Rasamanjari

Rasamanjari was one of the most inspiring texts of ancient India that prompted various schools of Indian painting. For example, in the Basohli miniature paintings and supur schools, the complete text of Rasamanjari has been illustrated with 80 paintings. Rasamanjari literally refers to the cluster of blossoms full of Rasas. In Indian mythology there are 9 Rasas or sentiments on which the art is based. These Rasas are Sringara, Vira, Karuna, Adbhuta, Hasya, Bhayanaka, Bibhatsa, Raudra and Shanti. Bhanudatta of Mithila composed Rasamanjari in the 16th century. This Sanskrit work classifies Nayaks (heros) and Nayikas (heroines) according to their temperament and behavior. Due to its delicate and vivid delineation of the persons of these nayikas and nayaks, Rasamanjari has drawn the attention of the artists and painters all over India with the result that today we have illustrations of Rasamanjari in a number of schools of painting. Rasamanjari highlights the Sringara Rasa, also called as the Rasaraja or the supreme of all the Rasas.

The Sringara Rasa deals with the sensational and sensuous mysteries of love, lovers and beloved. The text of Rasamanjari speaks about the Nayak and Nayikas thirst of love, physical dissatisfaction , curiosity for relationships outside marriage, lack of complementing each other in physical and emotional matter and the ecstasy of love with the unison of purush and prakriti - the male element with the creative nature.

The profoundness of the theme discussing the various aspects of love shows that author must have closely observed and experienced the subject. The beauty of the text-attracted attention of the rulers and the artists all over India hence illustrations based on Rasamanjari were executed in different schools of Indian painting.