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In the Indian subcontinent, several paintings from the Mughal era c.1800 depict stories of heroines. Mantra is inspired by one called “Abhisarika Nayika”—a woman who goes to meet her lover in secret. A storm is gathering; there are snakes in the woman’s path; her anklet has fallen off, but she is undaunted. She is under the spell of love and braves hurdles to meet her lover in secret.
Mantra, in Sanskrit, means “a spell.”
Artwork courtesy Detroit Institute of Art Woman Traveling at Night to Meet Her Lover (Abhisarika Nayika) late 19th - mid 20th century Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper CC0 Public Domain
