TANJORE ART MASTERPIECES

Lord Krishna: Krishna's blissful celestial movements and his flute's evocative melody brought cowherdesses ecstatic. He resided at Gokul, in Northern India. He was believed to have been extremely naughty as a youngster, snatching curd and butter and pulling harmless pranks on his gopi.  He left Gokul after accomplishing his Lila or accomplishments there and resided in Vrindavan until the age of 6 years. According to a well-known myth, Krishna pursued the gigantic reptile Kaliya away from the river and out into the sea. According to another well-known legend, Krishna employed his little finger to raise the Govardhana hill and carry it upright to protect the inhabitants of Vrindavan from Lord Indra's thunderstorm after the former became displeased with Krishna. Then, until about the age of 10, he remained in Nandagram.

Lord Venkateshwara: The Tirupati temple's principal deity is the Vishnu manifestation, Venkateswara. The god is regarded to be self-manifested. In addition to the Trimurti's attributes of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, some sects consider that Venkateswara additionally bears the abilities of Shakthi and Skanda.  Sage Annamacharya hailed Venkateswara as the "Supreme Deity," who assumes the shape that the devotee desires, whether that be Dattatreya for yoga practitioners or Shiva for Shaivas. Five deities, including the Moolavirat, are said to portray Venkateswara in the Vaikhanasa Agamas. The five deities are widely referred as the Pancha beramulu in Telugu. Dhruva Beram, Kautuka Beram, Snapana Beram, Utsava Beram, and Bali Beram are indeed the five gods. The Garbha griha underneath Ananda Nilayam Vimanam is where all of the pancha berams are positioned.

The Great Gods’ Godsends to their devotees 

North Indians refer to Lord Venkateshwara as "Balaji." In accordance with the Vedas, Venkateswara is the savior of all those who are in need all throughout Kali Yuga. Many worshippers and emperors, including Krishnadevaraya, have honored Venkateswara.

Lord Krishna enlightens his disciples with a lot of knowledge-

In the sacred Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Krishna asserts that everything happens for a purpose. There is constantly a reasoning or justification for why things are happening in life, and they are typically for the best. He also mentioned that God is the creator Of all things and that we constitute all his children. The Supreme power is the Almighty and he is the creator. We are all the descendants of God, and nothing really terrible can ever befall us. Therefore, it is recommended to pull back from weeping over things that have previously happened or over circumstances that are not within our disposal. We ought to surrender and accept the truth. Krishna tells us to remain present in the present moment. He knew what would happen in the future, but instead of just worrying about it, he chose to concentrate on what was happening now. Even though he was aware of what would transpire in the future, he chose to stay in the present. Being attentive is staying present and paying attention to what is happening right now. Mindfulness meditation can enrich one's level of happiness. Living in the present and putting greater emphasis on the here and now can improve your mental health.

The significance of having Tanjore paintings of deities 

The Tanjore paintings of Lord Krishna are incredibly decorative and are also regarded as advantageous. Modern Tanjore portraits of Lord Krishna's artwork are said to be the ideal choice for the living room and may easily win anyone over. Paintings of Radha and Krishna, who represent Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, are lucky for households. Krishna's Tanjore Paintings, which express eternal love, demonstrate the compassion and theme underlying poems that depict the life of Krishna, scientific understanding, and listeners' ideas. When we learn more about the meaning behind these paintings, we discover that Krishna's blue eyes symbolize the earth and that the color blue stands for the globe as a whole. Along with fire and soil, which are the same shades of yellow and brown, Krishna's yellow clothing represents love and reverence for nature.

FAQ

Q1. What does Lord Krishna symbolize?

One of the most well-known and highly respected of all Indian deities, he is the god of safety, sympathy, gentleness, and affection.

Q2. What does Lord Venkateshwara symbolize?

The god is endowed with the abilities of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

“Beauty shines with a light from beyond itself.” In the tradition of Tanjore art- glistening with its golden and jeweled embellishments and the purifying presence of the great divine, this statement finds an expression. Drawing from the opulent treasure of Indian religious traditions, Tanjore or Thanjavur paintings are proof of India’s devotion to its culture, which is turned into an unforgettable visual experience encased within a refined wood frame by the Tanjore artisits.  

BACKGROUND

The term “Tanjore” (after a South Indian town of the same name) in reality applies to a form of art whose inspiration started taking shape under the Vijayanagara kingdom and was developed after its collapse in 1565 under the patronage of Nayakas (subsidiary rulers) of Tanjore and the Marathas. Characteristic features of Vijayanagar paintings are- slim figures, differentiated features, attention to detail, and a protruding second eye of the subjects. Under the Nayakas, round limbs, almond eyes, lavish costumes, and the use of red, green, and white in the background along with heavy decorations became a feature of their art. The Marathas who were outsiders in the South kept the traditional idiom of Thanjavur art alive, with secular themes and European ideas being introduced into the artistic vocabulary. Throughout its development, themes from ancient Hindu Purana and epics- Ramayana and Mahabharata, have dominated the canvas of Tanjore. Continued association with the royals is another basic feature of Tanjore art, owing to the laborious process of making producing these aesthetic marvels. 

TECHNIQUE

Looking at a Tanjore portrait, you will feel like you are gazing at a three-dimensional image in a two-dimensional medium. Embossing- the technique of creating raised patterns on the surface and the use of gold leaf are distinct steps in the making of a Tanjore painting which are behind the awe-inspiring high-relief effect of these artworks. The skilled Tanjore artists who have inherited the art for generations begin the procedure by selecting a structure for the painting, with the use of layers of wood and starboards stuck together with paste, to protect the art from damage. The prepared frame is covered with a fine cloth such as muslin (Sallathuni) spread on the surface with tamarind paste glue and covered with lime paste or “Sudha”.

A canvas thus obtained gets adorned with rough sketches drawn with coal, over which “Sukkan” (un-boiled limestone) is applied to create the elevated patterns on the images. Gemstones, glass pieces, semi-precious stones, and gold leaves are now put on the drawing and the artist adds striking colors from a defined color pallet, obtained from natural sources to the painting. Gold leaf in the Tanjore painting is either used on the elevated areas of the painting or coated over the flat canvas on the attire, jewelry, and decorative elements to bring that distinguishable golden luster to this art. Finally, the eyes of the deities are drawn, a process which has artistic as well as ritual meanings in Indian art, referred to as “opening of the eyes” or “Kandera Derachina”. The entire process is a complex one in which the artist pays utmost attention to details and leaves ample room for correcting even the tiniest errors in between two steps. 

TANJORE PAINTINGS AND HOW TO ADD THEM TO YOUR SPACE

The gilded Tanjore artworks can be divided into a) icons of individual deities and b) paintings that showcase mesmeric mythological scenes.

Paintings of deities standing in a celestial place of worship, surrounded by diminutive figures of priests, devotees, and secondary gods-goddesses, with the lowermost portion of the image showing plates of offerings of fruits, flowers, and other ritual items, are based on the visualization of the interiors of a temple, the “Garbha-griha”, where the deity or group of deities reside. Portable and endowed with elements that perfectly recreate the devotional ambiance of a Hindu shrine, these impeccable Tanjore paintings are the promise of a personal and ethereal experience of gazing into the large almond eyes of the divine.

The second group where the otherworldly tales of pristine Hindu texts come to life are Tanjore paintings with episodes from Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas imprinted upon the canvas. Popular Tanjore artworks such as “Meenakshi-Kalyanam” (the marriage of goddess Meenakshi or Parvati with Shiva) and “Kalinga-Krishna” (Krishna dancing on the hoods of serpent Kaaliya) are examples of the fluidity of a story used in the traditional and rigid Tanjore idiom, where enabled by the pan-Indian legends, the Tanjore artists become storytellers. These paintings are rich in subject matter, with a wide range of primary and secondary subjects drawn, each given an individualistic quality with the help of different skin colors.

The sheer variety of subjects and the bold expression actualized by the Tanjore artist in a tradition that has not deviated much from its original form is the reason why Tanjore paintings have survived a considerable period of a slump in demand. In fact, in the modern minimalist management of space, a glistening Tanjore painting is the perfect choice to bring character to your surroundings. 

IN YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP

Framed by a sturdy teakwood temple, Tanjore paintings of Ishta Devata (tutelary god-goddess) and Kula- Devata (family deity) are a simple, traditional and tested way of bringing this magnificent art form into your house. As the central piece in your place of worship, a Tanjore painting will radiate much-needed spiritual splendor for you to soak in. 

IN YOUR OFFICE

In the modern world, workspaces are becoming increasingly bland and indistinguishable in their interiors. With a large Tanjore painting in the conference hall or the gallery, you can transform your place of work from a plain and stressful space to a spiritually rich and artistically remarkable one. 

IN YOUR HOME

A story is the best way to break the ice between you and your guests. Scenes from Indian religious tradition spread across your wall in golden tints and eye-catching shades of the Tanjore painting can become your visual aid while you let your visitants in on the awesome stories they hold, simultaneously bringing an exotic and mystical feel to your home.

Exotic India Art treasures a vast collection of traditionally made Tanjore paintings made available to you online. “Navaneeta Krishna” (childhood form of Krishna), sage Kashyapa with Kamadhenu, “Rama Pattabhisheka” (coronation of Sri Rama), Ranganatha Swami to “Gajalakshmi”, “Uma-Maheshwara” (Shiva with Uma-Parvati) and numerous beguiling themes are waiting for you to explore and pick this artistic 24-Karat gold for your space.