ANTIQUE PALM LEAF MANUSCRIPT Radha Krishna INDIA

Rare illustrated palm leaf Manuscript

Item: Radha Krishna Manuscript, chitra-pothi (illustrated palm-leaf manuscript)

Content: Lord Krishna is the eighth and the most popular incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Radha, in Hinduism, the gopi (milkmaid) who became the beloved of the god Krishna during that period of his life when he lived among the gopas (cowherds) of Vrindavan. Radha was the dearest of Krishna’s consorts and his constant companion. In the bhakti (devotional) movement of Vaishnavism, the female, Radha, is interpreted as symbolizing the human soul and Krishna, as symbolizing God.

Origin: India

Date: 19th century

Material: Palm leaves

Dimensions: opened - 39 x 32 cm

Pages: 12 leaves

Design: Chitra-pothi depicting Radha, Krishna and ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. These avatars are - Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vaman, Parsurama, Rama, Buddha, Krishna, Kalki. The images and text are hand etched with indigenous tools known as lekhani. It is not an easy task. Much of patience and perfection needed. Theses illustrations became an art form itself. A single painting takes around 8 weeks to 15 weeks time depending on details of painting