Sindhu (Saindhava) Ragaputra of Shri Raga, from a Ragamala, Northern India, Pahari kingdoms, c. 1680–90. Cleveland Museum of Art (ID: 2018.90) The hero launches into the saddle with vigor, as he embarks on a journey to meet his lover. He has tucked one end of his coat into his sash, so it will not be in the way. The horse’s mouth opens in a whinny, aligning with a poem that forms the basis of this image.
Once part of a large series in the Mandi royal library, it is now widely dispersed. The name refers to the coastal region of Sindh in present-day Pakistan. The scene evokes the music of Sindh, which is well known for expressing emotional anguish of separation. (Cleveland Museum of Art)
Ragamala paintings are a tradition of Indian miniature art that emerged in Rajasthan and flourished across regional schools from the 16th century onward. Based on the “Garland of Ragas,” they visually interpret Indian musical modes by combining painting, poetry, and classical music. Each raga is personified through specific colours, moods, seasonal and daily associations, romantic themes, and links to Hindu deities such as Shiva or Devi. The paintings also depict the ragas’ symbolic families, including wives and children. The six principal ragas—Bhairava, Deepak, Sri, Malkaunsa, Megha, and Hindola—were traditionally associated with the six seasons of the year.
