An amazing Kalamkari painting paints the Lord of Universe, the Protector on the Universe, Lord Vishnu taking rest on Shesh-Naag even as other gods are taking a bow to the Lord. The abundance in the use of colours and the characters that emerge on cotton fabric, help create a spectacular spread in a Kalamkari painting. Kalamkari art is unique in its use of colour as a medium to portray mythological characters. As the name suggests, Kalamkari is the art of painting cotton fabrics with a kalam i.e. pen, a sharp pointed pierced bamboo that regulates flow of colour on the fabric. The popularity of this exquisite form of art crossed the shores of the country during the 17th and 18th centuries. Kalahasti and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the nerve centres of this art continue to be beehives of Kalamkari activity. Kalamkari colours are made from vegetable dyes.
The attractive Kalamkari painting depicts a herd of joyful elephants in a most attractive yet simple way. Elephant is the symbol of gravity and here the painter depicts how our life can be simple yet full of joy. In Kalamkari painting, natural colours are used in abundance and animal motifs are also prominent.
The leisure time of the couple has been painted by the Batik artist using vibrant colour patterns and strong lines. The lines used here are quite sharp and this gives a beautiful effect to the painting. Applying the wax resist and systematic cracking are the key to a beautiful art piece. The characteristic batik effect is created by cracking of wax on the lighter hues and seeping in of the darker colors though them. Once the wax is removed it leaves behind an impression of beauty.
The beautiful brass figure shows Nrasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, killing Hiranyakashipu on His lap. Narasimha (‘man-lion’) is described as an incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu within the Puranic texts of Hinduism who takes the form of half-man / half-lion He has a human torso and lower body, but with a lion-like face and claws. He is worshipped in deity form by a significant number of Vaishnava groups throughout India (especially in the South) and is primarily known as the 'Great Protector', being a form of Vishnu who specifically defends and protects his devotees in times of need. According to Puranic traditions, in his previous avatar of (Varaha), Vishnu killed a rakshasa known as Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha's brother Hiranyakashipu, greatly angered by this, started to abhor Lord Vishnu and His followers. After years of great austerity and penance, he could please Brahma and the latter offers him a special boon. The boon was that neither man, nor beast nor weapon could kill him; nor would he die indoors or outdoors. Endowed with this boon, he assumed total invincibility and conquered the earth and the nether worlds. Intoxicated by his victory, he declared himself as the lord of the universe, and directed his subjects to worship none other than himself. The only one of his subjects to defy his orders was his own son Prahlada, a staunch devotee of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried his level best to convince Prahlad, and then to kill him indirectly. However, none worked. Finally he challenged him to show him Narayana, whom he worshipped so fervently. Prahlada insisted that Vishnu was omnipresent and that there was no need to show him. An enraged Hiranyakashipu broke open a pillar in front of him, to disprove his son's assertion, and out of this pillar sprang out Narasimha, the man-lion form of Vishnu, who killed him on his doorstep, placing him on his lap.
The beautiful Kalamkari painting depicts the Lord Shiva, one of the Trinity Gods in Hinduis, and His consort Parvati in a most appealing manner. Lord Shiva is responsible for the destruction of the evil forces on Earth thereby paving the way for regenation of the new order. Shiva and Parvati are considered most ideal couple by the Hindus and Hindus worship them with great honour and respect.
The beautiful velvet painting of Lord Hanuman, the great devotee of Ram, is given a refine and embellished treatment. He is shown singing the glory of Lord Ram. The resplendent effect of the painting on velvet is manifest with sparkling treatment of the devotee. Hanuman played a crucial role in rescuing Sita, the wife of Lord Ram from the clutches of Ravan.
The beautiful Kalamkari painting depicts the Lord Shiva in His tandava mode of dancing. The dance performed by Lord Shiva is known as Tandava. It is a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. Tandava depicts his violent nature as the destroyer of the universe.Characteristics of the Tandava Dance have been described in the fourth chapter of Bharat Muni’s Nata Shastra, which is referred to as fifth Veda and an ex-pression of Lord Shiva’s eternal dance - Tandava. It says that Shiva’s Tandava is embellished with 108 karanas and the 32 anghaharas - the composite parts of the dance. Bharat Muni further says that Lord Shiva conceived the dance, as he was very much fond of dancing every evening. Shiva further mentioned that 108 karnas included in tandava could be employed in the course of dance, fight, and personal combats and in other special movements like strolling. Shiva’s tandava dance symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy - creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion.
In this beautiful Kalamkari painting Lord Shiva is being shown going in His marriage procession along with other gods and goddesses. Parvati was a pious girl. One day, a sage came to her house and told her that one day she would marry an ascetic whose body would be covered with ash. The prophecy came true. Here, the artist depicts the marriage procession of Shiva & Parvati. The couple are painted beautifully seated on the bull Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. They proceed towards Kailash, the adobe of Shiva. The ganas are playing the musical instruments and are lost in the revelry of the celebrations. A deep sense of exhilaration is manifest on their faces. Lord Vishnu, the God of preservation and Lord Brahma, the god of creation are also painted. Lord Shiva and Parvati are considered the most ideal couple by the Hindus and are revered in high esteem.
The wooden panel of Lord Shiva protecting Markandeya from the clutches of Yama is given a vivid depiction. Markandeya is an ancient rishi (sage), who was a devotee of both Shiva and Vishnu. The beautiful wooden panel depicts the battle between Lord Shiva and Yamraj. It shows the Yamraj springing his noose around the young sage's neck
There is an interesting story about how Lord Shiva protected Markandeya from the clutches of Yamraj. Mrikandu Munivar and his wife Marudmati worshipped Shiva and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. As a result he was given the choice of either a gifted son, but with a short life on earth or a child of low intelligence but with a long life. Mrikandu Munivar chose the former, and was blessed with Markandeya, an exemplary son, destined to die at the age of 16.
Markandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva and on the day of his destined death he continued his worship of Shiva in his form of Shivalingam. The messengers of Yama, the God of Death were unable to take away his life because of his great devotion and continual worship of Shiva. Yama then came himself in person to take Markandeya's life away and sprung his noose around the young sage's neck. By accident of fate the noose mistakenly landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of death, Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live forever. For this act, Shiva was thereafter known also as Kaalakalaya, meaning one who brought death, to death himself.
The beautiful velvet painting depicts the beauty of flowers at night with some spectacular designs. The darkness also has its own charm and the painting only reinforces that. A very popular genre of painting style, velvet painting uses velvet for its typically silky and soft-to-touch look and preferably used as the base for unique and decorative paintings. Painted completely by hand, velvet painting is a shining example of the ascetic splendour of Indian art. Bold, bright and vivid colors are used to add to the richness of the velvet paintings.
The spectacular velvet painting depicts two goats look back. They go far off in search of grass. They move so far that they now reach atop the hill. The background, the hills are nicely painted with some brilliant colour patterns. Velvet is brilliant and soft fabric, with a very smooth and plain underside. A very popular genre of painting, velvet is used for its typically silky and soft-to-touch look and ideally employed as the base for unique and decorative paintings. Painted manually, velvet painting is an example of the ascetic grandeur of Indian art. Bold, bright and vivid colors are nicely used to add to the richness of the velvet paintings. Velvet painting can also be classified into few broad categories like the Mughal Paintings Animal Paintings Bird Paintings Village Paintings Indian Epic Paintings Religious Paintings
The beautiful brass figure of the Goddess Lakshmi is given a refine and detail treatment with some spectacular carvings on it. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity and worshipping her gives us wealth and prosperity. One of the most-worshipped goddesses in Hinduism, Lakshmi is the wife of Vishnu, one of the Trinity Gods in Hinduism, the other two being Lord Brahma and Shiva.
The beautiful peacock sitting on the tree is given a nice treatment with some spectacular designs. Peacock is the national bird of the country and the beautiful velvet painting is a fitting tribute to the national bird. The bird's long feathers are beautifully painted. The beautiful velvet painting glorifies the beauty of a jungle, and indeed its indisputable queen, the peacock.
The spectacular miniature painting depicts a beautiful bird that is about to sing. Colour patterns are nicely painted in this beautiful painting. Chirping bird create some soothing music to our ears. Miniature paintings have a long glorious history dated back to as old as the 11th and 12th century. This genre of painting got prominence under the mighty Mughal rulers, who were great patrons of art and painting. Rajasthan is a hub of miniature painting and even today different miniature art schools flourish in the regions of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Mughal, Kangra and Mewar.
The beautiful velvet painting of Lord Mahadeva, one of the Trinity Gods in Hinduism, the two other being Lord Brahma and Vishnu, is given a refine and detail treatment. A rare sense of gravity and accomplishment is manifest on His face. The trident and the coil of the serpent are also nicely painted. Though the Lord is associated with destruction, destruction is also a prelude to regeneration.
Cast out of black granite in a most exquisite manner, the sculpture of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati in love making posture is the creation of the masterly artists. Lord Shiva’s tender touch arouses the emotions of Parvati and she is embracing Shiva in a most affectionate manner pouring all her love for him. Lord Shiva is holding the delicate body of Parvati showering all his love for her. Indeed a paradigm of love and deep affection. Shiva’s vehicle the Nandi and Parvati’s vehicle a tiger are also carved out in a most delicate manner.
Specification:
- Material: Brass
- Size: 13"H x 7"W x 3.25"D
- Weight: 4.500 kg.
Description:
A great deal of refinement in execution, the precision of a surgeon in completion is manifest in the spectacular brass figure. The crossed-leg figure of Lord Krishna playing His flute is given a refine treatment with some exquisite carvings. A greater degree of refinement in treatment, dazzling ornaments, flawless carving make the beautiful piece a treasure trove for ever art connoisseur. He is wearing some spectacular ornaments and beautiful dresses. The Lord Krishna is playing His flute standing on a podium that contains carvings of a Radha and four cows. Whereas the upper part of the figure is plain, the lower part is adorned with refine clothes and ornaments. Lord Krishna is one of the most popular gods in Hinduism and is widely worshiped. There are some beautiful floral carvings on the figure.
The beautiful Kalamkari painting depicts Lord Krishna along with his gopis in a most attractive manner. A deep sense of accomplishment and satisfaction marks the painting. Love and affection writ large in the eyes of the gopis for their Krishna.The episode of Lord Krshna driving the gopis crazy with spiritual love and attachment constitutes one of the glorious discourses in Indian Hindu mythology. Called Rashleela, Gopis used to dance and play with Krishna on the bank of Yamuna in a moonlit night.
