In the Mahabharata and the Harivamsa, it means 'picture, sktech, dilineation', and is presented as a genre of kala (arts). There, and other texts such as Vajasaneyi Samhita, Taittiriya Samhita, Satapatha Brahmana and Tandya Brahmana, Chitra means 'excellent, clear, bright, colored, anything brightly colored that strikes the eye, brilliantly ornamented, extraordinary that evokes wonder'. Nomenclature Ĭhitra (IAST: Citra, चित्र) is a Sanskrit word that appears in the Vedic texts such as hymns 1.71.1 and 6.65.2 of the Rigveda. The earliest mention of the term Chitra in the context of painting or picture is found in some of the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism and Pali texts of Buddhism. Historic genre of Indian art A reproduced portion of 5th-century chitra from Ajanta fresco, at Musee Guimet, ParisĬhitra or citra is an Indian genre of art that includes painting, sketch and any art form of delineation.
