Rama-Durbar Amidst Tropical Verdure

Mysore's paintings are halfway between classical and popular Indian artistic traditions. The paper equivalent of the paintings of Tanjore the paintings of Tanjore employ a cloth of fabric, is characterized by an eloquence that is possible only for the artisans of the south. Like the fine example you see on this page, Mysore's art includes highly expressive paintings. 

The traditional painter draws on the wealth of images provided by Indian mythology and infuses his work with devotion in his simple heart. The theme of this is the much discussed Rama-durbar, composed of Purushottam Rama, his beautiful Seeta and the devoted duo of Lakshaman and Lord Hanuman, each of whom is very much idolized in the Indian tradition, their glorified journeys, shining examples of the their characters that are completely revived in the Indian psyche.

Dandapani Two Armed Pangarnatha Mahakala

Grinning wildly and with fiery eyes, this monumental image of the Great Mahakala rises heavily on the body of a corpse. He is holding a huge vajra helicopter and a large bowl of white skull full of blood and guts of demons turned into an elixir. Bring through the elbow of the elbows a decorated wooden gandi gong, used in Buddhist monasteries to call Buddhist monks to assemblies, to symbolize his vow to protect the monastic university of Nalanda and, by extension, all Buddhist monasteries.

Pangarnatha Mahakala

 The ornaments so elegantly worn on his plump body and giant head include a crown, necklaces, earrings and anklets in gold encrusted with jewels. A garland of severed heads and snakes and the five-plastered white crown complete the ornaments, its luminous eyeballs and shining teeth. Each of these specifically symbolizes the conquest of a particular type of obstruction of illumination. Mahakala takes a formidable form and conquers the most horrible realms of existence.

 As a ferocious manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Mahakala helps beings overcome all negative elements, particularly spiritual ones, personified and symbolized by the panoply of fearsome creatures on which he becomes lord. He wears his macabre ornaments to show his tireless determination to also redeem the horrible. This particular form of Mahakala, easily recognizable by the wooden gong he carries in his arms, is the favorite protector of the Sakya Order.

Warli Landscape with Tarpa Dance

On Diwali, the festival of lights, as the lamps are lit, the TARPA is used to summon young couples in the village to dance in a ring. (TARPA is a long bulbous musical instrument made from dried gourd) Dancing in a circle around the tarpa player-it is life seen as a celebration of human endeavors. It is a breathtaking round of swinging, swirling movement- a merry-go-round of light and sound festivity. There is an atmosphere of lush celebration around the central theme

Warli Tribe

Animals consist of two sharply formed triangles. The horse with the rider, especially, is fully etched out, sharp and confident in its angularity. The emergence of huts, animals, humans, show signs of domestication. That they are engaged in activity, suggest a primitive level of development.

In this painting, we see a whole wave of movement of humanity as it swirls one way and then another with the ebb and flow of life. This description by Renu Rana. References:

Dalmia, Yashodhara. The Painted World of the Warlis: New Delhi, Lalit Kala Akademi, 1988.

The Tantric Roopa Of Lakshmi

Lakshmi Tantra is an unusual book. This does not mention ritual worship, temple specifications, or the specificity of such rituals. This concerns himself with individual worshipers, who in this painting are Rishi Chyavana himself.

Lakshmi Tantra

He paid homage to the roopa tantra Lakshmi, which is the Shakti located behind Narayana. The form you see here is the roopa of all women as described in the Lakshmi Tantra - noble, male appendage, and worthy of worship. He was wrapped in bright yellow silk which was overlaid with a shringar consisting of pearl, emerald and gold.

Rishi Chyavana

In all four arms there is a melodic conch, a lotus that is on the verge of blooming (a suitable lotus can be found on his gold-studded crown), a disc associated with her husband, and a stick that sends chills down the spine of the dharma. Notice the naked prostration below Him which is His giant asanas.

Handmade Tribal Youth Out On A Hunt

While each of our tribes comprise of a few families, the sheer variety of tribes to be found in the subcontinent is numberless. The ways of life and languages are distinct from one tribe to another, of which very little has been documented. This is because of how remote they are, and how close yet self-sufficient their economies are. Speaking of economy, art is a major part of tribal life-expression, which in turn plays a two-pronged role in their sustenance. 

Tribal Youth 

The dynamic brass figurine you see on this page is one such work of art. It captures a quintessential aspect of Indian tribal life. Foraging, hunting, and gathering are their primary means of livelihood, so it is imperative that their menfolk know their way around the woods and the mountains. This young man is clad in a coarse dhoti, short enough to facilitate agility, and a turban to hold back his curls. Bracelets, anklets, and danglers constitute his adornments, which are probably the hallmarks of his clan. From the stance of his arms, he seems to be taking a short-distance aim at a small unsuspecting animal. 

Handcrafted Decorative Jewel Wall Hanging

The wall-hanging you see on this page has been handpicked to go into the latter category. It comprises of a foundation of gorgeous red velvet. The same has been superimposed luxuriant zardozi, a technique of embroidery that is both ancient and unique.A work of art as powerful as this would make your guests stop dead in their tracks and function as an amazing conversation-starter.

Jewel wall Hanging

From a tall, slender vase, the kind that would probably have been used to adorn the Mughal court, emerges a shock of beauteous foliage. The velvet had been stretched on a wooden stand, and a needle has been used to work - with both hands - the statement gold string onto the fabric. Note the plethora of sequins and semi-precious gemstones that have been incorporated into the complex embroidery, zooming in on which would allow you to truly appreciate the skill and labour that have gone into the finished piece.

Handmade Traditional Yali Temple Pillars from home Décor

Indian culture what the griffin is to Greco-Roman culture. It refers to a creature that has the features of the most powerful members of the faunal kingdom, and is yet more powerful than all of them put together. The Yalis in this one-of-a-kind wood sculpture have the mane of a lion, the teeth of a crocodile, and the musculature of a horse. An age-old symbol in the visual arts of the South, the Yali composition gained prominence during the sixteenth century. It could be found to grace temple doors and pillars across ancient temples in South India. 

 Handmade Traditional Yali Temple Pillars

This the mythical creature is considered the guardian-protector of the temple where it is installed, usually in pairs.

The Yali sculpture that you see on this page is a pair of handcrafted brackets, chosen for its one-of-a-kind composition. The Yalis are adorned with green and orange fabric, their long tails wound around a matching floral motif. A couple of kneeling elephants raise their trunks at the feet of the respective Yalis. Their dense black mane contrasts sharply with the white of their spine-chilling dentures.