The misty eyed day-dreaming Manjishtha Gopi here appears to be hugging a golden peacock. Experts say that Radha and Krishna are the real reservoirs of Manjishtha Raaga. In the heights of her excruciating ecstasies of separation from Beloved, Radha sometimes embraced a dark Tamaal tree mistaking it for the dark beautiful Krishna. Great sages consider such ecstatic delusions to be the most relishable state of affairs between Love and Beloved. Such highly exalted state of attachment is called Prema Vivarta state by authorities on Rasa Theory.

Exotic red madder and bright gold leaf in this painting are a potently powerful combination. Yet it doesn’t distract us from the other frugal detail. The green bangles, the dark blouse, the ruby-red ear-studs. She is sporting a peacock feather in her crest. She appears nearly oblivious of the peacock she is hugging. Her face radiates divine bliss.

This is a rare Rasa Masterpiece, a timeless icon. It makes you forget all about Mumbiram and everybody else.