Mathangakanyam manasa smarami
Mathangi is
A feelingAn experience
A prayer
A hope
A vow
A blessing
A boon.
(11.5*16 inches, Watercolour and gouache on paper, April 2021)
She eludes, She inspires, She soothes, She at once reveals and obliviates.
She is all that and much more. How do I depict Her, the Mother of the universe who is Lalitha's Mantrini, Shiva's consort, Krishna's shakthi and Rama Herself. Somewhere the line blurred between the artist and the devotee. Despite the awe inspiring aspects, it is the benign and benevolent that impressed more.
Vaakdevatha that She is,She inspired a dumb poet, Mooka kavi to write 500 verses and a simpleton, Kalidasa to sing the beautiful n dynamic Shyamala dhandakam.
"Mookam karothi vachalam pangum langayathe girim..."
She is all that and much more. How do I depict Her, the Mother of the universe who is Lalitha's Mantrini, Shiva's consort, Krishna's shakthi and Rama Herself. Somewhere the line blurred between the artist and the devotee. Despite the awe inspiring aspects, it is the benign and benevolent that impressed more.
Vaakdevatha that She is,She inspired a dumb poet, Mooka kavi to write 500 verses and a simpleton, Kalidasa to sing the beautiful n dynamic Shyamala dhandakam.
"Mookam karothi vachalam pangum langayathe girim..."
She makes the dumb speak and cripples leap mountains..
She gives life, knowledge, harmony and protection. Hence the amritha, the spatika mala, the chinmudra / gyanamudra, pushpabana (trigger, nudge to create) and of course the manickyaveena. The parrots, her pets are us who know not Her magnificence and are content to be playing with Her. The white lotus alludes to Kumaraguruparar's Sakalakalavallimalai (thamizh), where he asks Her to rest Her feet on his white lotuslike heart instead.
She gives life, knowledge, harmony and protection. Hence the amritha, the spatika mala, the chinmudra / gyanamudra, pushpabana (trigger, nudge to create) and of course the manickyaveena. The parrots, her pets are us who know not Her magnificence and are content to be playing with Her. The white lotus alludes to Kumaraguruparar's Sakalakalavallimalai (thamizh), where he asks Her to rest Her feet on his white lotuslike heart instead.
Her kadhambavana is home, ashraya, to all beings, the bees, the deer etc.
She is Shyamala, the dark one, Kalika, Neela Saraswati, Meenakshi, Padithurai Paechiamman (Madurai), Lalitha's Mantrini, Geyachakra ratharooda, Laghushyamala, Nakuleeswari, Ucchishtamathangi, Thamboolamathangi, Rajamathangi, one of the Ten mahavidyas.
The all encompassing Mother of the universe, who should be shown as a Viratswaroopam, who is of many colours, and has various attributes is my Maragadha Shyama. A simplified depiction, a partial vision, an attempt to visualise Kalidasa's transforming, life-altering vision.
In the heart of the ocean of nectar, in the Manidweepa (akin to the Chinthamanigruha of Lalitha, the Buddhist Shambala and the Jeena Samavasarana, The Sacred Space), in the middle of the kadhambavana, surrounded by vilva forests, seated on a rathna simhasana, reigns the Queen of music, Goddess of speech, of all vidhyas, Jaganmatruka.
Devi thubyam namo, Devi thubyam namo, Devi thubhyam namaha
Painting along with my favourite rendition of Shyamala Dandakam by Smt. D.K. Pattammal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqMyrp_N86s
Ps. Dint mention the palash did I? Kimshukam, the blossoms that are like parrots' beaks, the bright scarlet n yellow which is the colour of Her garments. And to the most controversial, Kadhamba:) Mathangi accepts even leftovers. Guessed she'll accept all 3, Neolamarckia kadamba, Mitragyna parvifloria and Barringtonia racemosa/ Barringtonia acutangula.
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