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Magnificent Mucukunda Murals

10/3/2023

Each and every temple in India has an interesting story woven around it. For instance, the main idol in Thyagaraja temple at Thiruvarur is fully covered with flowers with only the face visible. Therein lies the fascinating story of Mucukunda, who is said to have brought the idol of Thyagaraja to the temple. I heard that a series of paintings dating back to 1660s narrate this episode in the Devasiriya mandapam in the temple precincts. Having a keen interest in the murals of this period, myself and Ahalya went over to Thiruvarur last month to catch a glimpse of them. Thanks to our dear friend Dr Chandrasekhar we were able to gain access to it.
Devasiriya mandapam was enveloped in darkness when we entered it and we were welcomed by hundreds of bats flying all around us. The floor was littered with layers of dust and bat droppings and the stench was quite overpowering. It was quite disheartening to see the condition of the place, which quickly gave way to one of sheer enchantment when we looked up at the ceiling. Each and every inch was painted in myriad colourful hues, recounting the mythical story of Mucukunda and how he brought the idol of Thyagarajaswamy to Thiruvarur.
Legend has it that the idol of Thygaraja was resting on Vishnu’s chest in the cosmic ocean, moving in tandem with the Lord’s breath. When the demon Varkaliyan continuously troubled Indra, he sought Vishnu’s help. Vishnu handed him the idol of Thyagaraja and asked him to perform pooja to this idol to help him win the battle. With this, Indra was able to vanquish Varkaliyan. Later when another demon Vala bothered him, Vishnu told Indra to seek the help of the mythical Chola king, Mucukunda who had a monkey face. Thanks to Mucukunda’s help, Vala was trounced in a fearsome battel. A delighted Indra took Mucukunda to his abode and offered a boon to Mucukunda for helping him win the battle with the demon. Indra was stunned when Mucukunda asked for the idol of Thygaraja. He asked Vishwakarma to make 6 similar idols. The next day, Indra asked Mucukunda to pick any one of the 7 idols hoping that he would not be able to distinguish the real one. To his great surprise, Mucukunda was able to identify the original idol, which had a distinctive smiling expression. Delighted with his devotion, Indra handed him all the 7 idols. Mucukunda took the idol of Thygaraja and installed it in the sanctum of the temple at Thiruvarur. He then took the other 6 idols and installed them at Thiru Kolili, Thiru Kaaraayil, Thiru Maraikkadu, Thiru Vaaimoor, Thiru Nallaru and Thiru Nagai. Together, these are referred to as Saptha Vidanga Kshetrams. The word "Sapta" means "seven" in the local language, while "vidanga" means "not chiselled.’ The seven Siva Thalams with unchiseled bases were idols of the same image that Mucukunda had received from Indra.
It is interesting to note that Ajapa Natanam, a special kind of dance without chanting (A-Japa: unuttered prayer) is enacted with swaying movements when the idol of Thygaraja is taken out in procession. As Vishnu held the idol of Thygaraja on his chest, these movements mimic the swaying of the idol with his breathing. It is performed with seven sacred steps which are believed to represent the seven chakras or energy centres in the human body. Each step is associated with a specific chakra and is said to activate and energize that particular chakra.
Dating back to the late Nayaka/early Maratha period, these murals narrate this engaging story in several panels. A portion of these have been carefully restored by INTACH with support from Prakriti foundation. This entire process has been beautifully documented by VK Rajamani and David Shulman in a monograph. In spite of this important initiative to conserve these priceless murals, it was sad to see the state of the rest of them which are in varying stages of neglect. Seepage from the ceiling, bats and callous human neglect has taken a heavy toll on these precious treasures.
I fail to understand why these beautiful murals are kept out of ‘public’ purview. No visitor can deface them since they are on the ceiling. The authorities can even charge an entry fee which can help in proper maintenance of the place. Right now there are more bats than visitors in the place!
I photographed these murals (craning the neck up all the time!), in natural light, without flash, thanks to the light sensitive iPhone. I have collated these images in a pdf format and would strongly urge you to have a glimpse of these enchanting paintings. Do mail a request to landscapesofthemind@gmail.com and I would send across the file!
Once you have a look at them, come back to the blog and post your comments here!

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Splendid Seychelles Blue Pigeon

8/17/2023

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Victoria, the capital of Seychelles is a quaint little town, replete with enchanting colonial era buildings. It was a bright sunny morning and as we were walking along the city center, our guide pointed at a man who was attired in khaki shorts and shirts and whispered that he is Gérard Rocamora, the most famous ornithologist in Seychelles. I quickly walked up to him and introduced myself and shared my interest in watching some endemic birds of Seychelles. He was warm and friendly and enumerated some of the species that I would be able to see and even mimicked their calls and patterns of flight. I thanked him profusely and looked forward to seeing at least a few of the birds he had mentioned.
After spending sometime in the National Museum of History in Victoria, we made our way to the Seychelles Tea Factory. The winding road to the factory through evergreen towering trees was quite beautiful. Perched on the hills of Morne Blanc, the tea factory offered a splendid panoramic view of the western slopes of Mahé and its beaches. As I was soaking in the captivating landscape, I heard the calls of the Seychelles Blue Pigeon, which Dr Gerard Rocamora so wonderfully mimicked. On looking up, I spotted it on top of a tall tree.
With a dark blue body, silver-grey breast and a striking patch of bright red skin on its face, the Seychelles Blue Pigeon has a regal appearance. It was first described by the Italian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopolli in 1786 and is known as 'Pizon Olande' ('Dutch Pigeon') in Creole. It derives its Creole name from the resemblance of its colors to the Dutch flag!
Flutter of blue wings
Etched in azure sky
Zen moment

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From Ignorance to Enlightenment

7/31/2023

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TheSiva as a cosmic dancer, Nataraja, is often depicted with four arms and flying locks dancing on the figure of a dwarf, who is identified as Apasmara. Apasmara is considered as a symbol of human ignorance and laziness.
The story of Apasmara as narrated in the Skanda Purana, is also found in the Sthala Puranam of Chidambaram temple. In the deodar forests the rishis had become arrogant with power gained through arduous worship and rituals. They were wreaking havoc with their drunken pride. Siva decided to go and resolve this issue. He went as a handsome Bhikshatana (mendicant) and took Vishnu along in the form of Mohini. The rishis were smitten by Mohini’s beauty and the wives of the rishis were enchanted by the Bhikshatana. Once the rishis realized the true identity of both, they were extremely angry and performed a yagna from which rose creatures to fight Lord Siva: a serpent, tiger, a lion and a dwarf demon Apasmara. Siva faced, fought and killed the other three creatures but Apasmara was one of those rare demons who had been bestowed with unconditional immortality. Siva danced with frenzy and fervour and brought Apasmara under his right foot and at the same time, swung his left foot up in the air. His left palm points at the raised foot and not at the foot at the bottom over the demon. Although Apasmara is referred to as a dwarf, he actually has the body of a child, reflecting his immaturity and small-mindedness. Siva wanted to vanquish him but realised that to maintain balance he shouldn’t kill him. In a world without ignorance, all knowledge would come to everyone without effort and so would become valueless. Instead, he decided to keep him crushed under one foot while joyfully dancing. Apasmara is immortal, but he can be kept in check. In Ayurvedic texts epilepsy is defined as Apasmara: apa, meaning negation or loss of; smara, meaning recollection or consciousness
Nataraja is within us, holding down our Apasmara, the embodiment of ignorance.
Our ignorance can be vanquished when we recognize and merge with the divine within us.
The First Photo from Gangaikondacholapuram depicts dancing Siva with Apasmara under his foot.
The Second Photo is that of a section of a mural in Sivakamasundari shrine at Chidambaram.
Do post your reflections here...

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Mesmerizing Melakadambur

5/28/2023

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Covid was a dampener in many ways, including hampering many of our travel plans. Once it’s hold started waning, we headed to Melakadambur, much before the brouhaha about the movie Ponniyin Selvan! Kadambur figures prominently in Kalki’s novel Ponniyin Selvan and more importantly is the home for one of the most gorgeous temples. Once we expressed our desire, our friends Drs Balamurugan and Sudharsan provided us all the assistance. They introduced us to Mr Vijay also known as Kadambur Vijay who has been involved in documenting many details associated with the temple and received us warmly when we went there.
The first impression of the temple was quite stunning. Though a comparatively small one compared to many of the Chola era temples, it is exquisite in its details. It dates back to the early 12th century, from the time of Kulothunga Chola. The temple is one of very few examples remaining, of the Karakoil type of construction, where the garbhagriham is shaped like a chariot being pulled by horses. In the late 19th century, after the temple had seen a lot of neglect and dilapidation, the temple was renovated by Arunachalam Chettiar of Devakottai. There is virtually no empty space on the outer walls of the garbhagriham, with almost every square inch taken up by delicate carvings. Among them, the sculpture of Dakshinamurti was the most beautiful one. It was interesting to note that Dakshinamurti was depicted in three different forms in the vimanam. One of them was the Yoga Dakshinamurthy seated on a bull under a banyan tree with a flute and veena. The pedestal of the temple consists of 18 different distinct moulded tiers. Unlike the other Chola temples which are known for their huge size sculptures, this temple is a miniature wonder. Its outer wall is completely filled with innumerable miniature friezes depicting various mythological stories. One can see Parvathi Devi in two contrasting moods: with Lord Gangadhara, she is in an angry mood whereas with Lord Aalinganamurthy, she is seen with a pleasant smile, sitting on his lap and the Lord embracing her with love. Another interesting sculpture is that of Durga. She appears without her big toes on the lion. Below her idol, Maha Meru as well as the Yantra installed by Adi Shankara are seen. She is a Vishnu Durga as she appears with Shanku (conch) and Chakra (disc).
As I was circumambulating the shrine, I noticed that one of the wheels of the chariot shaped temple seemed to have been stuck on the ground. Therein lies a story!
Devas who churned the ocean began to consume the nectar without worshipping Lord Vinayaka who angrily took away the pot to teach them a lesson. When he passed through this place which was a Kadamba forest, a drop of nectar fell here and became a Swayambu Linga. Realizing their folly, Indra and Devas came here and begged Lord Vinayaka’s pardon who in turn advised them to worship Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva responding to their prayers, gave them the nectar and stayed here as Amirthakadeswarar: Amirtha (nectar), Kada (pot), Easwar. Athithi, mother of Devas, would visit the temple every day from Devalokam to worship Lord Amirthakadeswarar. Indra wanted to make her job easier by taking the Lord to Indraloka itself. He changed the temple to a chariot and tried to drive it towards his place without worshipping Lord Vinayaka. So Lord Vinayaka pressed the left wheel which got stuck to the earth! Regretting his folly, Indra he begged Lord Vinayaka to pardon him.
Narasimha Varma Pallavan brought a sculpture of Ganapathy from Vathapi after the war with the Chalukyas, which is now housed in the Thiruchenkattankudi temple. Likewise, Rajendra Cholan I also brought a Vinayaka statue after the war with the Ganga dynasty which can be seen in the temple. It is called Aaravara Vinayaka, who is linked to the legend.
The temple also houses a very unusual Chola bronze, Dasa Bhuja Rishabha Tandavamurti (Siva with 10 arms, dancing on the Rishabham). It is said that the deity belongs to the Pala dynasty of Bengal and was brought by the victorious King Rajendra Chola. Unfortunately, we couldn’t have a glimpse of it as it is brought out only during pradosha puja, every fortnight.
The prime deity Amirtakadeswarar in the form of shiva lingam is believed to be carved out of Navapashanam (solidified compound of nine precious, poisonous substances as per Siddha procedure). It is believed that all the nine planets pray to Lord Shiva in this temple on their respective days. Accordingly, Lord Shiva is dressed with clothes of different colours attributed to the planets.
The Ambal has an unusual name Vidyu Jyothi Nayaki. She is said to represent all the three Devis: Saraswathi in the morning, Lakshmi in the afternoon and Durga or Shakthi in the night. The decorations are also accordingly changed.
Saint Tirunavikkarasar’s sang this hymn here:
நம் கடம்பனை பெற்றவள் பங்கினன்
தென் கடம்பை திருக் கர கோயிலான்
தன் கடன் அடியேனையும் தாங்குதல்
என் கடன் பணி செய்து கிடப்பதே
Devi who is the mother of our Kadamban
The Lord of the Karakkoyil of Thirukadambur
His duty is to support me too.
I am obliged to keep serving him
After spending time in the temple, we made our way to Keezhakadambur temple and found that the entry gate was locked. It took a little effort to get the priest to open it. Unlike the Melakadambur temple, it is quite dilapidated, with several sculptures strewn around the ground. According to the legends, Indra was asked to install one crore lingams to atone for his misdeeds at Keezhakadambur. But every lingam that he tried to install would get damaged. So Indra prayed to Shiva, who instructed him to make just one Lingam, while chanting the Panchakshara mantram one crore times; the lingam called Rudrakoteeswarar is installed here. It is believed that even today, Indra performs puja at this temple every day.
We were curious to have a glimpse of the famed Kadambur Palace and its ruins. Unfortunately, its exact location is not so well known or documented. Perhaps future efforts to unearth it may prove to be fruitful.
After this extremely fulfilling visit, replete with wonderful memories, we made our way back driving along the vast expanse of Veeranam lake, built by Rajaditya Chola in 10th century. Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan begins on the shores of this remarkable locale!
Feel free to post your comments/ reactions here!
If you would like to have a glimpse of the photos, drop a mail to landscapesofthemind@gmail.com

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An Avian Nomad . . .

5/12/2023

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It was a cold morning and the sun was streaming through the early morning mist. As I was making my way through the earthen bund at Mangalajodi, a flash of blue in the swampy ground attracted my attention. It was the bluethroat! It was running on the ground much like a mouse, searching for insects. I stood there for a while watching this petite bird with resplendent colours.
The bluethroat (Lucinia Svecica) is a small migratory bird. Svecica means “from Sweden”. Linnaeus gave the bird this name in 1758. Perhaps the species was then very common in Sweden and therefore received this name.
Bluethroat is one among the many birds that migrate to India in winter and leave with the onset of summer. I understand that this bird comes all the way from Alaska. Despite its small size, it is capable of travelling up to 80-100 km per day.
Birds are the stuff of myth and legend in every culture and Bluethroat is no exception. During their exile, the Pandavas were hiding in a dense forest. One afternoon, Bheema, the strongest of the brothers, was resting after his lunch. Suddenly, Bheema woke up feeling some pain in his ears and notice a snake disappearing amongst the bushes after biting him. He started feeling dizzy because of the snake venom and started losing his consciousness. According to the legend, a little bird with a red bib came and poked her pointed beak in the wound caused by the snake bite and began to suck out the venom. Bhima was amazed at the kindness of the small bird trying so hard to save him. To his great dismay he noticed that the red patch at the bird’s throat was turning blue and the bird was dying. He then noticed a group of bulbuls hopping over the little bird, pouring nectar into the throat of the dying bird. The nectar washed away the venom and the little bird recovered its strength slowly. To his great surprise, Bhima noticed that the bird’s red throat has turned into blue! He named the bird as Nil Kanthi as it had a blue throat like Mahadev. But this Neel Kanthi is different from the Indian Roller which is known as Neel Kanth.
With great effort, I prised my eyes away from this diminutive bird till it sallied across with its sonorous call.
As Matisse commented, “A certain blue enters your soul”.
(Today is World Migratory Day!)
Do post your comments here!

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A Wondrous Warbler...

4/2/2023

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Sometime back, after reading reports of the sighting of the rare White Fronted Goose, we made our way early one morning to Hadinaru Kere, near Mysore. We searched for them from the banks of the lake near the main road, but in vain. Spotting lots of activity on the farther shores of the lake, we went around to find a spot where we could sight them. Unfortunately, there was no access to the lake. We spoke to a farmer whether he could guide us and he suggested that we could walk across his field and look for them. Enthused by it, we made our way through a demanding, uneven terrain, climbing over earthen mounds and finally had a glimpse of the lake with a host of birds, at a distance. They were shimmering in the morning light in the calm waters. Unfortunately, there was no way to venture further as swatches of water and muddy terrain lay ahead of us. We stood there for a while, carefully scouting the water from afar for the rare goose. For a brief instant, I thought that I had spotted it, but the eureka moment was short lived. Perhaps it was there amongst the flock, but I couldn’t spot it. I was wondering whether I should venture further, but the daunting, inaccessible terrain ahead dissuaded me. Even though I couldn’t spot the elusive bird, standing on the marshy terrain and observing the flocks of birds diving and cruising in the lake from afar was itself a wonderful experience.
As we made our way back, I noticed a small, energetic bird perched on a branch. It was making frequent forays back and forth onto the ground. When I looked at it closely, it looked like a warbler and I photographed it. The name warbler comes from an Old French word “werbler,” which means to sing in trills. They have feet adapted for perching on trees and are also known as perching birds. There is a rather painful condition known as ‘warbler neck’ which is caused by spending too much time straight up on the tree to spot the birds! Warblers can be very difficult to distinguish and identify and I sought the help of more experienced birders. I was surprised at the varying identifications I received. Finally, I got in touch with R, whose fund of knowledge about the avian species is quite remarkable. I had done some birding with him years ago and sent across the photograph. He replied promptly and said that it was Syke’s warbler.
Colonel William Henry Sykes, FRS, was an Indian Army officer, statistician, politician and ornithologist. During his time at the Bombay Army, he published his catalogues of birds and mammals of the Deccan in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society in 1832. This included 56 birds new to science. His list of birds of the Deccan included 236 species. Interestingly, he named several new species after Hindu deities. Syke named the warbler after Rama and called it Iduna rama. In Norse mythology, Iduna was the goddess of spring or rejuvenation and the wife of Bragi, the god of poetry. Sighting the Syke’s warbler I felt the rejuvenating presence of Iduna.
Sometimes the pleasure of birding is not actually seeing the bird that you want to see but being surprised by the chance encounter of something that you have not seen before.
And then it fills you with boundless joy.
As Thich Nhat Hanh observed, “If you walk with true awareness of every step, without having a goal to get anywhere, happiness will arise naturally. You don’t need to look for happiness.”
Looking forward to your responses/reactions here!

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A Petite Songster...

1/9/2023

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Some birds are often better heard than seen.
As we were scouting the undulating terrain of Coyote hills, we heard a snippet of a mellifluous flute-like call. Initially we couldn’t locate the origin of the call till a flutter of bright yellow caught our attention. And there it was, sitting on a small rock flouting its iridescent yellow breast with a characteristic V shaped black band. It was the Western Meadowlark!
This popular song bird is the official state bird of six states in the US: Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming. In Oregon, there was an animated debate in the state legislature as to what should be the state bird. The choice was between osprey and the western meadowlark. The spirited discussion was resolved when one member played the song of the western meadowlark and that settled the discussion! It was unanimously decided that it would be the state bird. A compromise of sorts was then negotiated and the osprey was voted as the state raptor!
Who can resist the flirty appeal of the meadowlark song?
It flits and flutters
Singing a flirty tune
Minstrel of the meadows…

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The Majestic Raptor

12/26/2022

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It was a cold, windy day in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida. As we were walking along, we heard a sharp, screeching sound and saw a huge bird flying above. For a moment it appeared still, with its wings spread wide. To our great joy, it flew down and settled on the top of a tree: it was the Red tailed hawk, one of the largest of birds in North America.
Red tailed hawks have excellent vision. They can see colors, even in the ultraviolet range, which we humans cannot and their fantastic eyesight helps them find and catch prey from far distances. Red tails also have an extra eyelid. This transparent eyelid is called the nictitating membrane. They can close this extra eyelid when perched to shield their eyes from wind and for protection when diving into the water to make a kill.
Native Americans are said to have had a spiritual relationship with red-tail hawks. They are considered sacred and a protector spirit of the Cherokees. According to Native American shamans, the red-tailed hawk with its sharp, eagle-like whistle indicates that ‘you should clear your mind.’ Moreover if one spots them it is an augury that something very sacred is about to take place and the Creator is giving a message that a miracle is on the way.
One of the Red tailed Hawks made its way to Manhattan in the 90s, built its nest on a 12th floor ledge in Fifth Avenue and quickly adapted to its urban environment with remarkable ease. It attracted a lot of attention and was called Pale Male. Soon Pale Male found a partner in Lola and sired many youngsters. Unfortunately they failed to reproduce in 2004 when the residents of the apartment that Pale Male had selected for its nest, had it removed. There was a huge outcry and the public railed against the move and protests stopped traffic along Fifth Avenue! Eight years later, his new mate Lima was found dead in Central Park, most likely from eating a poisoned rat. The fate of Pale Male is shrouded in mystery. It was the subject of a documentary and a slew of books.
During its presence in Manhattan it lured and inspired many urbanites to the pleasures of bird watching!

Red tailed hawk
On its perch
A Hypnotic beauty

Kindly post your comments here!

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A Resplendent Raptor

12/10/2022

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As we were cruising along in the languid waters of the Everglades, the boat man whispered, Bald Eagle! There it was, soaring high up in the sky, flapping its wings and gliding. It spotted an osprey and in a second dove down and stole a fish from its beak! Having lost its catch, the osprey flew off meekly in another direction. Though I had seen the bald eagle on many occasions during its sorties in the sky, I had never been fortunate enough to have a close look at it. I was fervently hoping that luck would favour me this time around. To my great joy, after stealing the prey, the bald eagle settled down on the top branch of a tree and I watched it, totally enthralled for a minute, before it flew off. It is hard not to be marvelled by the regal presence of the bald eagle. That I had an opportunity to see one up close, is one my most treasured moments of birding!
The bald eagle's head is actually not bald! The name comes from an old English word, ‘balde’ meaning white. It can soar over 10,000 feet and because of its phenomenal eyesight it can see fish up to a mile away. When it spots one, it swoops down at 100 miles an hour, glides just above the water and snags the fish with its feet. Bald eagles are unusually devoted spouses and parents. They mate for life and tend not to move homes unless forced to.
Descendants of kites, eagles have been around for more than thirty million years. While no one knows precisely when the bald eagle appeared on the scene, the earliest known fossil remains that closely resemble the bald eagle date back to about a million years ago.
The bald eagle first appeared as an American symbol on a Massachusetts copper cent coined in 1776. Since then it has appeared on the reverse side of many U.S. coins. For six years, the members of Congress had a bitter dispute over what the national emblem should be. One of the most prominent opponents to the bald eagle’s status was Benjamin Franklin. He wrote: “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. The turkey is a much more respectable bird and a true, original native of America''. Other members in the Congress did not share Franklin’s sentiments. The Congress ultimately made it the central figure on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782. It displayed the bald eagle at its centre, wings outstretched, clutching an olive branch and a bundle of arrows. Representing fidelity, self-reliance, strength, and courage, the charismatic bird became more than a patriotic totem and quickly attained a venerable perch in America’s iconography. Its visage appeared on the US capitol dome and pediments, hard and paper currency, business and sports-team logos, coat buttons and cufflinks,
Yet as the American public revered the symbol, the bird itself was seen as a villain. Farmers in the 19th century loathed the birds, believing that they killed livestock, and a strange but popular myth claimed that the raptor could even snatch up helpless human babies. With the advent of DDT, its numbers plummeted. It is unthinkable that such a lofty bird could ever face extinction, let alone stare down that possibility twice, both times at the hands of humans. Rachel Carson's seminal book in 1962, Silent Spring helped to spark the environmental movement and exposed the hazards of rampant pesticide use on birds and other wildlife. The Environmental Protection Agency eventually banned DDT a decade later, just two years after the agency was established and their numbers soared. Without these actions the bald eagle could have gone the way of the dodo
The bald eagle has the power to mesmerise and inspire.
We all know Herman Melville for Moby Dick, but he also wrote poetry. In 1866, he published a book of poems about the Civil War called “Battle Pieces and Aspects of the Civil War”. One of the poems in the collection is “The Eagle of the Blue”, written about Ole Abe the War Eagle, the famous live bald eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry. Named after Abraham Lincoln, it saw a lot of action during the war. The Old Abe came out of every fight relatively unscathed, in spite of being shot at by Confederate soldiers eager to kill it.
I particularly like these lines in the poem which captures the essence of bald eagle:
No painted plume—a sober hue,
His beauty is his power;
That eager calm of gaze intent
Foresees the Sibyl’s hour.

Do let the bald eagle know what you think of it...your comments here!!

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The Insatiable Quest For Beauty...An abiding pursuit

11/15/2022

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Recently a former student of mine asked me a weighty question as to what is the background of my interest and passion in art/architecture and wildlife. He wanted me to write about it..
When I search for an answer within myself, I perceive that perhaps it is an unabiding quest for beauty in all its forms and expressions. We are immersed in it in our everyday lives, sometimes not being aware of it. Noticing beauty and creating experiences around them inspires me.
After I finished high school and before joining the PUC I spent several months with a well known painter Mr Krishnamurthy. Our interactions would start around 8PM and would go on till late night. He introduced me to various art forms and opened up avenues of appreciating them. I discovered the enchanting art of Batik under his tutelage and did a few paintings myself.
When I joined MBBS in JIPMER, I was immersed in its artistic ambiance. Reproductions of famous paintings and sculptures adorned every corner of the hospital and college premises. It was perhaps the only medical institution in the country which had a resident artist. There was also a photography club. I didn’t have a camera at that time and I borrowed one from my cousin (who is a well known, talented cinematographer). On weekends I used to cycle around in the environs of the college and in Auroville, which was taking shape at that time. During these forays I took photographs; sometimes my friends volunteered to be my subjects. When I showed some of these to the photographer in the college, he encouraged me to print and send them for a competition where they won prizes. I also sold some of my Batik paintings to my teacher!
After my undergraduate career, the transition was from the outer landscapes which I was trying to capture through the lens of a camera to that of the interior which I wanted to explore and understand. And a career in psychiatry was an organic choice. The environs of NIMHANS provided a creative space for reflection in thinking. I initiated a 'brainstorming' session which took place every Saturday morning in which trainees could start looking outside the conventional medical box. It provided scope for the students to share and discuss poetry, arts and issues of contemporary concerns. These conversations drew attention to the role of aesthetics both in personal and professional lives and enhanced many of the competencies in trainees: empathic communication, curiosity and reflexive capacity. During one such session, a student talked about her interest in birding and introduced me to it during a unit visit to Bandipur. It was a magical experience which has had a lasting hold on me since then.
Over the years, Ahalya and myself found time to explore many national parks across the country. More than sighting and photographing birds and other denizens of the forest, being amidst nature is itself a spiritual experience for me. For me it is akin to meditating in that small room in Ramanasramam.
My interest in temple architecture/paintings had its moorings during a visit to the terracotta temples at Bishnupur, decades ago. Clay is one of the oldest building materials used in the history of mankind. Terracotta is essentially baked clay and was largely used to make objects like pots for everyday use. I was wonderstruck to see the manner in which this material was used here. Intricate compositions, panels and friezes depicting various mythological themes adorned the walls of the temples. On my return I read about the history and background of the place, which enriched my understanding of the temple and its architecture. This spurned me to look closely at sculptures, starting with the pillars that adorn temples. Usually we walk past them to the main sanctum, in quest of perceived salvation. Every time I observe these pillars closely, I am amazed at the artistry of the unknown sculptors who have embellished even an innocuous structure like a pillar. Over the years I have also been drawn into the iconography of sculptures in temples. Each and every sculpture in a temple is imbued with symbolic meaning, the posture, gesture,number of arms, weapons and ornamentation. Even the placement of sculptures in temples is carefully planned. For instance one can find two beautifully carved female figures on either side of the entrance to the temple.They are Ganga and Yamuna, symbolically conveying that the person has to purify himself/herself before entering the precincts of a place of worship.
I used to dabble in painting. Though my painting brush has remained idle for a long while, paintings have an irresistible appeal and I make it a point to visit art galleries and museums whenever we travel. During a visit to the Virupaksha temple at Hampi, I chanced upon the mural paintings on the ceiling. I was mesmerised by their rich tapestry and play of colours. Besotted with them, I visited a couple of other places to discover and savour more Vijayanagar and Nayak era murals, some of them in relatively unknown places. It has been a fascinating discovery to become aware of many layers of mythological narratives that are portrayed in murals and sculptures. They offer immense scope for psychological explorations!
I feel inspired and passionate about life in all these forays. It sustains and nurtures the quest for beauty in everyday experience and stokes the creative spirit in me. It finds expression even in my powerpoint presentations!
Beauty abounds us in often the simplest of ways. It is always present in the hidden loveliness of all things. It may be found in places where we believe that beauty could never exist…like a withered leaf reflecting the evening sun and being illuminated by it: its inner brilliance comes alive at that moment.
Everything is beautiful when our hearts, minds, and souls are open to experiences.
In Khalil Gibran’s words, “Beauty is a reflection of what we are. Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are eternity and you are the mirror”.
I would deeply appreciate your responses and look forward to them!