beingzeeel

[beingzeeel]

Sita offering fruits to Rama in Dandaka forest Raghogarh Central India 1700/1800

National Museum, New Delhi wrote : The painting depicts a scene from the epic Ramayana during the period of exile of the prince of Ayodhya, Rama. Here amidst the woodlands of Dandaka, a forest infested with a host of demons, Rama and Sita sit oblivious to their wild surroundings.

Paintings from Raghogarh enact the visual drama often planting the figures against a plain monochromatic background and portraying the characters just essential to the narrative, often without any superficial imagery or detailed background.

(via Facebook: National Museum, New Delhi)

[beingzeeel]

A silver-inlaid bronze figure of Ganesha Himachal Pradesh or Uttar Pradesh, 10th century

Kapoor Galleries Inc. wrote : This traditionally depicted four-armed Ganesha is somewhat unusual in its inclusion of two flanking musicians, which are typically reserved for his dancing form. The figure on the proper right is beating a drum while the figure on the left strikes a pair of cymbals.

The silver-inlaid eyes, mandorla and decorative supporting elements atop the stepped base suggest a provenance of northern India. In the regions surrounding the Sultej river, many of the arts of Kashmir were absorbed, but retained in a more folkish style. The deep grooves that give volume to Ganesha’s ears are a stylistic choice frequently made in the sculptures of Himachal Pradesh.

The mandorla itself, with circular details surrounding the outer band and triangular ornaments atop the crossbar below, is reminiscent of works from Uttar Pradesh.

(via Instagram: Kapoor Galleries Inc.)

[beingzeeel]

Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

The ancient city of Madurai, more than 2,500 years old, was built by the Pandyan king, Kulashekarar, in the 6th century B.C. But the reign of the Nayaks marks the golden period of Madurai when art, architecture and learning flourished expansively. The most beautiful buildings in the city including its most famous landmark, the Meenakshi temple, were built during the Nayak rule.

Located in the heart of the city of Madurai, the Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar temple is dedicated to goddess Meenakshi, the consort of lord Shiva. It has long been the focus of both Indian and international tourist attraction as well as one of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. For the people of Madurai, the temple is the very center of their cultural and religious life.

It is said that the people of the city wake up, not by the call of nature but by the chant of hymns at the temple. All the major festivals of Tamil Nadu are celebrated here with gaiety, most important being the Chitrai festival that is held in April/May, when the celestial marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar is celebrated, drawing a huge crowd of people from all over the state.

The sculpted pillars are adorned with the exquisite murals that celebrate the ethereal beauty of princess Meenakshi and the scenes of her wedding with Lord Shiva. At the Sundareswarar temple across the courtyard, Lord Shiva is represented as a lingam. The pillars depict scenes from the wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar. There are 985 richly carved pillars here and each one surpasses the other in beauty.