Murlidhar
[Original handwriting, verso] "This musical instrument is called Murli. When Krishna brought the snake out of the Jamna river he played on this instrument and on that account he is also known as Murlidhar." [end]
Mythology
Radha-Vilas
[Original caption] A love scene between Radha and her consort Lord Krishna. [end]
Lord Krishna spent his earlier life in Vrindavan where the Gopis or cow-herd girls offered him company. Radha was considered the chief gopi.
Krishna's Great Dance
An unusual postcard featuring Krishna's sacred dance with the gopis. This card was sent to a Miss Bourn, 8 Union Lane, High Street, Strafford, London E 15 from Sergeant Bourn, Rangoon, Burma:
"Dear May Just a line hoping all are well, sorry I have no
Mohini
[Original caption] The Goddess of beauty sitting on a swing [end]
This image by Ravi Varma was one of his most successful in calendar art. Shown here she is perfect and ordinary, ideal yet accessible.
Kirat & Bhilli
[Original caption] Kirata Bhilli:– God Shankar dressed as a hunter and Goddess Parvati as huntress. [end]
Sita-Vanvas
[Original caption] Sita Vanawasa :– Sita, when captured by Ravan, the king of Lanka, was carried and kept in a forest named "Ashok-van" by him, and he ordered demons to watch her. This picture represents that Sita sat thinking under a tree. [end]
Haunsa-Damayanti Sanvada
[Original caption, verso] Haunsa Damayanti Sanvada:–The bird Haunsa gave and extols to Damayanti all about Nala, when she is in a garden. [end]
Shakuntala Patra-Lekhana
[Original caption] Shakuntala writing a love letter. Shakuntala while she was dwelling in a forest, near the river. Malini writes a letter on a lotus leaf to Deshyanta feeling doubtful if he loved her. [end]
From one of the best known paintings by
Tatawadha
[Original caption] Jatayu-Vadha: - Ravana, while carrying away Sita, is being attacked by the bird Jatayu, with whom he fights. [end]
Jatayu, the holy bird, lived in Panchavati close to the hut of Rama.
Birth of Shakuntala
Vishvamitra was a revered sage in ancient India; this postcard from one of Ravi Varma's most famous paintings shows how he rejects knowledge of his child by turning away and hiding his gaze with a dramatic gesture.
[Original caption] Menaka sent by
