Digital art pictures from puranic and tantric scriptures
by
Rajesh Srivatsa
e-mail:
rajesh@detna.com
October 2009
The Divine
This is an attempt by Rajesh Srivatsa
to create spiritual environment through the digital art pictures.
The symbols, colors and details used
in the images are taken from both the puranic and tantric scriptures. But
not direct adoptions of those details.
Shabda mantras and Beeja mantras
shown in devanagari and english texts are selected very carefully. Because
it's wellknown that energy created from the sounds of these mantras may
affect on both the ways good or evil. In some pictures mandalas were shown.
Mandals are nothing but a symbolic
map of universe. Sometimes they may represent all 14 Lokas as in 'Srichakra'
sometimes it may represent any single loka like in Ganesh yantra. Sometimes
it may represent palace of the diety or may be just a place arrangement.
Most of all these maps contains bhupuras (outer border with openings at
4 directions), circles, lotus, and six cornered figure and a triangle in
inside it and finaly a dot at the centre inside that triangle.
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Ganesha
Ganesha: According to Ganapatya
tantric cult Ganesha is the Parabrahmathe supreme energy. When there was
nothing before the formation of universe the space (?) was filled with
a sound 'Gam'. Gam its the moola bijakshara of Ganesha. Parabrahma emerged
in the form of Ganapathi with ultimate cosmic sound 'OM'. ( Gam which initiates
everything and we can recall Ganesha is to be worship firrst before any
thing even before start worship other gods.) With his emergence all the
obstcles were removed for the creation of world. This piCture illustrates
emergence of Ganesha from 'Gam' Mandala with Omkara in his hands and stomach.
He is shown in red color. In Yoga the first chakra of the kundalini is
Mooladara Chakra which is in red color at the bottom end of the back bone
of our body and ganesha is the God of Mooladhara Chakra and also in Ganpathiatharvasheersha
it was said that Gansha is 'Rakhavarna' (deep red or blood red literaly)
(red is one of the three primary colors) and green cactus like textures
around him are symbolic of obstacles getting removing with the emergence
of Ganesha.
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Bhadra
Ganesh
Bhadra Ganesh: Here Bhadra means
Mangal. Ganesh is the mangalaroopi with conserts Siddhi Devi and Riddhi
Devi. Kshema and laabha are the two sons of ganesh (however many holy texts
says he is unmarried) according to Vijayagama shipla samhitha, Bhadra Ganesh
has only two hands, red in color, dressed with red clothes, pictures drawn
from ashtagandha (eight kind of aromatic substances) along his trunk, having
his own tusk (Shubh) piece in the right hand and lotus (Laabh is also lotus,
symbol of Lakshmi) in the lefthand, brihath-udhara means large stomach
, riding on a car pulling by two rats after a satisfied meals, he is in
a happy mood and 'Shantha Netra' very calm eyes holy spirits showering
flowers on his path, showing symboliclly. Even dharshan of Bhadra Ganesh
at the morning results in a joyfull whole day.
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Surya
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Shiva
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Varaha
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Krishna / Murali Mohana
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Narasimha
Nrasimha: One of the most celebrated
incarnations of lord Vishnu. Lord revealed himself as the ferocious Man-Lion
bursting out of pillar. Though he is ferocious he is the dearest to his
devootees. His hands in the abhaya(protection) and varada (boon bestowal)
guestures. Kshroum beejakshra of Narasimha, here Narasimha has been shown
as bursting out from the pillar with cosmic light surrounding him which
is symbolised by mandala or six cornered shape with sound Kshroum. Though
lord has Lion face most of puranic details describes him as 'Shwetha Varna'
white in color. But it is enclosed by burning sparks of fire that emante
from his body itself. Display of Narsimha figures in homes removes insecure
feelings from the minds of people living there and destory evil, black
magic powers from the place.
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Agni
Durga / Jwalaa Devi
Agnidurga / Durga is worshiped all
over the country as a great Mother. She is the Goddess of energy. In Vedic
period she was associated with 'Agni' the Fire God and also with Sun God.
She is Soorya Mandala Madyastha, means residing in Soorya mandala. She
is the Mahamaya (Great Illussion) power of Vishnu and Shakti (energy) of
Shiva. She is power which destroy darkness (tamoharini) here she is surrounded
by panchagni (5 flame) holding weapons disk - couch (weapons of Vishnu)
a traident (weapon of Shiva and Mangalagni (fire which brings good fortune)
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Karyasiddhi
Hanuman
Karyasiddhi Hanuman: A rare figurative
form of Hanuman (Bhaktha Anjaneya, Veeranjaneya are very common figurative
forms) worshipped in some parts of Karnataka shilpa shastras gives details
as Hanuman returning from Lanka after he found Sita in Ashoka Van, he is
sitting before Sriram obediantly but proudly after his completion of great
task. He is reporting all details to Ram and showing him 'Choodamani' (pearl
bindiya on her forehead given by her father as a gift) got from Sita for
exchange of Sri Rama's ring, sugreeva king of Vanara's allowed all monkeys
to loot the royal garden (symbolically shown with mango and coconut bunches)
to clebrate this happy occassion which is shown as monkeys dancing around
Hanuman in the figure. Ham is the one of Hanuman beeja mantras. It is said
that way to get hanuman's blessings to finish great tasks is by worship
of Hanuman in the form of 'Karyasiddhi Hanuman'.
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Naga
Naga: Snakes are cosiderd as holy
spirits and is associated with most of all gods in hindu religion. Nagas
are resposible for the security of the hidden treasures Shankha nidhi and
Padma nidhi shown at the bottom of the mandala. Naga worship removes obstcles
and bad fortunes for marriages and in having descent. Usually 9 main nagas
are worshiped in practice Anantha , Kalinga, Vasuki, Karkotaka, Padma,
Shesha , Dritharastra and Shanka. At the top Navanaga mandala is shown
with all beejaksharas. Langula 'plounge weapon' for protection shown in
all directions. In some parts of the country nagin's with eggs alon with
nagas also worshiped as in puja agamas if nagas to be worshiped in pictures
- they should have white and yellow color.
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