Articles by Tanishqa Patil

Indian stone sculptures are the oldest known medium for expressing art since ages. Impacting Indian history and culture, the stone sculptures have played a major role in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religions. The stone sculptures are known for their intricate designs and carvings, which represent the cultural significance of Indian art. The traditional Indian sculptures can be traced from the origin of Indus Valley Civilisation from 2500-1800 BCE, deeply intertwined with the heritage of this country.

Shri Dattatreya, the revered deity of Hinduism is well-defined as an incarnation of the holy Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The name Dattatreya translates to the ‘one given birth by the Gods’ or the ‘Son of Gods’ showcasing his divine relation to the principal deities of the Hindu Pantheon. According to the ancient texts of Puranas, he is described as the son of Saint Atri and Anasuya. Anasuya had immense powers, in older times women attained powers by serving their husbands making Anasuya one of them. The blessing of the trinity shaped Dattatreya’s birth.

The diverse land of India is home to the third-largest religion in the world, Hinduism. Hinduism, or Sanatana Dharma, is the oldest language with four major categorizations: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Religion in itself is a big umbrella beneath which exists a wide variety of thoughts or beliefs about the concept of God, the number of deities, traditions, philosophy, and faith of countless devotees. In Hindu philosophy there are several Gods and Goddesses, however, there are 3 principal gods that are above every other Gods and Goddesses. The Hindu Trimurti is the ultimate ruler of the universe, Lord Brahma is the creator, Lord Vishnu is the operator and, Lord Shiva is the destroyer. Brahma is the creator of everything in this universe, ancient scriptures show that Lord Brahma is a bearded deity with 4 heads residing in the Brahmaloka. Vishnu being the operator makes sure there is enough balance in the cosmos, he holds dharma above everything while teaching 6the mankind the importance of following the path of goodness and dharma. Shiva, the god of destruction can quite literally destroy the cosmos with his tandava. He represents universal masculinity and femininity in equal parts, as depicted by Ardhnarishwara.

Explore the rich history and legends of gemstone jewelry—from ancient Indian myths to cursed diamonds—unveiling the mystical charm of precious stones. Gemstone jewelry is the most mesmerizing and timeless chunk of history consisting of sparkling diamonds, vibrant rubies, and rich sapphires amongst numerous others known to add elegance to any look. Gemstones are typically minerals, rocks, or organic materials that are beautified to make embellishments of various types depending on their composition making them unique in separate ways. People have appreciated gemstone jewelry through the ages for their deep-rooted history, intriguing myths, and spiritual gist as they incorporate the beauty and qualities of the stone into their lives.

Lord Ganesha is the prominent deity of prosperity and wisdom in Hinduism, making his depictions significant throughout India. The devotion of Ganesha is not just limited to Hinduism but widely extended to Jains, Buddhists, and even beyond India. Ganesh Chaturthi is an auspicious 10-day festivity marking the birth of an elephant-headed deity best known as Lord Ganesha. Every year, Ganesha’s birth is celebrated for 10 days straight during which 4 major rituals Prana Pratishtha, Shodashopachara, Uttar puja, and Visarjan are performed. In these festivities, Ganesha deities are made of clay often decorated with fresh flowers and dainty lights set up in homes and even on public stages known as Pandals. Prana Pratishtha is conducted along with ritual mantras that are chanted to seek blessings from lord Ganesha. Ganesha Mantras are Sidhi Mantras, each containing specific powers of Lord Ganesha. When Chanted with proper devotion will lead the devotee with abundance, success, and prudence.

Tanjore Paintings best known as Thanjavur Paintings showcase a rich cultural significance in the history of Indian paintings. Dated back to the 11th century, Tanjore art can be seen in the Chola wall paintings and the paintings from the Nayak Period. The fall of the Vijayanagar Empire led to the migration of several painters to the region of Thanjavur, who worked for the Nayakas. The Marathas defeated the Thanjavur Nayakas because of which the local artists were greatly influenced by the taste of the Marathas and included that in their painting style. Traditional Thanjavur paintings differ in size according to the occasion. Large paintings of Deities were placed in the Palaces and buildings to accentuate the beauty of the royalties. These paintings were made on canvas along with the walls, glass, paper, mica, and rare materials like Ivory. Small painted Ivory was worn as a pendant known as Rajaharam and was quite popular back in the time.

Saree, an ethnic wear for women in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal wrapped around the waist with pleats in the center, and the rest of the cloth is draped on a shoulder often paired with a bodice traditionally known as ‘choli’. A saree is not just a garment for Indian women it's more likely a symbol of tradition and culture. It is worn on multiple occasions like festivals, weddings, and other religious events. There are 180 ways to wear a saree that have been documented in a book by Rta Kapur Chisti, a saree historian and textile scholar from 14 different states across India. It not only stands as a symbol of tradition but as a symbol of values. Beyond aesthetics, the saree helps women embrace culture while showcasing their individuality and style.

Metalwork has a rich history in India and has been practiced here for centuries, Indian craftsmen have been creating masterpieces with captivating beauty using unique skills and techniques such as blacksmithing, welding, casting, as well as metal inlay. These techniques are passed down from one generation to another, whether it be Koftagari art from Jaipur or the Dokra art from Chhattisgarh, these metalworks are everywhere. The National Museum of Delhi itself has over 20,000 metal artifacts that are appreciated every single day by hundreds of travelers. From elaborate carvings on the temple to intricate Idols of gods and goddesses, these metal crafts have a widespread throughout India, inspiring several contemporary artists to create modern art pieces with traditional practices. metal artwork is a significant part of the cultural heritage in India that is greatly admired for its craftsmanship, and one such metal art is Bidriware. Bidriware is a metal art that originated from the city of Bidar in Karnataka, long ago in the 14th century C.E. during the rule of the Persian, Bahmani Sultans which is why this metal craft has a major influence on Persian art. BidrḤiware incorporates distinct characteristics and emphasizes the unique procedures of the local artisans of inlay on black metal with silver or gold inlays.

Hindu mythology is a rich tapestry, conflating traditional stories of deities and mythological figures. Hindu texts such as Vedas, Puranas, and Ramayana incorporate Hindu myths with inconsistent information and narration. It includes stories of hundreds of Hindu deities more likely seen as symbolic representations or personified aspects. Nothing in this colossal mythology is fixed or firm. These variations in characters, roles, and history are an ideal depiction of the generous expansion of mythology over the centuries. One such interesting depiction is that of a Naga Kanya, A liberal goddess who bestows treasures of all kinds being materialistic, romantic, spiritual, and esoteric. Nag Kanya’s Sanskrit name means maiden of snakes. She is the protector of the law of Hindu Dharma and therefore according to the Hindu scriptures, Naga Kanya is identified as the goddess Lakshmi.

Vastu Shastra is an ancient Sanskrit manual of architectural and scientific writings that was formed around 3000 BC, it contains Vastu vidya which is a broader collection of principles of designs. Vastu Shashtra includes layouts of houses, roads, shops, gardens, and even designs of the Mandir. Pandits were the architects of Vastu Shashtra popularly known as Sthapati. Few theories suggest that the formation of the Indus Valley Civilization including cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro was planned according to the Vastu Shastra. Vastu Shastra's main intent is to harmonize and balance the flow of energies, wherein the directional alignment is solely to promote prosperity and a positive aura. Vastu Doshas are imbalances in a space that can lead to issues like career obstacles, mental stress, relationship differences, and economic instability. It could be of several different types like residential vaastu, commercial vaastu, spiritual vastu, and Vastu in daily life. Most houses and buildings these days are not built according to the Vastu Shashtra, in most cases we cannot change the layout of the interiors so, focus on ways to balance the negative elements and remove the doshas from the place.