The Mughals Brought Miniature Painting, An Offshoot Of Manuscript Painting, To India In The 14Th-15Th Centuries. It Took Deep Root In What Is Known Today As Rajasthani Painting. Its Implantation In Rajasthan Is Mainly Due To The Close Political And Social Contacts Between The Mughal Rulers Of North India And Feudal Rajput Princelings Who Flourished In Northwestern India Between The 15Th And 18Th Centuries. Many Rajput Rulers And Their Courtiers Were Highly Cultivated, And Their Courts Were Centers Where The Arts And Artists Received Unstinted Encouragement From Their Royal Patrons. This Was Particularly So Of Painting, And What Began As An Offshoot Of Mughal Painting Because In The Years Between The Inception Of Mughal Rule And The British Occupation Of India From The 18Th Century, There Was A Rich Flowering Of Many Schools And Styles Of Miniature Painting Which Have Found Avid Admirers Among Connoisseurs Of Art The World Over. Unfortunately, Although Rajasthani Paintings Are Treasured Art Collectors Items Much Sought After By Discerning Lovers Of Art Because Of Their Intrinsic Merit, Little Effort Has Been Expended To Delve Deep Into The Various Modes Of This Painting And Present An Overall Picture Of The Numerous Schools, Styles And Substyles Which Are The Priceless Heritage Today Not Only Of Rajasthan, Their Place Of Birth, But Also Of India As A Whole. Art Experts, Mainly Foreign Savants, Have Written Knowledgeable Accounts About Various Aspects Of Rajasthani Painting, But Nobody, It Is Worth Recording, Has Undertaken To Produce A Comprehensive Study In Depth Of This Vast Cultural Field. This Is Absolutely Essential As No Study Of Indian Civilization Is Complete Without It. The Present Study Does Not Claim To Fulfil This Requirement. That Would Need Much More Intensive, Detailed And Patient Research. But It Provides A Good Point Of Takeoff For Such A Study. In Splendour Of Rajasthani Painting, Assembled Obviously With Great Care And Deep Love Of The Subject, Dr. Jai Singh Neeraj Has Laid The Ground Work For Such A Project. He Has Succeeded In Conveying To The Art-Loving Reader The Fact That Rajasthani Art Is A Many-Splendoured Thing That Deserves Much More Attention Than It Has Received So Far.

'Geet Govinda' is a lyrical Sanskrit poem of the 12th century composed by Jaideva. It contains 12 cantos that have 24 eight stanzas of ashtapadis which deal with the love plays of the dark Lord Kirshna and his fair beloved Radha.

The Mughals - descendants of Timur and Genghiz Khan with strong cultural ties to the Persian world - seized political power in north India in 1526 and became the most important artistically active Muslim dynasty on the subcontinent. In this richly illustrated book, Dr Milo Beach shows how, between 1555 and 1630 in particular, Mughal patronage of the arts was incessant and radically innovative for the Indian context.

"The Himalayas are a source of inspiration and challenge to the researchers, intellectuals and adventurers. The lofty mountains with snow-clad peaks and lush green forests fascinate one and all. This work on the art and culture of people of the Himalayan region is fourth in sequence by the author. After Folk Art of Duggar; Ripples in the Himalayas; and Rajat Shikhron Ke Rupehle Swar, this work completes the first phase of studies of Himalayan culture. Earlier Kumaon, Garhwal, Kashmir and Ladakh Himalayas and their ranges were covered in detail. With the inclusion of Dhauladhar ranges and nearby surroundings of Kangra, Palampur, Baijnath, Mandi, Kullu, Manali, Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur and upper regions of Shimla in this book, it completes the studies of western Himalayas. The author has visited himself in most of these areas and collected the data so that first hand information can be provided to the readers. In a way it is a first endeavour in this field wherein the people and the land are discussed collectively for the first time. However, individual tribes of Himachal Pradesh do find their place in sociological studies done in the field, but we do not find a comparative study for which an objective effort has been made in this book for the benefit of readers and art historians alike. The book covers the art, architecture and cultural aspects of Himachal Pradesh. References have also been made to Basohli, Jammu, Manket, etc. as the Pahari art of minature paintings had its own legacy in these erstwhile kingdoms." -- Cover description.