Chaurapanschasika
Certain pictures bearing close resemblance to the Bilhana –Panchasika have been found and have been categorized under Chaurapanchasika series or the CPS Group. These paintings are:
- The 18 folios of Bilhana –Panchasika or Chaurapanchasika (discussed above)
- Ragamala miniature of Ragini, Nada Bhairavi
- Ragamala Series belonging to the Muni Vijayaendra
- Laur Chanda Series
- Bhagavata Purana dispersed in several collections
- Gita Govinda Series
- A miniature illustrating the Krishna legend
Some of the conspicuous characteristics of this style are that men are always shown with transparent chakdar jama, four pointed, with tightly fitting sleeves worn over pyjamas. Men appear in distinct types of coat made of fine muslin wearing the atpati turban. While the women have large oval eyes, sharp projecting noses, and pointed chins. They are narrow waisted typically wearing a skirt usually with a check or geometrical pattern. They wear a transparent odhni in fine muslin and starch and decorate themselves with necklaces and earrings. Their long hair is braided and decorated with white flowers. The black pompons adorn the wrists, the arms and the neck.
The trees are shown in stylized pattern and the architecture includes a semi circular dome. The interiors of the rooms are draped with curtains, pompons and tassels.
A strip of cloud cutting one corner is characteristic also a pool of water with fishes and lotuses surrounded by a brick wall.
There is a use of background colors like red, yellow, green, and black in paintings of the Chaurapanchasika group, which flourished in various cultural centers of India in North, Central, and Western India.
The Chaurapanchasika group tries to present the pictures in an expressive way by introducing certain attitudes, figures and background to convey the sense of the verse through gesture, symbol or mood. These miniatures are to be read as books. Each picture is in complete itself as a verse and is an integral part of Indian paintings.
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