Detail from a folio of the Rasikapriyā of Keshavdas. Ca. 1610. Metropolitan Museum of Art, No. 18.85.5b.

Text:

केशवदास : रसिकप्रिया, १.२२-२३.

In this session we will look at examples of love poetry by the poet Keshavdas that cast Krishna and Radha in the roles of nāyak and nāyikā.

We will also dip our toes into the pool of paleography, meaning in this case the reading of pre-colonial manuscripts. Our case study will be an illustrated copy of the Rasikapriyā of Keshavdas copied circa 1610 (Acc.#18.85.5b), and held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York:

Rasikapriyā (1591) of Keshavdas, copied circa 1610. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number 18.85.5b.