A Mewar Maru Ragini inscription reads, “… samvat 1685 … Rana Shri Jagat Singh … likhitam chitara Sahivdin …” Which word in this inscription refers to the painter?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Chitara
Option (1) Rana — Incorrect. It is part of the patron’s title, Rana Shri Jagat Singh, not a word for the painter.
Option (2) Likhitam — Incorrect. It names the act of painting, translated as ‘written’.
Option (3) Samvat — Incorrect. It marks the date: samvat 1685 is 1628 CE.
Option (4) Chitara — Correct. Sahibdin is called chitara, meaning ‘someone who paints’.
NCERT (2026-27): “Maru Ragini A particular set of Ragamala paintings from Mewar is, especially, important as one of its paintings bears crucial documentary evidence regarding its artist, patron, place and date of painting. …Samvat 1685 is 1628 CE and Sahibdin is referred to as chitara, meaning ‘someone who paints’, and the act of painting is termed as likhitam, translated as ‘written’ since the goal of the artist was to produce a painterly equivalent to the written verse inscribed on the painting.” |