Chitra Sutra 4

The text at various places airs its clear opinions on what it considers
auspicious (good) and bad pictures. For instance:
*.Sweetness, variety, spaciousness of the background (bhulamba) that

is proportionate to the position (sthana) of the figure, resemblance to
what is seen in nature and minute and delicate execution are the good
aspects of a chitra.
*.A painting drawn with care pleasing to the eye, thought out with great
intelligence and ingenuity and remarkable by its execution, beauty and
charm and refined taste and such other qualities yield great joy and
delight.
*.Chitrasutra mentions: proper position, proportion and spacing;

gracefulness and articulation; resemblances; increasing or decreasing
(foreshortening) as the eight good qualities of a painting.
*.A picture in which all aspects are drawn in acceptable forms in their
proper positions, in proper time is excellent.
*.A painting without proper positon, devoid of appropriate rasa, blank

look, hazy with darkness and devoid of life movements or energy
(chetana) is inauspicious.
*.Weakness or thickness of delineation, want of articulation, improper

juxtaposition of colors are said to be defects of painting.
*. In a picture one should carefully avoid placing one figure in front of
another.
*.A painter who does not know how to show the difference between a
sleeping and a dead man or who cannot portray the visual gradations of
a highland and a low land is no artist at all.
*. A picture shaded only in some parts and other parts remaining un-
shaded is bad (adhama)
*. Representation of human figures with too thick lips, too big eyes and
testicles and unrestrained movement are defects.
6.4. Chitrasutra cautions that an inconvenient painting stance or a bad

seat , thirst, restlessness, sloppiness and bad temper would spoil the
picture.
6.5. Chitrasutra also mentions six limbs (anga) of painting as: rupa-
bheda (variety of form); pramana (proportion); Bhava (infusion of
emotions); lavanya-yojanam (creation of luster and having rainbow
colors that appear to move and change as the angle at which they are
seen change); sadreya (portrayal of likeness); and varnika-bhanga (color
mixing and brushwork to produce the desired effect)
(i). Rupa-bheda consists in the knowledge of special characteristics of

things natural or manmade. Say, the differences in appearances
among many types of men , women or natural objects or other subject
matter of the painting.
(II). Pramana: correct spatial perception of the objects painted and

maintaining a sense of harmony, balance and a sense of proportion
within the figure and also in its relation to other figures; and to the
painting as a whole. The sense of proportion also extended to the way
major figures are depicted by placing at the centre and surrounding
them with lesser figures in smaller size symbolizing their status Vis a
Vis the main figure. The Indian artists were guided more by the
proportions than by absolute measurements. The proportions were
often symbolic and suggestive.
(iii). Bhava: consists in drawing out the inner world of the subject; to
help it express its inner feelings. It takes a combination of many factors
to articulate the Bhava of a painting; say , through eyes, facial
expression, stance , gestures by hands and limbs, surrounding nature,
animals , birds and other human figures. Even the rocks, water places
and plants (dead or dying or blooming or laden) are employed to bring
out the Bhava. In narrative paintings, the depiction of dramatic effects
and reactions of the characters from frame to frame demands special
skill.
Since color is a major medium in painting, the emotions and moods are
expressed through manipulating colors, their density, tones, lines, light,
shades etc. The ingenuity, imagination and skill of the artist discover
their limitations here..
(iv). Lavanya yojanam: Creation of grace, beauty, charm, tenderness
and illuminating the painting and the hearts of the viewer. It aims to
uplift and brighten the mood of the figures, the viewers and the
surroundings.
(v). Sadrushya: Achieving credible resemblance to objects of the world

around and to the persons. The resemblances are not mere general but
extend to details too. And ,

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The text at various places airs its clear opinions on what it considers

auspicious (good) and bad pictures. For instance:

*.Sweetness, variety, spaciousness of the background (bhulamba) that

*.Chitrasutra mentions: proper position, proportion and spacing;

*.A painting without proper positon, devoid of appropriate rasa, blank

*.Weakness or thickness of delineation, want of articulation, improper

6.4. Chitrasutra cautions that an inconvenient painting stance or a bad

(i). Rupa-bheda consists in the knowledge of special characteristics of

(II). Pramana: correct spatial perception of the objects painted and

(v). Sadrushya: Achieving credible resemblance to objects of the world

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