Fusion of Art, Poetry and Classical Music results in Ragamala Paintings

June 28th, 2011 by admin

Fusion of Art, Poetry and Classical Music results in a beautiful style of painting called Ragamala Paintings that originated in 16th and 17th century.  Gradually this style of painting was adopted by the prominent schools of painting and got its names accordingly like the Deccan Ragamala, Pahari Ragamala, Rajasthan or Rajput Ragamala, and Mughal Ragamala. Earliest Ragamala painting available is from Deccan that were painted during the rule of Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur who himself was a fine artist.

Raga means Melody and Ragamala is a Garland of melodies that takes the form of painting with the gentle stokes of the brush performed by an artist. Basically, there are six ragas that are sung during the different seasons of the year. Bhairava , Dipika , Sri , Malkaunsa , Megha and Hindola  are the six ragas that are meant to be sung during the six seasons of the year that are summer, monsoon, autumn, early winter, winter and spring. Ragas are also related to different parts of the day like the dawn, morning, afternoon, evening, night and midnight. The Ragamala painting usually descries the story of a man and his beloved(known as nayaka and nayaki) along with the time of the day and the season. Along with the ragas the  paintings also depict the ragas wives that is raginis,  their sons ragaputra and daughters ragaputris.

Each painting has a story to tell and the painting(on your right) that dates back to 1620  illustrates the story of  Malasri Ragini, a wife of raga Bhairava,  preparing a bed in a garden, on which she scatters lotus petals which she has gathered in leaf baskets. When the story is narrated with the three most powerful medium of expression that is Art, Poetry and Classical Music, we get one of the most mesmerizing style of painting called Ragamala Painting.

 

 

 

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Leather Puppets of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

June 16th, 2011 by admin

Humans have indulged in different forms of entertainment since ages. One such form of entertainment is the puppetry that was very popular before the arrival of television.

The unique point of the puppets that are now prevelant mostly in southern states of India are that they are made of leather. It is believed that the leather puppets originated from the small village of Nimmmalakunta in Andhra Pradesh. The puppet show that uses leather puppets is know as Togalu Gobbeyata in Kannada, Chitra Marathigaru in Marathi, Tolu Bomlat in Telugu, and Pavaikottu in Malayalam.The qualities such as transparency and ability to easily absorb colours makes goat hide or deer skin the favourite choice to make these puppets. The puppets that catches the fancy of viewers goes through a long process to reach its final stage. The raw hide is first cleared of its impurities by treating it with common salt and is left to dry. The vegetable dyes are then applied in the desired shape and design and finally cut into pieces that are joined together in the form of puppet using strings and sticks. From as small as  6 inches to a huge size of 4 feet, these dolls are made is varied sizes and mostly represent characters from Hindu Mythology and Indian History.

The stage is first set for the puppet show. A  white cloth that is hung across the stage acts as the screen. Behind the white screen the puppets are hung across the rope and the puppets are controlled by the puppeteers as per the requirement of the scene. The puppeteers themselves provide the voice to the show and music is provided in the background to make the show more entertaining.

However, because of numerous new means of entertainment that keep emerging everyday, puppetry has lost its popularity and is prevelant mostly in southern states of India.

 

 

 

 

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Magnificent ceramic artifacts is synonymous to Khurja Pottery

June 2nd, 2011 by admin

From the potter’s wheel, in the small village of Khurja,Uttarpradesh emerges magnificent ceramic artifacts that are a perfect blend of art and craft. Orange, mint green, black, ultramarine blue and yellow colors that are used in Khurja pottery give them the contemporary look.

Khurja pottery goes through an exhaustive process before it reaches the consumers. The wet mixture  of  clay, ground feldspar and quartz stone is placed on the potter’s wheel to give the desired shape. Once done it  is sun-dried.  Intricate painting of various motifs and leafy designs are then painted on the dried piece. The pieces are then dipped in glaze and finally baked at up to 1200 -1250 centigrade.

Khurja pottery is not just confined to pots. Ceramic artifacts like Flower vases, mugs, Coffee pots, tea-sets, bowls, dinner plates, side plates, dessert bowls, beer mugs, Salt and pepper holders are also beautifully crafted and decorated with various  designs and colors. The uniqueness of Khurja pottery is that they are hand-made, hand-painted and are reasonably priced.

The history of Khurja Pottery dates back to about 600 years ago, when some of the potters’ families moved from Delhi to Khurja during reign of Emperor Mohammad-bin-Tughlak. Today, Khurja is famous as “The ceramics town” since it supplies a large portion of the ceramics and pottery used in the country.

 

 

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Importance of Rudraksha

May 18th, 2011 by admin

Lord Shiva had been meditating for many years for the welfare of all creatures. On opening the eyes, hot drops of tears rolled down and the mother earth gave birth to Rudraksha trees.Lord Siva is also known as Rudra and the Lord of Tears. Eight different aspects of nature are the direct manifestations of Rudra and they are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space, The Sun, The Moon and the Life Force.

Importance of Rudraksha

  • A wise man who wears Rudraksha gets rid of all the sins and attains the supreme goal of the human life.
  • If the wearer of the Rudraksha dies, he does not take another birth, he reaches the kingdom of Rudra.
  • The devotee who worships Lord Shiva in the form of Rudraksha devotedly, becomes a king inspite of being poor.
  • The wearer of Rudraksha not only makes Lord Shiva happy but pleases Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, Ganesh, Kaartikey, Durga, Indra, Aditya and the ruling deities of the nine planets.
  • One can escape from untimely death by wearing Rudraksha
  • Wherever Rudraksha is worshipped the Goddess of wealth always stays there.
  • Rudraksha is helpful for worldly and heavenly attainments.
  • Rudraksha is best known for its biomedical properties and in controlling stress, hypertension and blood pressure.
  • It gives peace of mind to the wearer, stimulates the mind and sharpens the intellect.

Rudraksha can be worn as a single rudraksha or as a necklace of many rudraksha beads or in the form of bracelet. The rudraksha beads are handpicked and rudraksha necklaces and bracelets are hand made in silver, gold or regular thread. They are available in the market and can also be bought online. But you need to be very careful of the duplicates. The price ranges from 2000 to 60,000 Indian rupees.

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Ancient art of hand painting or block printing on textiles called Kalamkari

May 17th, 2011 by admin

The ancient art of hand painting or block printing on textiles that are exclusive in certain parts of India is called Kalamkari. Kalamkari is derieved from two words kalam which means pen and kari which means craftsmanship. Kalamkari literally means art with pen. This art is believed to be 3000 years old and is handed over from genration to generation.

Kalamkari art is practiced in two major cities in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Masulipatnam and Srikalahasti are center for the Kalamkari art and hence we find two distinct styles of Kalamkari called Masulipatnam style of Kalamkari and Srikalahasti Style of Kalamkari. One can find the Persian influence on Masulipatnam style of Kalamkari because of the Muslim rule in Golconda. Designs of trees, flowers, creepers, leaves, intricate motifs are prominent in Masulipatnam style of Kalamkari. This style of Kalamkari is more of block printing where the outlines and main features are done using hand carved blocks.

Srikalahasti Style of Kalamkari is inspired by Indian mythology and Indian temples. Srikalahasti is a temple town near Tirupati and is famous for Srikalahastisvara temple which was built during middle Chola period around 1000 AD.,  Scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata, figurines of God and Goddess like Ganesha, Shiva, Durga, Krishna, Rama are main subjects of Srikalahasti Style of Kalamkari. This style of painting is mainly done by hand with a brush-like pen that is made of bamboo.Some of the prominent features of Srikalahasti Style of Kalamkari are the use of bead or heart shape in the  border and prominent use of  Red, Yellow, Blue, Green and Black color.

Both the style of Kalamkari goes through a long process and use natural dyes for colors that are obtained from bark, flower, fruits and roots. Now a days you can find Curtains, Bed spreads, Sarees, Kurtis and Duppattas with Kalamkari art on them.

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Kondapalli Toys from Andhra Pradesh

May 4th, 2011 by admin

Toys are child’s best friend. One can find plethora of toys available in the market that fits all budgets.  However, there are  some special toys that are not only hand crafted but also carry along with them the rich old tradition and that makes these toys priceless. Among such priceless toys are Kondapalli toys.

These toys got its name from the village where it is made.  16 kms from the city of Vijaywada in the state of Andhra Pradesh is a small village called Kondapalli where these hand crafted toys are made.  The craftsmen who make the Kondapalli toys are called Aryakshatriyas and this traditional art form is handed down from one generation to another. It is believed that Aryakshatriyas migrated to Kondapalli village around 16th century from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Kondapalli Toys are made of “Tella Poniki” which is a softwood.  First the wooden piece is heated to make it moisture free. And then different parts of the image are carved separately. The parts are then joined together. Lappum, sawdust and tamarind seed paste are used as glue and to give finishing touches to the toys. Once done, the toy is painted with White lime colour and left to dry to one or two days. Natural vegetable dyes as well as oil paints  are used to paint these toys using paintbrushes that are made of goat’s hair. Kondapalli Toys depict scenes from mythology and actual life.  Decorated Elephants, Dashavatar, Lord Hanuman, Bullock carts, wedding procession, birds, animals and many other themes are depicted through these toys.

These toys range from 10 rupees to 10,000 rupees and are available at all the Lepakshi Emporia run by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation. Have a look at the video which I found on You Tube.  Number of  awesome Kondapalli toys are captured in this video.

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Exquisite example of stone craft – Radha Swami's Samadhi, Dayalbagh, Agra

April 26th, 2011 by admin

The living monument – Radha Swami’s Samadhi, Dayalbagh, Agra is an exquisite example of stone craft.  Radha Swami’s Samadhi deserves to be called as the living monument since it is under construction for almost 100 years and it is believed  that the construction of this monument should  never stop.  As per  a story that I heard in my childhood(though i don’t remember the names of the disciple and the guru), the disciple became so proud of his talent that he challenged his guru that he would build a monument that was more beautiful and bigger than Taj Mahal.  Angered by the arrogance of his disciple, the Guru cursed him that let his wish come true but the day the monument is complete his family would  reduce from riches to rags.  Hence the construction work never stops at Radha Swami’s Samadhi. This monument is actually the memorial of Shiv Dayal Sahib the founder of the Radhasoami Satsang movement which started in 1861.

The Memorial is a combination of temple, gurudwara, vihara and the mosque. The Radha Swami Samadhi is made up of pure white marble and is 110 feet high. The impressive pillars and the arcs have intricate floral designs and exotic stone inlay work. Neatly and carefully done carvings on the pillars and walls gives the natural effect to the floral designs. Have a look at the pics below to see the amazing craftsmanship that is displayed on this monument.   Since the monument is always under construction you can actually see the artist performing their skills.  The structure is really very beautiful and is a must visit place when you are in Agra.

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16th century Bull Temple, Bangalore

April 18th, 2011 by admin

Hardly a 10 mins drive from the famous Botanical Gardens of Bangalore, Lalbagh  is the 16th century Temple dedicated to Nandi(Bull) called the Bull Temple.  It is believed that the temple was built in 1537 by the the founder of Bangalore, Kempe Gowda.

The temple that was constructed almost 500 years ago houses a huge Nandi idol that measures 15ft(4.6 m) in height & 20(6.1 m) feet in length. The idol is carved out of a single granite boulder making it a sculptural masterpiece. The idol has blackened over the years because of regular rubbing of oil by devotees and charcoal. Like all the south Indian style temples, there is a lamp tower in front of the temple. The Bull Temple attracts devotees and visitors from across the world.

As per legends there’s an interesting story that goes behind the Bull Temple. Though the Bull and the groundnut remain the same in all the three stories, there are slight variations in each one of them. As per one of them : Long long ago when Bangalore was a village and was not as it is today, the villagers found that on every full moon day their ground nut crops got vanished mysteriously.  On one of the full moon day, the villagers decided to stay awake and see what was happening. They saw that a huge golden Bull with shining bright eyes was eating their crop.  However, after this day the bull never visited them. But the villagers found a huge idol of a bull on the hill which grew at a steady pace. A nail in the form of trident was hit on the idol to stop its growth. Nandi appeared in the dreams of Kempe Gowda and requested him to build the temple which the ruler obliged. As per another, Bull Temple was built to appease a bull that used to destroy groundnuts crop in this area. It is also said that after the temple was built, the bull stopped damaging the crop. As per the third : A bull started grazing on the well-grown crop and a farmer to shoo the bull away hit the bull with a club. The bull suddenly transformed into a stone. As a repentance, the farmers decided to build a temple for the bull but were shocked to see that the bull was growing taller steadily. The worried farmer then prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord shiva advised him to retrieve a trident that was buried a few feet away from the bull and to place the trident on the forehead of the stone statue to stop it from growing.  The farmers decided to offer their first crop of groundnut as an offering to the bull. The ground nut fair is celebrated every year on the last Monday of the Kartik month to offer prayers to Nandi as they believe that it will yield them good crops. During this time the temple is beautifully lit and decorated with flowers.

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Karnataka's best silk – Mysore Silk

April 14th, 2011 by admin

Womenfolk of Karnataka have one common thing in their wardrobes. Its the Mysore silk Saree. Normally worn on special occasions like festivals and marriages, they are the must have Saree for any kannadiga women.  So what makes these Sarees famous? Let’s find out more about the rich and elegant Mysore silk Sarees.

Mysore silk as the name indicates is from the city of Mysore and initially, was the fabric of the royal family of Mysore.  The silk weaving factory was established in the year 1912 with 10 looms by the Maharaja of  Mysore province. The looms were imported from Switzerland and was the first of  its kind in India. The fabric produced from the factory was consumed by the royal family members and the soldiers.

Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Ltd., a Govt. of Karnataka enterprise popularly known as KSIC  took over the company in1980.  The company ensures that the best quality silk is produced from its factory. Pure Mysore silk Sarees are very soft and light weight and are available in number of designs and color shades.  Apart from the fact that the Mysore Silk Sarees are made of 100% pure silk, these sarees also boast of pure gold zari work. Few years back when I was gifted with the Mysore silk Saree, I was told “In case the Saree worns out, don’t throw it or give it someone else. Instead burn the Saree and you will get the gold from the zari work of the Saree”. No wonder, Mysore silk Sarees are so famous.

Pure Mysore silk Sarees can be purchased from the exclusive showrooms of KSIC in Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai and Hyderabad.  You can also buy it online by logging on to http://www.ksicsilk.com/. Mysore Silk Sarees are also available in regular Saree showrooms but you need to be careful of the fakes.

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Arts and Crafts of Agra

March 25th, 2011 by admin

Taj Mahal

Everyday hundreds and thousands of tourists visit Agra to see the “Taj Mahal”, a monument of love built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz. Built on the banks of the River Yamuna in Agra, the magnificent monument called Taj Mahal is made of white marble and is a symbol of undying love. Taj Mahal on the whole is very mesmerizing and the prominent part of Taj Mahal is its huge round dome. Four minarets each of 40 meters height stand in each corner at the base of Taj Mahal. The minarets have carvings of intricate designs and add to the overall beauty of the Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is one of the wonders of the world and is considered as a world heritage monument.

There are many major monuments and architectures in Agra like the Agra Fort, Radhasoami Samadhi Dayalbagh, Itmad-Ud-Dualah’s Tomb, Ram Bagh and Sikandra and delving into details of these monuments would be possible in a new fresh post.  We shall keep this post strictly to arts and crafts shopping in Agra.  The city of Taj has  lots in store for the shopaholics.  Must buys in Agra include miniature sculptures of the Taj Mahal, marble-made handicrafts and soft stone inlay work, splendid carpets,  rich embroidery works  and leather products.

Zardosi work

Anyone who visits Agra comes back with the beautiful memories of Taj Mahal and the miniature sculptures of the Taj Mahal that are available in every nook and corner of Agra. Some of them are made very neatly and some with unfinished touches. You can choose these miniature as it is or the one that is enclosed in the glass box. The one enclosed in the glass box  comes with and without lightnings. Apart from the miniature sculptures of the Taj Mahal that are made in marble, other marble-made handicrafts of Agra like the statues of Indian Gods and Goddesses, mirror frames with lace like fringes, artifacts such as vases, plates, trays, coaster sets, ornamental boxes, decorative pieces and tabletops, bowls, garden furniture, etc. are also very popular. The another specialty of the Agra is the inlay work on marble with the colorful and precious stones to form a multitude of mosaics.

High quality carpets with traditional and contemporary designs are among the must buy items of Agra. Agra is also famous for a more complex form of embroidery called Zardozi which contrary to other embroideries is 3-dimensional in its pattern. Agra is major center for leather products as well. Don’t forget to buy export quality shoes and sandals from Agra. They are available in hundreds of designs and are very durable.

An open-air emporium in the crafts village called the Shilpgram showcases a wide range of Indian art and artefacts and is a good place to buy handicarfts. Make sure you buy your stuffs from government emporiums and souvenir shops approved by the Uttar Pradesh State Government. Major shopping areas are  Sadar Bazaar, Raja-ki-Mandi, Kinari Bazar, Civil Lines, Dayal Bagh, Loha Mandi, Rakabganj, Taj Mahal Complex and the Sanjay Palace.

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