Page from the "Prince of Wales" Chandayan: Biraspat Decribes the Beautiful Lorik to Chanda (Primary Title)
Page from the "Prince of Wales" Chandayan: Biraspat Decribes the Beautiful Lorak to Canda (Former Title)
Unknown (Artist)
This page comes from a well-known manuscript of the Chandayan, most of which is in the Prince of Wales (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) Museum in Mumbai (Bombay). Composed in 1379 and dedicated to the Delhi sultan’s chief minister, the Chandayan tells of the romance between the hero, Lorik, and his lover, Chanda, daughter of the ruler of Govar. This particular manuscript was probably produced at one of North India’s Muslim courts in the early- to mid-16th century. Its sophisticated paintings share attributes of the Chaurapanchashika and Indo-Persian styles.
The painting illustrates the moments just before Chanda falls madly in love with Lorik upon seeing him in a grand procession celebrating her father’s victory over the king of Rajpur. In the upper story of her house, Chanda, seated on a cushion, questions her maid Biraspat about Lorik. The lower scene depicts the verses in which Biraspat describes Lorik’s beauty to her. In the arched bay on the left, a serving girl peeks out a half-open door at the procession, while, in the center, Biraspat turns toward Chanda, describing what she has seen through the door.
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