The Artisans Blog

Music That Symbolizes Royalty

History says that the kings of a bygone time took great interest in different forms of art right from painting and sculpture to dance and music. Many great artists, dancers and musicians made their mark in their period of rule as they were quite generous towards them and rewarded them handsomely. Tansen was given a special place in Akbar’s court, as was Kalidasa in Vikramaditya’s.

Music, art and dance also flourished and reached great heights at that time and hence many more budding artists were encouraged to follow suit. Courtroom sessions where the artists entertained the king and other royal officials were a common sight and are depicted in films and literature even today.

This sandstone sculpture made by experts at Artisans Crest captures a very delicate essence of a maiden playing her instrument, lost in the music. The detailing of the sculpture captures the grace of the woman and grandeur of her attire which is studded with expensive stones. Her poise and her passion for music enchants her audience as they all sway to her tunes. Such sculptures, when placed in the main hallway, are a great way to express your love for music and art.

This sculpture can be customised to your requirement. To know more, please take a look at https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/sandstone/products/sculpture-sandstone-statue-maiden-52

The Lord Of All Living Forms

Can you believe that the very earliest representation of Lord Shiva (as we know him today) dates back to the very first civilization of the world? Yes, the Indus Valley Civilization stuns us in its depiction of divinity. It offers proof, in the form of coins, carvings and motifs, that the earliest human settlers understood the forces of nature and attributed power to them.

In modern literature, Pashupati is understood to mean Lord of the cattle. Indeed, cattle and domestic animals formed the basis of all civilizations with their ability to provide meat, milk and hard labour. However, in its earliest interpretation, Pashupatinath means lord of all living things. ‘Pashu’ or animals can be wild or domesticated, can fly or crawl, and there is one Lord to rule them all. Perhaps, associating one concrete representation with the vagaries of nature helped our ancestors attain a sense of settlement in their everyday life.

Pashupati is considered to be the male consort of Shakti, or nature. Even today, it is believed that no worship of the Mother Goddess is complete without the worship of Shiva- Viswanath, Somnath, Mallikarjun, Kedarnath- the names are endless, as are his forms and mysteries.

Another mind-boggling aspect of Shiva comes to fore in his name. Sanskrit etymology tells us that ‘Shva’ in its root form also refers to ‘Shava’- a dead body. It serves as a reminder that without Shiva or the life force, our body is a Shava, or dead.

Our metal artisans bring to life the many aspects of Shiva, capturing his mystery in half-closed eyes and a pleasant smile. Read more about the metal sculpture here: https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/metal/products/sculpture-metal-statue-shiva-07

The Nurturer Of Worlds Who Rests On A Sea Of Dreams

Lord Vishnu is one of the most prominent deities in Hindu mythology and is known by many names and depicted in many forms. One of the most iconic depictions of the Lord is him resting on the coils of Sesha Naga in Kshira-Sagara literally meaning the Milky Ocean, while his divine consort Devi Lakshmi serves him at his feet.

Of the many meanings drawn from this illustration, the most logical one is that it is a depiction of the ultimate working of the universe and the hold Lord Vishnu has over it.

Sesha literally means “The one which remains” and hence Sesha Naga symbolises the ultimate form of eternal energy that drives the entire universe and is inexhaustible. The coiling of Sesha Naga is a pictorial representation of the kalpas. A kalpa is a cosmic time period which is generally one cycle of creation and dissolution of the universe.

Lord Vishnu resting on it symbolises the fact that it is he who is above all the cosmic energy and controls it, meaning he is the ultimate god. It is said that everything that happens in our world is simply a dream conjured up by God.

This blackstone sculpture depicts the cosmic scene in a very precise manner, with intricate details that bring out the very essence of the divine moment.  Follow the link to view the sculpture and customize. https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/blackstone/products/sculpture-blackstone-statue-vishnu-86

The Savior Of The Worlds, Captured In A Painting

Jagannath is an amalgamation of the words ‘jagat’ meaning world or worlds, and ‘natha’ meaning Lord. Thus, the Lord of the worlds is a rescuer, one who welcomes refugees with open arms and puts their suffering to rest. The most common association of the word Jagannath is with the shrine in Puri.

 Legend has it that a king offered severe penance for a vision of the Lord Vishnu and to attain moksha, relief from the cycle of birth and death. The king was instructed to go to the Eastern seashore of modern-day India, and find a log that would then be converted into three idols, one each for Krishna and his siblings Subhadra and Balarama. It is said the Lord Vishnu himself appeared in the guise of a carpenter and offered to make the idols. He had one condition though. No one was to unlock the sanctum or disturb him until he was done. The anxious queen couldn’t’ resist, especially when she could hear no sound inside for weeks on end.

Upon doing so, she realized her folly, for there was no sculptor to be seen and the idols had all their features in place, except their hands. However, the king went ahead and installed them in a temple that is today thronged by thousands of devotees and believers. This quaint, beautiful story is captured in a pattachitra painting by our artisans. The features come as close to the original idols as possible, assuring us that our greatest gift is the belief we place in a higher force. Find more details of the painting here: https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/pattachitra-painting/products/painting-pattachitra-jaganath-06

The Circle of Life as Depicted in Lord Buddha’s Teachings

Around 567 B.C.E, a prince took birth in the Shakya clan. 12 years before his birth, it was prophesied that this lad would grow up to either a world-renowned king or would lead his life as an ascetic. To prevent the latter from happening, his father, the chief of the clan decided to isolate him from the rest of the world.

The prince, named Siddhartha Gautama grew up knowing only riches and luxuries. But as fate would have it, one day he witnessed a sick man, an old man, and a corpse. Having not been prepared to face the realities of the world, this sight made him restless. He was troubled with questions relating to the existence, survival, suffering, disease, poverty and more. 

He decided to find answers for himself and hence, at a young age of 29, the prince of the Shakya clan of modern-day Nepal Siddhartha Gautama left his kingdom, wife, children, riches, and luxuries to follow a path so unconventional that even now, hundreds of years later, he is remembered and worshipped by a number of people around the world as “Gautama Buddha” meaning “the enlightened one”.

He spent about 6 years of his life seeking answers to the turmoil in society. As part of this endeavor, he met a number of ascetics, scholars and more. He then meditated under a Bodhi tree for several days, concentrating on his thoughts. It is said that in his meditation he caught a glimpse of his life and his previous lives and also encountered a demon called Mara. Crossing the hurdles, he ultimately attained enlightenment and made it his life’s aim to preach and teach to the world.

An iconic feature of his teaching was his use of hands to form different poses (mudras), each conveying a deeper message. The Vitarka mudra shown here is performed by joining the tips of the thumb and the index finger together while the other three fingers point upwards. It is said that the joining of thumb and index finger to form a circle symbolizes the constant flow of energy and information.

In all its grandeur, our skilled team of artisans can provide this wooden sculpture of the Lord in your desired dimensions and specifications.

Saraswati- The Goddess Of Knowledge

In Hindu mythology and the Vedas, goddess Saraswati gets mention as the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music and the arts. She is considered one among the holy trinity consisting of Goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati, and she is the consort of Lord Brahma.

She is depicted as a beautiful lady clad in a crisp white saree, seated on a lotus. She is shown having four arms each holding a book, a mala, a pot and a veena. A swan or a peacock is often depicted alongside her.

The white theme that accompanies her iconography represents light, purity, knowledge, wisdom, insights and truth. The book she holds stands as a representation of the Vedas while the mala symbolizes the power of inner reflection through meditation. The pot of water she carries represents purity and the veena represents all forms of art and music. Her vahana, the swan is considered a very sacred bird symbolising grace, poise and perfection.

Vasanta Panchami or the fifth day or Spring is dedicated to her worship and it is on this day that many children are taught to read and write by seeking her blessings.

This sandstone sculpture intricately designed and carved by our artisans does justice to all the small details and depicts her seated on a throne clad in a saree, adorned with heavy jewellery and playing the veena in bliss.

This artefact can be custom made and tailored according to your needs. Click on the link for more details: https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/sandstone/products/sculpture-sandstone-statue-saraswati-21

Nataraja: The Lord of Dance

Nataraja, ‘The lord of Dance’, is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as an ecstatic dancer. When he performs the Ananda Tandava, the universe is created, maintained and dissolved. The most common illustrations focus on the energy in dancing. He dances within a circular or cyclically closed arch of flames which represent the cosmic fire that creates everything and consumes everything while also highlighting a cyclic existence. His legs are bent, which suggests an energetic dance. His long, matted tresses are shown loose and flying out in thin strands during the dance, spread into a fan behind his head.

On his right side, meshed in with one of the flying strands of his hair, is typically the river Ganges personified as a Goddess. In Hindu mythology, the potential danger of a mighty river that falls from the heavens is offset by the power of nature that tames it and controls its strength.

In his upper right hand, Nataraj holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass that is called a ḍamaru in Sanskrit. A specific hand gesture (mudra) called ḍamaru-hasta is used to hold the drum, which symbolizes rhythm and time. His upper left hand contains Agni or fire, which signifies forces of creation and destruction. The opposing concepts show the counterpoise nature of life. A Naga uncoils from his lower right forearm, while his palm shows the Abhaya mudra suggesting that faith can dispel fear. It also represents the more generic theme of ignorance surrounding the devotee as he or she follows the path of dharma. The second left hand points towards the raised foot which shows the viewer that the ultimate bhakti lies in surrendering at the feet of a higher force.

The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead which collectively symbolizes the triune in Shaivism. The eyes represent the sun, the moon and the third has been interpreted as the inner eye, or symbol of knowledge (jnana), urging the viewer to seek inner wisdom and self-realization. The three eyes alternatively symbolize equilibrium of the three Guṇas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the demon Apasmara purusha (Muyalaka, as it is known in Tamil), and it symbolises the fact that proactive effort can lead to victory over demonic evil and ignorance. The slightly smiling face of Shiva represents his calmness despite being immersed in the contrasting forces of universe and his energetic dance.

This sandstone depiction of the Nataraja avatar of Lord Shiva is characterized by its intricate carving and its attention to detail. The exquisite workmanship makes this artefact the perfect addition to your entryway or courtyard décor and can be customized according to your unique requirements.

Get in touch with us today and co-create your own masterpiece.

To purchase this intricate piece of art, please click here: https://www.artisanscrest.in/products/sculpture-sandstone-statue-natraja-shiva-95

Ganesha: The Revered and Beloved Indian God

Among the vast pantheon of Indian gods, Lord Ganesha occupies a special place in the hearts and minds of devotees across the globe. The elephant-headed son of Shiva, Ganesha is revered for his wit, intellect, his patronage for arts and also his benevolence towards devotees. Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles and bestows boons of prosperity and success to those who believe.

It is considered auspicious to pray to Ganesha to bless new enterprises or break down barriers in our lives, and devotees of Ganesha are known to trek for miles to Ganesha temples to seek the God’s blessings upon their new enterprise and lives.

Given his unique position as the patron saint of the arts, Lord Ganesha has inspired artisans right from ancient times to pay tribute to him with exquisite masterpieces honoring the various sides to his personality. This beautiful woodwork statue of Ganesha features him seated upon his trusted mount and companion, with his trunk turned left and holding a sweet, usually a laddoo. These depictions are spiritually significant; the trunk turning left symbolizes the cooling power of the ida nadi, the force that invokes the moon and is associated with the mighty Ganges river. The sweet ball is seen to represent the spiritual and material prosperity that Ganesha bestows upon his devotees.

Our traditional community of skilled artisans has created this exquisite masterpiece in wood as a means of paying tribute to this beloved, fun-loving god, taking care to depict Ganesha in all his roles and to honor the wit, the humor, and the reverence that this beloved deity evokes in all of us.

This exquisite masterpiece can also be custom-made as per your unique requirements. Get in touch with us and collaborate along with our skilled team of artisans to co-create your little piece of Indian art history and tradition.

For more product information, please click here: https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/woodwork/products/sculpture-wood-statue-ganesha-05

A Sense Of Balance And Harmony: Lord Buddha In The Abhaya Mudra

Peace, tranquillity, harmony, and balance. Those are words often associated with Buddhism, and thus the Buddha's likeness has become a popular presence in many homes as a centerpiece or accessory, even amongst non-believers.

Typical depictions of Lord Buddha show him in either the Dharmachakra Mudra position, the Bhumisparsha position or the more popular, Abhaya Mudra position.

The Abhaya mudra (mudra of no-fear) represents protection, peace, benevolence, and dispelling of fear. In Theravada Buddhism, it is usually made with the right hand raised to shoulder height, the arm bent, and the palm facing outward with the fingers upright and joined and the left hand hanging down while standing. In Thailand and Laos, this mudra is associated with the walking Buddha, often shown having both hands making a double Abhaya mudra that is uniform.

The mudra was probably used before the onset of Buddhism as a symbol of good intentions proposing friendship when approaching strangers.

The gesture was used by the Buddha when attacked by an elephant, subduing it as shown in several frescoes and scripts. In Mahayana Buddhism, the northern schools' deities often paired it with another mudra using the other hand.

Our dedicated team of artisans has created this masterpiece in metal, designed to pay tribute to the fearlessness of the Lord and to help spread harmony, peace, and positivity through the house. As the base material is metal, place the statue in the western portion of your home, considered to be most auspicious for metal.

In all its grandeur, this exquisite masterpiece can be customized according to your unique requirements.

Get in touch with us today and co-create your own masterpiece.

To purchase this exquisite masterpiece, please click here: https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/metal/products/sculpture-metal-stone-statue-buddha-20

Spiritual Romance: Experiencing Divine Love Beyond Two People

Pattachitra evolved from Sanskrit. When broken down into its two parts, Patta means cloth, and Chitra means picture. Hence, Pattachitra is a picture painted on a piece of cloth. This form of art is closely related to the cult of Shri Jagannath and the temple traditions in Puri. Believed to have originated as early as the 12th century, it is one of the most popular living art forms, and people in Odisha practice it to this day.

Almost all of the Chitrakar community hails from a small village in Puri district called Raghurajpur. This is also the only village in India where each family is engaged in crafts, such as patta painting, wooden toys, stone carvings, etc. For Pattachitra painting, the Chitrakars follow a traditional process of preparing the canvas. A gauze-like fine cotton cloth is coated with white stone powder and gum made out of tamarind seeds. This makes the canvass ready to accept the paint, made of natural colors.

At Artisanscrest, Pattachitra painters form a key part of our exclusive team of artisans, working together to churn out exquisite masterpieces such as this exquisite tribute to Radha and Krishna. Artistic depictions of Radha and Krishna traditionally have had them accompanied by the gopis. This artistic device serves to remind the audience of not only the love that each Gopi felt for Krishna, but to also establish Radha’s superiority by placing her above them.

Lord Krishna is traditionally depicted as being just as enamored of Radha as the milkmaids are of him. This exquisite Pattachitra painting uses natural colors and exquisite and intricate brush strokes to bring alive a night under the moon in the forests of Vrindaavan, colorfully and vividly expressing one of the greatest and most beloved love stories in all the Indian epics.

This particular painting can be custom-made according to our customer’s unique needs. Our dedicated team of artisans works closely with each unique customer to make sure that the masterpiece is catered to their house and their tastes and sensibilities. Get in touch with us today to co-create your own masterpiece.

To customize, please click here: https://www.artisanscrest.in/pages/customize-product

To purchase this exquisite painting, please click here: https://www.artisanscrest.in/collections/pattachitra-painting/products/painting-pattachitra-radha-krishna-09