Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c78.s2.58

v2.c78.s2.58

Process of the types of pictures like those painted on cloth or on board slightly differs as per the dictum of Śilparatna : and so the portraits generally were drawn on what Bāṇa calls citra-phalakas (18) Kadambari (19) refers to so many other types of pictorial decorations, the elaborate drawing of the floor, drawing designs of creepers and flowers (vide also H C 20), etc., etc. as mainly accomplished by housewives. Clever artistic work on pots and plates, picture decorations drawn by women muslins and silks, flowery drawings of human figures on the canopy and curtains reflected on the glossy cheeks of Queen Yaśovat asleep on her Royal couch are also borne out by the abundant refrences in Bāna’s works. Miniature drawings on human frame was a favourite pastime in India. Women used to adorn their faces and breasts with lovely drawings of undulating creepers and quaint dragons in which the curvature of the line and the colour of the form were marvellously exquisite-Śivarāmamūrti. Accordingly this is brone out in many of the references in Kā. (21) ‘In his sports, King Tārāpīḍa’s white upper garment gets a print of the dark foliage painted on the breasts of the ladies of his harem with Krṣṇāguru paste. The King questions his queen, on another occasion, why she did not adorn her breasts with drawings of creepers. The wonderous person that comes from the moon to take away the lifeless body of Puṇḍarīka has his shoulders marked with crimson of the creepers painted on his beloved’s breasts. Thus there are two materials for painting on the body Kuṅkuma and Krṣṇāguru to which a third Kastūri which is to be mentioned presently is to be added. Generally sandal-