Geet Govinda: Paintings in Kanheri Style

Geet Govinda - a superb lyrical Sanskrit poem of the 12th century composed by Jaideva - has stirred the minds of the readers, artists, dancers and musicians to such frenzy that they themselves become the geet or song while reading, dancing, painting, acting or playing on their instruments. It manifested in almost all the disciplines of Indian fine arts. Geet Govinda contains twelve cantos that have twenty-four eight-stanza songs or ashtapadis which deal with the love plays of the Dark Lord Krishna and his fair beloved Radha. The Indian artists painted these verses through their brushes in almost all the pioneer styles of Indian miniature painting between the 16th to 18th century including the styles that flourished in the remote areas of India. In Khandesh (Maharashtra), Geet Govinda was painted in 1765 in a new style - Kanheri. This is a fine blending of folk and royal styles. The colours are indigenous and the lines are delicate. We find Krishna and Radha wearing Khandeshi clothes and ornaments. This discovery has added a new chapter to the history of Indian art.