Chitralekha

Who Chitralekha is

Chitralekha, daughter of Banasura's minister Kumbhanda, was the close friend of the princess Usha and a gifted painter with mystic powers. When Usha awoke longing for a prince she had seen only in a dream, Chitralekha painted the faces of gods, gandharvas and the princes of the earth one after another, until Usha blushed at the portrait of Aniruddha, grandson of Krishna. That same night Chitralekha flew through the sky to Dvaraka and carried the sleeping prince back to her friend.

“I will sketch every plan until I find the one that fits.”

How Chitralekha plays chess

Sketches out every possibility: tries plan after plan until she finds the one that fits.

The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.

Opening repertoire: English, Kramnik-Shirov (Main) · Réti, Anglo-Slav (Main) · Sicilian, Löwenthal (Main)

Defeat Chitralekha in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement Beyond the Portrait and open the way to the next guardian.

Sources

• Bhagavata Purana, Book 10, Chapter 62
• Harivamsha

Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.