Meenakshi Kalyanam Tanjore Painting with Frame | Traditional Colors with 24 Karat Gold

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Golden arch decorated with sprawling vegetation and a luxurious green drapery and a rectangular pedestal covered with gold leaf and tiny stones set the stage for the commencement of the auspicious ritual of “Paani-grahana” (taking or grahana or Paani or hand of the bride, by the groom). A deep red background which is one of the characteristic features of traditional Thanjavur paintings represents universal activity powered by the union of Shiva with Shakti.

To the left of the viewer on the golden canvas stand the blue-skinned Lord Vishnu alongside the divine bride Meenakshi Amman, clad in golden attire, holding a lotus flower in one hand, while the other extends to reach Shiva’s. Bhagwan Shiva is presented as a four-armed heavenly being, glowing with a moon-like aura, his hair tied in a snug and unique Jatamukuta (crown of hair locks), Tripunda on his forehead, and a layer of gold enriching his image with a deific aura in this Tanjore painting.

Sri Vishnu in South Indian tradition is the brother of Devi Parvati or Durga, which makes him a relative to Meenakshi Amman whose hand he gives in marriage to Pashupati (Lord of Souls) Shiva. Though the canvas appears to be divided into two halves due to the opposite positioning of Sri Vishnu, goddess Meenakshi, and Lord Shiva, the use of a two-third facial profile, equal height of the divine subjects and their left hand in a pointing forth gesture brings a hidden symmetry to the image.

Under the golden platform on which the three stands are diminutive figures of Lord Brahma identifiable by his three visible faces and an officiating priest, sitting on either side of the pious sacrificial fire. Brahma Ji appears to be offering ghee to the fire, as the priest chants ritual mantras for the ceremony. A classic example of Tanjore tradition, this Meenakshi Kalyanam painting will bring to you the enlivening powers of Shiva-Shakti along with the benevolence of Sri Vishnu and the creator Brahma himself.

Gilded Elegance: Unraveling the Artistry of Tanjore Paintings

Tanjore painting is a traditional form of art in the South Indian style and was started by the inhabitants of a small town known as Thanjavur of Tamil Nadu. This gives it another name called “Thanjavur painting”. This painting draws its figures, designs, and inspiration from the time when Vedic culture was prevalent in India. Certain remarkable features of a Tanjore painting distinguish it from other paintings. Some of these are pure gold or gold foil coating on gesso work, the use of rich and vivid colors, and the inlay of cut-glass or semi-precious and precious stones. The subjects of most of the Tanjore paintings are Hindu Gods, Goddesses, and saints. The main devotional figure is portrayed in the central portion of the painting and is usually surrounded by various secondary figures.

The process of making a Tanjore painting

The classic Tanjore paintings are done on wooden planks and hence are also referred to as Palagai Padam in South India (Palagai = Wooden plank, Padam = Picture). Creating a masterpiece is never an easy task but the skilled artists of Thanjavur have been following the tradition of making timeless Tanjore paintings for decades.

The making process begins with preparing the wooden board or canvas. The size of the board depends upon the choice of the patron. The next step is to paste cardboard over the wooden board and then a cotton fabric is stretched and pasted upon it using Arabic gum.

Now that the cloth is attached to the wooden panel, a rough sketch of the motifs and figure is drawn onto the fabric. After this, a paste of chalk powder and water-soluble adhesive is evenly applied over the base and smoothed.

Thereafter, the outlines which were made or traced using a stencil are now ready to be beautified and decked with various add-ons. The usual materials for decoration are cut-glass, pearls, semi-precious and precious gems, gold leaf, and laces. 22 or 18 Karat Gold leaves and gems of varied hues are especially inlaid in areas like pillars, arches, walls, thrones, and dresses. In the final step, the rest of the painting is filled with rich and striking colors such as shades of red, blue, and green. Formerly, the artists used natural colors like vegetable and mineral dyes instead of chemical paints. The entire painting is then cleaned and refined to give a flawless finished look.

Since the making of a single piece of Tanjore painting requires a complex and elaborate process, the artists usually take at least one or two months to complete it. The use of pure gold foil and gems for beautification is a characteristic of an authentic Tanjore painting. Due to this, Tanjore paintings last for generations without getting tarnished and are much more expensive than general paintings. Though the art form has undergone various changes and technique modifications over the years, it continues to attract the hearts of art lovers.