Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c76.167

v2.c76.167

It must also be noted in this connection that none of the other works dealing with the types of pictures, speak of these four kinds mentioned in the *Vi. Dh.* The *Abhilaṣitārthacintāmaṇi* gives five varities of picture: विद्ध, अविद्ध, भावचित्र, रसचित्र, and धूलीचित्र. Of these the Bhāva Citra’ stands by itself and is of the greatest importance. It has been explained above that ‘Bhāva Citra’ is the picture depicting emotion. The ‘Rasa Citra’ and ‘Dhūlī Citra’ go together. The ‘Dhūlī Citra’ is the Tamil ‘Kolam,’ done with white flour on the floor and in front of our houses. In the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, Tamil girls vie with each other in the villages to draw the biggest and the most intricate ‘Kolams’ in front of their houses and then decorate these ‘Kolams’ at various points with pumpkin flowers. On more festive occasions, in the houses, temples and Tambalams (i.e. brass plates used in our houses) for Nīrājana, these ‘Kolams’ are done with various coloured powders. These Citras are naturally short-lived. So it is that Śrī Kumāra calls them ‘Kṣaṇika’. Since these are drawn more especially on floor, Nārada calls this variety of Citra as ‘Bhauma’ i.e. ‘of the floor.’ Śrī Kumāra describes them thus (cf. cit. laks. p. 7)