Rasikapriya (Ritikavya of Keshavdas in Ateliers of Love)

Rasikapriya is a Lakshan granth, a foundational text, of ritikavya or mannered poetry, and Keshavadas in the father of ritikal. It was the early seventeenth century, and in the court of Raja Indrajit of Orchha in Bundelkhand, Keshavdas, the court-poet, would recite short romantic verses and the gathered connoisseurs of poets, musicians and dancers would respond, and the atelier would resonate with the many textures and hues of shrinagara. This was the beginning of Rasikapriya, a text that is still central in the celebration of love. Keshavdas was a poet’s poet and he created a monumental text that remains the gold standard of ritikavya even today. And if that was not enough Rasikapriya inspired artists to create paintings illustrating its many dohas and savaiyas even in the lifetime of the poet.

Artists in the atelies of Malwa, Mewar, Bikaner, Bundi and kangra, among other, were touched by the evocative poetry of Rasikapriya and created paintings that were visual poetry. The names of Sahibdin of Mewar, Ruknuddin of Bikaner and Purkhu of Kangra stand out as artists that brought Rasikapriya to life through their mellifluous kalams.

Rasikapriya remains one of the most profusely illustrated texts in India and finds a place in collections of museums and individuals alike all over the world. This book brings together, for the first time, the translation of the entire text in English along with more than 400 paintings collected from a variety of sources. In its pages are whispers of Krishna and Radha and the hushed voices of the sakhis as they celebrate romantic moments of longing and belonging in the regal splendor of pranaya mandap of havelis or verdant and idyllic groves. And as readers of this book recreate the music and the splendor of this text they cannot remain untouched by the senuality and spirituality of shringara rasa and affirm that in celebrating the loves of Krishna one is never far from bhakti.

Harsha V. Dehejia has a double doctorate, one in medicine and other in ancient Indian culture, both from Mumbai University. He is also a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Glasgow and Canada all by examination. He is a practicing physician and Professor of Indian Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. His main interest is in Indian aesthetics. He has curated many exhibitions and made a decumentary film, Ateliers of Love, 500 year of Krishna Painting.