The Mythological paintings of Himachal Pradesh

Originating in Himachal Pradesh, Kangra paintings portray the six seasons, Krishna-Radha, Siva-Parvati, and the love union. The main centres of this art form are Nurpur, Bilaspur, Guler, and Kangra. This school of painting began after the fall of the Basohli painting style in the mid-18th century. Many royals and aristocrats patronised the art form, especially Maharaja Sansar Chand. Due to this, the Kangra painting spread to other regions of India like Kullu, Arki, and Suket. These paintings are known for their simple forms of expression.

Kangra Painting, Source : Google

History witnesses the growth of various forms of art and though the artists perish away, the art remains to inspire and unify generations. Kangra school of painting of Himachal are simplest yet most beautiful work of art that originated in the middle of the 18th century. The recurring theme of the paintings is the love story of Radha-Krishna. The bhakti movement propelled the artists to paint, taking inspiration from Jayadeva’s romantic poems. The Kangra artists captured the spiritual and devotional expression of love of Radha and Krisha, Siva, and Parvati in gentle brush strokes.

In the mid of 18th century, a huge group of artists was migrating from the refuge due to the Northern invasions of Nadir Shah. Govardhan Chand, the king of a small hilly town of Guler near Himachal Pradesh, offered asylum to the refugee artists trained in the Mughal style of painting. A man of refined taste, he encouraged the inter-mixing of the refugee artists and painters of Guler. Thus in the inspiring ambience of the Himalayas with lush green fields, the artists experimented together and soon started painting the love stories of Radha and Krishna. Hence, the Kangra painting blossomed. Inspired by the Bhakti movement, and the romantic poems of Keshav Das and Jayadeva, the painters started painting divine love stories, infusing bhakti mysticism. Govardhan’s successors followed in his footsteps and continued to patronise the artists. The art form became hugely prevalent but only reached its pinnacle under King Sansar Chand, who was an art enthusiast and devotee of Lord Krishna. During his rule, Jaydeva’s Sanskrit love poems, “Gita Govinda” and “Bhagawat Purana”, and Keshav Das’s “Raskapriya” and “Kavipriya” were translated into exquisite paintings. He used to pay the painters handsomely to depict the myths of Lord Krishna. From this time onwards, Kangra became an alluring art form in India.

The Kangra artists used a unique technique to achieve the bright colours and minute details in the paintings. They used very fine brushes made up of squirrel hairs. The paintings focussed hugely on nature and included natural elements like trees, flowering plants, and rivers in numerous shades in the artworks. They are known for their fresh huge, refined line work, and meticulousness. The colours that are used are created from natural substances like vegetable extracts.

The Kangra paintings reflect simplicity, and celebration of life and nature. Hundreds of years later, the beautiful paintings continue to inspire us with their subtle features and forms of expression. In today's times, due to modernization and industrialization, these paintings are declining in practice. There are almost no traditional Kangra painters left. However, art enthusiasts, art galleries, and museums are trying their very best to revive this dying art form. The world deserves to witness the subtle beauty of the portrayal of the love stories of Radha and Krishna in the Kangra style of painting.