalpavriksha]. A white beautiful/ woman is playing upon a drum [mridanga] at a place/ beyond Mount Kailash. These, says Ibrahim,/ are the features of the most charming and excellent/ Raga Bhairava.” Remark: Dohra (Song) 5, from a Kitab-i Nauras (Book of Nine Essences) of Sultan Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur (r. 1580–1627)