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Kedara Raagini

wife of Shree

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Kedara Raagini · c. 1650 · Central Mughal South Asia, Rajasthan, Malwa school, 17th century · Ink and color on paper · image: 18.7 x 14.8 cm (7 3/8 x 5 13/16 in.); overall: 20.8 x 16.4 cm (8 3/16 x 6 7/16 in.); with mat: 35.5 x 25.4 cm (14 x 10 in.) · The Cleveland Museum of Art · clevelandart.org →

From the treatises

Ever hearkening to the calling of the deer, she sees that the moon is weary — dawn is at hand: love sickness is killing Kedara; she looks to the dawn for comfort.

tr. A. K. Coomaraswamy, Catalogue of the Indian Collections in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston — Part V: Rajput Painting (1926) · Public domain

Hear Raag Kedara — 6 renditionsSee all →

5:46Dhun in Raag KedaraFolk · 2014Sultan Muhammad Chanae

20:54Raag KedaraKhayal · 1966Roshan Ara Begum

4:58Raag Kedara Khayal · 2023Tahir Qawwal

8:05Raag KedaraKhayal · 2001Ustad Rustam Fateh Ali Khan

5:43Raag KedaraKhayal · 2011Pandit Milind Chittal

13:50Raag KedaraKhayal · 2024Ustad Younas Iqbal

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About Raag Kedara

Kalyan ThaatVadi MadhamSamvadi Kharaj18:00-20:59WinterDevotion

Raag Kedara is an ancient raag placed on a high pedestal in classical music. Simple and melodious, the tune is said to represent the fluttering of a flag held by a great warrior. It is said to possess magical properties that can heal the sick. The raag is highly significant in the Sikh tradition of Gurumat Sangeet and is part of the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib.

On this folio — Kedara Raagini · c. 1650 · The Cleveland Museum of Art

Inscription — On reverse is seal of Datia state and seven-line inscription: "The heroine Kedara, longing for her lover, has assumed the character of a yogi and waits intently for his return. She has smeared ash all over her body, which is reduced to a skeleton. Absorbed in love, she sings her lord's praise. In this yogic garb, her body is terrifying and looks like a male body. She sees that night seems to be prolonged and anticipates dawn eagerly. Lovesickness is killing Kedara."1 (This translation is paraphrased from V. Dwivedi, 1968, p. 27; in his article, Dwivedi gives a longer translation in addition to contextual information.)

On this folio — Kedara Raagini · c. 1660–1670 · The Cleveland Museum of Art

Inscription — Labeled on reverse: "Kedara"; numbered on obverse: "35"

From the journal