Original Art by Harini Narayan - Gouache and acrylic on water colour paper. 11x14"
#Indian miniature #Pichchvai #sacredgeomtery #Vishnu #Vanamali #Andal #East Indian Bracelet Parrakeet
See below for Andal's story.
Andal's story
The story of Andal is a beautiful account of the highest form of love and devotion to the chosen form of the Supreme God. Andal was the only female saint among 12 saints known as Alwars in the SriVaishnava tradition who worshipped Vishnu as the Supreme God. She is believed to have composed poetry out of love for Kannan, (another name for Krishna) a form of Vishnu approximately in the 7th or 8th century AD. Her compositions are believed to capture the highest philosophical ideas which form the essence of the Vedas. Her celebrated composition, the Tiruppavai, is sung early in the morning in the month of Margazhi, where young girls pray for a good and noble husband like Vishnu!
Vishnuchittar, also known as Periyazhvar, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, who tended to his garden and offered garlands made out of the flowers from his garden to the temple in Srirangam. One day, he heard the cries of an infant coming from his garden and found a beautiful baby girl under a bush. He named her Kodai and cared for her as his child. She was brought up hearing stories about the handsome and noble Vishnu in his many forms and believed from a young age that she will one day marry him. She saw her father make garlands to be sent to the temple, and tried out the garland herself before it is sent to the temple. This happened several days without her father's knowledge. One day, however, the temple priest called Vishnuchittar and showed him the garland which bore signs of already having been used. There was a strand of human hair found on the garland. Vishnuchittar was saddened when he realized that his dear daughter Kodai had tried on the garland first, even though this was forbidden. He returned to his home and chastised her. He then made a fresh garland to send to the temple. That night he had a dream where Lord Vishnu himself appeared and asked Vishnuchittar why he gave him a fresh garland when he was used to having the garland worn by Kodai. Vishnu said that he missed the fragrance of Kodai in the garland! Vishnuchittar was amazed and realized that Vishnu had indeed also chosen Kodai as his consort. He is then instructed to make preparations for the wedding so that Vishnu can come and marry Kodai.
The auspicious day brought the most handsome Bridegroom to Vishnuchittar's home where the wedding was celebrated with all the necessary rituals. Vishnuchittar then realized that Kodai must leave with her husband to Srirangam, where Vishuu as Ranganatha reposes on his serpent bed. He bid his dearest daughter and Son-in-law a fond farewell and the procession left for Srirangam. When Lord Ranganatha arrived in Srirangam, he walked swiftly into the temple and entered the sanctum sanctorum where he reclines on Adisesha, the 1000-headed serpent. The shy bride Kodai followed behind her newly-wedded husband. When He entered the sanctum sanctorum, she hesitated. She was bashful to enter his bedroom! But she paused only for a minute, before she realized that she was, after all, His consort and was entitled to be at his side! She walked in behind her husband and disappeared into the sanctum. Young Kodai had merged with her Lord Ranganatha!
Kodai is forever revered as Andal and is considered an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and all SriVaishnava temples have a sanctum dedicated to her. She is always represented with a parrot in her hand.
It is the presence of the parrot which inspired me to create this painting. Here, Vishnu is referred to as Vanamali - one who wears the garland made out of forest creepers - and is represented as a beautiful forest tree. Isn't He everywhere around us? Andal, is represented as a parrot and is shown nestled in His lap. The artist has chosen to depict Andal as an East Indian Bracelet Parrakeet.
#Indian miniature #Pichchvai #sacredgeomtery #Vishnu #Vanamali #Andal #East Indian Bracelet Parrakeet
See below for Andal's story.
Andal's story
The story of Andal is a beautiful account of the highest form of love and devotion to the chosen form of the Supreme God. Andal was the only female saint among 12 saints known as Alwars in the SriVaishnava tradition who worshipped Vishnu as the Supreme God. She is believed to have composed poetry out of love for Kannan, (another name for Krishna) a form of Vishnu approximately in the 7th or 8th century AD. Her compositions are believed to capture the highest philosophical ideas which form the essence of the Vedas. Her celebrated composition, the Tiruppavai, is sung early in the morning in the month of Margazhi, where young girls pray for a good and noble husband like Vishnu!
Vishnuchittar, also known as Periyazhvar, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, who tended to his garden and offered garlands made out of the flowers from his garden to the temple in Srirangam. One day, he heard the cries of an infant coming from his garden and found a beautiful baby girl under a bush. He named her Kodai and cared for her as his child. She was brought up hearing stories about the handsome and noble Vishnu in his many forms and believed from a young age that she will one day marry him. She saw her father make garlands to be sent to the temple, and tried out the garland herself before it is sent to the temple. This happened several days without her father's knowledge. One day, however, the temple priest called Vishnuchittar and showed him the garland which bore signs of already having been used. There was a strand of human hair found on the garland. Vishnuchittar was saddened when he realized that his dear daughter Kodai had tried on the garland first, even though this was forbidden. He returned to his home and chastised her. He then made a fresh garland to send to the temple. That night he had a dream where Lord Vishnu himself appeared and asked Vishnuchittar why he gave him a fresh garland when he was used to having the garland worn by Kodai. Vishnu said that he missed the fragrance of Kodai in the garland! Vishnuchittar was amazed and realized that Vishnu had indeed also chosen Kodai as his consort. He is then instructed to make preparations for the wedding so that Vishnu can come and marry Kodai.
The auspicious day brought the most handsome Bridegroom to Vishnuchittar's home where the wedding was celebrated with all the necessary rituals. Vishnuchittar then realized that Kodai must leave with her husband to Srirangam, where Vishuu as Ranganatha reposes on his serpent bed. He bid his dearest daughter and Son-in-law a fond farewell and the procession left for Srirangam. When Lord Ranganatha arrived in Srirangam, he walked swiftly into the temple and entered the sanctum sanctorum where he reclines on Adisesha, the 1000-headed serpent. The shy bride Kodai followed behind her newly-wedded husband. When He entered the sanctum sanctorum, she hesitated. She was bashful to enter his bedroom! But she paused only for a minute, before she realized that she was, after all, His consort and was entitled to be at his side! She walked in behind her husband and disappeared into the sanctum. Young Kodai had merged with her Lord Ranganatha!
Kodai is forever revered as Andal and is considered an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and all SriVaishnava temples have a sanctum dedicated to her. She is always represented with a parrot in her hand.
It is the presence of the parrot which inspired me to create this painting. Here, Vishnu is referred to as Vanamali - one who wears the garland made out of forest creepers - and is represented as a beautiful forest tree. Isn't He everywhere around us? Andal, is represented as a parrot and is shown nestled in His lap. The artist has chosen to depict Andal as an East Indian Bracelet Parrakeet.
Beautiful narration and exquisite art Harini
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