Kausa Ragaputra of Malkos, from a Ragamala

A courtly couple holding tame hunting birds projects a mood of romance and a connection with nature. The Pahari region of the northwest Himalayas was famous for its native hunting birds that were prized among the nobility throughout South Asia. <br><br>Kausa Ragaputra is also the name of a mode, or key, in classical Indian music. Improvised pieces of music played in this mode accord with the imagery. This painting is part of a set showing scenes associated with how a listener feels when hearing corresponding musical performances. The whole set is called a Ragamala, or “garland of melodies.”