Nandi, Shiva’s bull mount is delineated in a pristine white shade with small horns, large animated eyes, and a countenance that looks as if smiling at the delight of being a witness to the harmony of Shiva and Shakti. Gold ornaments- headgear and a series of bells along with a Tripunda (Shaivite mark) embellish Nandi, fitting his status as the trusted guard and mount of Shiva

His gaze seems to be fixed on its Lord Shiva who is seated in the center of this Shiva and Parvati Tanjore painting, four-armed, holding his Damru (drum) and fire in the secondary hands, and Devi Uma with his left hand.

Both Shiva and Parvati in this vibrant Tanjore artwork are dressed in fine attires- Shiva taking the fineries of a king, with gold ornaments adorning his Jata (locks), rows of necklaces, and a golden dhoti over his loincloth of tiger skin and Uma wrapped in a lovely deep pink sari. The couple has wedding garlands around their necks, underlining that the Tanjore painting of Shiva and Parvati is a celebration of their wedding or Kalyanam, whose rituals are depicted in the category of Tanjore paintings known as Meenakshi Kalyanam.

The coming together of Shiva and Shakti in Hinduism and Indian art tradition is a celebrated theme as it marks an auspicious turn of events for the entire universe- the moment when the primordial mother wedded the primordial father. A slight smile on Shiva’s visage and the joyful expression of Maa Parvati capture the paradisiacal charisma that the two radiate as Uma-Maheshvara.

An arched structure with pairs of parrots, the bird mounts of Kamadeva (Hindu god of love) with their feathers unfurled into flowing vines frame this exquisite Tanjore painting. In the background which is painted in a deep maroon stands a tree, full of blossoming flowers and parrots nestled in its lush greenery.

The presence of a parrot in this Tanjore Shiva Parvati painting is a symbolic festival of the success that Kamadeva achieved by bringing Shiva and Shakti together, the divine event that continues to inspire stunning artworks, like this.

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.