Bangali Ragini (painting, recto; text, verso), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series

Bangali Ragini is commonly represented by an ascetic who sits in meditation within or beside a small shrine and holds prayer beads. In this painting, the young ascetic sits in a shrine holding his prayer beads in his right hand. Flanking the shrine’s large onion-shaped dome are two peacocks. In front of the shrine is a lotus-filled pond. This painting is a pictorial metaphor for a raga, a musical phrase that is used as the basis for improvisation. This folio most likely belonged to an album of Ragamala or "Garland of Ragas" folios produced in Malwa. Sanskrit verses associated with the raga or the ragini depicted on the recto are written on the verso. Other folios from the same series in the Harvard Art Museum’s collection are objects 1972.346, 1972.347, 1973.156, 1973.157, 1973.158, 1973.174. Rajput, Rajasthani, Malwa School.