"Among ancient love stories of India, that of Usa-Aniruddha has a pride of place. Being a part of various Puranas such as the Harivamsa, Bhagavata and Visnu Puranas it acquires a sacrality and legitimacy. We are privy to the interaction of all the three gods, namely Visnu, Siva and Brahma. The highlight of the story is the romantic involvement of Krsna's grandson Aniruddha and Banasura's daughter Usa. Between scenes of a pitched battle between Banasura and Krsna, where a mighty demon and his army battle with Krsna, Balarama and Pradyumna and interspersed with long conversations with Garuda, the narrative takes us to tender scenes of romance as well as a bird's-eye view of Sonitpur and Dvaraka. The Puranic narrative is brought alive by the graceful Pahari kalam of Ranjha, son of Nainsukh, who renders the story with finesse and precision and creates lyrical romantic scenes and gory battles with equal ease. The book brings together for the first time the entire series from the Bhuri Singh Museum of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh but also features folios from other museums and private collections as well as a critical look at the painter and the patron of this series. The book is a visual treat."
                                                                                                                                 [from Blurb]

Contents

1. Myth, History and Legend

2. The Patron and the Painter

3. The Love Story of Usa-Aniruddha

4. The Chamba Usa-Aniruddha Series

5. Paintings from Other Series

6. The Harivamsa Text in Sanskrit

"Harsha V. Dehejia has a double doctorate, one in medicine and the other in Ancient Indian Culture, both from Mumbai University. He is a practising Physician and Professor of Indian Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, ON., Canada. His main interest is in Indian Aestheties.

Vijay Sharma is an award-winning Pahari miniaturist and works as artist in the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. He has studied major collections of Indian paintings across the world. Vijay Sharma has held several exhibitions and lecture-demonstrations in the leading museums and institutions in India and abroad. He has written several articles on Pahari miniature painting. He paints in various styles of Indian painting, chiefly Basohli and Kangra Schools of Pahari painting."
                                                                                                                 [from Blurb]