GANESHA -MY TANJORE PAINTING

"VAKRA THUNDA MAHAA KAAYA

SOORYA KODI SAMPRABHA...

NIRVIGNAM GURAVE DEVA...

SARVA KAARYESHU SARVADAA..."

Ganesha or Ganapathi or Vigneshwara

is an all time favorite theme 

in all Indian arts and crafts...

and Tanjore paintings are no exception...

In fact ,Ganesha is first invoked before

undertaking any significant venture 

which has religious ,cultural or social signifance...

Even before commencing a journey,

it is common to see in all households-

a small prayer is offered to Ganesha and 

coconut is broken before him 

before embarking on a journey...

This Tanjore painting is 20"x16" in size...

It too me just two weeks to finish it 

in spite of my other commitments

and I am sure this would not have been 

possible without Lord Ganesha's blessings...

I love the look of this calm Ganesha

clad in a golden dhothi and vest (kavacham)

his gem encrusted,cushioned, golden seat

arched ,intricately decorated prabhaavali(srivaanji)

The bolster cushion,green curtains ,the yaali,

the delicate lotus on which he rests his foot,

and the little mooshik nibbling on a modhak

 and plates of offerings(neivedyams)

add to the richness and beauty of this traditional painting.