An illustration to a Ragamala series: Devagandhari Ragini or Malkos Raga, attributable to the Guler artist Harkhu at Chamba, Pahari region, 1800-1820, opaque pigments and gold on paper, in blue floral borders, pink margins, identified on reverse in...

An illustration to a Ragamala series: Devagandhari Ragini or Malkos Raga, attributable to the Guler artist Harkhu at Chamba, Pahari region, 1800-1820, opaque pigments and gold on paper, in blue floral borders, pink margins, identified on reverse in Gurmukhi with old collector's label "Rajput", painting 19 x 14.4cm.; folio 25.5 x 18.8cm. Inscription: devagandhari malakosi (Gurmukhi) Provenance: Private London collection formed in the 1970s This charming scene depicts a devotee arriving at a sacred space dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. The lingham sits on a white yoni within a garland of flowers. A dhatura flower has been placed on the lingham and above a kalasha or offering vessel sits on a stand for pouring sacred oil or milk on the lingham. The lingham itself has been decorated with three parallel lines or tripundra. The iconography present is traditionally associated with Bhairavi Ragini in most ragamala systems. However the Gurmukhi inscription indicates this is Devagandhari Malkos. Whilst some ragamalas attribute Devagandhari to Hindol she appears inn the Pahari tradition under malkos (for an example see a painting in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston inv.no.17.3116). She is usually depicted as a wife longing for her husband, however Ebeling suggests that ragini follows in the Sikh ragamala tradition (K. Ebeling, Ragamala Painting, Basel, 1973, p. 68). A painting with near identical composition is in the National Museum, Delhi and attributed to late 18th century Kangra.
Very good overall