Ragamala or the 'Garland of Ragas' is the visual depiction of musical modes. Each raga belongs to a family: Bhairav, dedicated to Shiva ; Malkos, Hindol, Megh, Deepak and Sri. Each raga's essence is captured and symbolised by a hero or heroine, a colour or a scene, and thus a mood. Consequently they specify a particular time of year or of day the musical mode must be played and the deity they are dedicated to: for example Gauri Ragini, a Sri raga, is an evening mode assigned to autumn, and its mood is contemplative.

Dhanasiri raga calls for the heroine to draw the portrait of an absent and longed for lover. The heroine of our raga seems to be drawing the portrait of the female servant climbing the stairs of the terrace her hands joined in a respectful manner. Perhaps, our painting shows a local interpretation of Dhanasiri raga. Another interpretation of the same raga, also attributed to the Deccan, shows a lady holding a baby with two attendants attending the scene (Klaus Ebeling, Ragamala Painting, Basel, Paris and New Delhi, 1973, no. 88, p. 199).

For another painting of the same album and series of this Ragamala, please see lots 8,10 and 11