INDIA, MUGHAL PERIOD, CIRCA 1750

A folio from a Ragamala, the garland of ragas, illustrates the various musical modes. The Todi Ragini is believe to represent Todi, a song sung by village girls while guarding the ripe fields against deer. The melody is said to captivate the deer and keep them from feeding. Shown here as a lone woman, singing a tune with a deer by her side. For a similar example from the same period see K. Ebling, Ragamala Painting, 1973, p.60, cat. no. C18.