Lord Kalantaka To The Rescue Of Sage Markandeya

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The young Sage Markandeya is the object of Lord Shiva’s divine grace. Blessed to Sage Mrikandu as his only son and destined to live a mere sixteen years, he learnt the Mahamrityunjaya mantra (the mantra of the great conqueror of death, an allusion to none other than Lord Shiva Himself) just in time for the arrival of Lord Yama, the presider over death and the afterlife.

It is said that at that juncture between life and death, Lord Shiva arrived in His Kalantaka form to the rescue of Sage Markandeya. ‘Kala’ in Sanskrt stands for time and the inevitability of it, and ‘antaka’ means one who ends. The folk painting that you see on this page depicts the victory of Lord Kalantaka over Lord Yama. To the right is the dusky Lord Yama astride the ferocious grey bull of patalaloka (the netherworld). He is making straight for the Sage who, to the left of the painting, clings with fervent devotion to the Shivalingam. Lord Kalantaka rises above the Shivalingam and - in all the glory of His ashen-coloured chaturbhujadhari (four-armed) roopa (form) - He pierces Lord Yama with His trishool (trident) and defeats Him.

The backdrop is a powerful, complex network of vicious snakes and seductive vines, which make for an otherworldly allure. Zoom in on each aspect of the same to appreciate the skill and perfection with each it has been executed.

Item Code: DN60
Artist: Vibhooti Jha
Specifications:
Madhubani Painting on Hand Made Paper Folk Painting from the Village of Madhubani (Bihar) Artist: Vibhooti Jha
Dimensions 29 inch x 21 inch
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade

Colors of Tradition: Exploring the Artistry Behind Madhubani Paintings

Madhubani painting is also known as Mithila art as it is practiced in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It has specifically originated from the Madhubani district of the state of Bihar. Traditionally, the women of this region created these paintings and in recent years, it has become a widely practiced art and has now become renowned throughout the world. This art expresses the creativity and culture of the people of Mithila and is passed from one generation to another. In this way, the heritage of Madhubani art has been preserved for many decades. The subjects of these paintings are usually religion, love, and fertility. Sometimes, social events like festivals, weddings, and royal court are also depicted in the paintings. The most commonly painted designs and themes are the forms of Hindu Gods and Goddesses such as Ganesha, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Krishna, and Ram. The characteristic features of Madhubani paintings are their vibrant colors and eye-catching geometrical patterns. The empty spaces are filled with traditional motifs such as floral and foliate patterns, animals, birds, geometrical structures, and other designs. The local artists create these paintings using a variety of items such as matchsticks, twigs, brushes, pens, or even their own fingers. The paints are usually made with natural dyes and pigments.
As simple as it may seem, the making process of the world-famous Madhubani paintings is certainly not easy and requires lots of hard labor.
Traditional Madhubani paintings are done either on cloth, handmade paper, or canvas. Select the medium of painting as per your choice. If you have chosen cloth, attach it to cardboard to make a solid base. The making of the painting begins with making a double-lined border. This is a very important step because the border is filled with various geographical shapes and patterns or other motifs. The average width of the border is 1.5 - 2 cm. Now that the border is created, you will be left with a blank middle space. This is the main workspace. Start drawing your choice of figure, designs, and shapes. These must be relevant to the Madhubani painting themes.
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When the key design has been made, the empty spaces in between are filled with some designs.
Now is the time to color the painting using vivid shades and hues. Colors in Madhubani are sourced from nature; Indigo is used to produce blue, flower juice produces red, turmeric gives yellow, leaves produce green, cow dung mixed soot gives black, and rice powder gives white.
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To paint these colors, the artist uses a bamboo stick and wraps cotton around it. This acts as a traditional brush.
The entire painting is now painted using this special brush with natural vibrant colors. · However, in modern times, the common brush is used and instead of natural colors, artists prefer to use acrylic paints.
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Since the entire painting is made with natural materials and colors, it appears simple yet enriching. Originally, this art was created on mud walls or soil grounds but when it evolved over many years, the people of Madhubani started to make it on fabric and paper. Today, this art has become globalized and is receiving worldwide attention and appreciation.
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