Articles by Tanvi Mehta

Mixed Media Art is a contemporary art form that uses more than two types of artwork or techniques. Many elements come together to create a unique piece of art. It all flows in the artist's mind and this is why this art is known to be freestyle. This is the beauty of Mixed Media Art. Although this art culture was introduced by revered artists, it continues to evolve and progress and its varied nature is yet to be fully discovered. In the field of art, it stands out as a testament to creativity and the artistic realm. It sets free the boundaries of techniques and processes and innovates a new design that harmonizes into a single framework. Whether you are just a curious seeker or starting to fit into the foundation of artistic hands, this article will help you unveil the mystery of Mixed Media Art. Let’s get into the details.

In the Vedic culture and tradition, every aspect of life and the cosmos is related to a personal form of a deity who is believed to have control over it. For example – the Sun planet is maintained by Surya Dev, Lord Varun is the presiding deity of the water bodies, and Goddess Lakshmi is the giver of wealth. Similarly, when it comes to the department of health and medicine, the name Lord Dhanvantari comes to mind. Several Puranas and Upanishads mention the innumerable incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Lord. One such incarnation of Vishnu God is Bhagwan Dhanvantari who appeared and taught the infallible medical science, Ayurveda, to the suffering mankind. Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health that balances and heals humans physically and mentally, thereby providing a purified consciousness for spiritual well-being.

The Vedas mention the word “Surya” or “Suryadev” for the Sun. Surya is the ruling deity of the Sun planet and is responsible for maintaining the working affairs. The Sun is the central cosmos body which sustains all other planets in the universe. The Surya deity is described as a divine person bedecked with shining golden ornaments, riding on a chariot pulled by seven horses. His horses are called “Ketavah” meaning the rays of the Sun. The Rig Veda, the oldest Vedic literature, mentions Surya as the giver of knowledge, dispelling darkness in one’s life. It is the living force in the whole universe. The moon and all the planets get light from the Sun and shine in the sky. In the Chandogya Upanishad, the Sun is represented as Brahman, the Absolute Truth and the Sun-God is considered the Supreme.

Manu Smriti is part of Vedic literature and forms the law book of human society. There are fourteen Manus in Lord Brahma's lifetime, and Manusmriti is believed to have been taught by Lord Brahma to Swayambhuva Manu, who further gave this knowledge to Bhrigu Muni. The Manu Smriti is compiled in 2700 verses and divided into 12 chapters that establish the way of life according to virtues and codes of conduct for the general populace.

Vipassana is a form of meditation practice which is embedded in Buddhist teachings and philosophy. Buddhism teaches the followers to attain the state of Nirvana, where one is aware of his real identity and remains in equanimity in all conditions of life. With this state of mind, he is able to get out of the cycle of repeated birth, death, old age, and disease. To come to this point, several meditation techniques and wisdom are taken into account. Vipassana meditation offers a profound insight into an individual’s emotions and thought process and helps him observe everything within. Vipassana is a Pali word which translates to “seeing things as they are”.

Pancharatra is an authentic pathway followed by the Vaishnava community that recommends pure devotion towards Lord Vishnu. There are 108 Pancharatra scriptures in the Vedic literature, Sri Narada Pancharatra being the most important and revered. Compiled by Shri Vyasadev, it deals with five branches of knowledge - knowledge of the Absolute Truth, knowledge of liberation, knowledge of devotional service, knowledge of mystic yoga, and knowledge in the mode of ignorance. In this article, we will understand the concept of Diksha in Pancharatra, its importance, and the process.

We all know about the Bhakti movement which brought a huge wave of God-consciousness in ancient India 500 years ago. That movement was highly contributed by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who was born in Bengal in Mayapur in the town of Nadia. Generally, people consider Him a saint in the Bhakti cult who preached Bhakti Yoga all over India, but hardly anyone knows about His hidden identity which was only revealed to His close associates.

Art Museums showcase a plethora of statues and sculptures from the ancient period to masterpieces handcrafted by artisans in modern times. Carved from stone or cast in bronze and brass, the statues display enchanting features representing the cultural, traditional, and different artistic styles of the era. One of the main attractions in Indian Artifacts is the intricately crafted Hindu Gods and Goddesses statues. Some commonly displayed deities are Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Durga, and Lord Hanuman. Their iconography and symbolism are appreciated by art connoisseurs across the globe. India is a country with countless artistic talents that are passed down from one generation to another. South India is especially renowned for brass artistry using the age-old Lost Wax Method which involves several steps. The intricate details are worth seeing and admiring. Similarly, stone art on walls and pillars is also mastered by Indian sculptors. The designs are known for their extraordinary carvings which bring life to the wall. Do you ever wonder how museums preserve many centuries-old Hindu God statues as artifacts and yet they remain as fresh as ever? There is a complex process or system of preservation behind it to ensure their longevity and quality. Let us look at some of the methods:

The historic Budhanilkantha temple is located at the foothills of Shivapuri Hill in Nepal near its capital Kathmandu. The hill is a treasure trove of the unbound beauty of nature, with rich flora and fauna, attracting many tourists to the spot. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu from whose pores of body innumerable universes come out. Although its construction period is not clearly known, it is believed to have existed since above 1500 years. It serves as a holy place for thousands of pilgrims among Hindus and Buddhists of Nepal who consider the deity of Lord Vishnu as Lord Buddha.

Goddesses in Hindu culture or Sanatan Dharma, the oldest religion in the world, are linked with divine feminine energy – the nurturing and compassionate aspect of the Godhead. The Shaktism school of Hindu tradition considers Shakti (feminine energy) as the ultimate source of all creation and the cause of the maintenance and destruction of the material universe. In contrast, the Vaishnavas claim Lord Vishnu as the Supreme cause of all causes and the original Personality of Godhead. Goddesses are the internal potencies of the male consorts and assist them in their various material and spiritual affairs. This can be understood through the analogy of fire. Fire has the characteristics of light and heat. Without these elements, it cannot be regarded as fire. This means that light and heat are inseparable parts and parcels of fire. Similarly, Goddess or Shakti is the internal energy of the Godhead and cannot ever be separated from Him. The root cause of energy is the energetic.

In the Kaliyuga which is the age of hypocrisy and quarrel, to understand the Absolute Truth is not easy unless guided by a bona fide spiritual master. To find a bona fide Guru is in itself a challenging situation. The spiritual master (Guru), the devotees (Sadhu), and the Vedic scriptures (Shastra) are the authoritative sources for gaining spiritual knowledge. The Vedic scriptures, according to the Vedas, are coming directly from the Supreme Lord Himself. They deal with both material and spiritual knowledge and were compiled by Shri Vyasadev around five thousand years ago for the benefit of the rare inquisitive people in this disturbed age of Kali. The general mass of the population is engrossed in gratifying their senses through material pleasure and knows nothing about the ultimate goal of human life.

Avalokiteshvara is loved throughout the Buddhist community due to his causeless mercy and compassion upon the conditioned souls of this material world. In the Mahayana Buddhism tradition, the Lotus Sutra has a whole chapter on the doctrines of Avalokiteshvara. It describes him as a highly compassionate Boddhisattva who chooses to stay in this material world and works selflessly to relieve the sufferings of those who call upon his name. Avalokiteshvara is portrayed in a multitude of forms and several manifestations are described that suit the minds of different people.

India is known as Bharat Bhoomi. It is the land of Vedic civilization that stands out for its rich tradition and culture. The consciousness of most Indians is filled with piety and genuine love for God. People with different faiths and religions such as Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, etc, live together in peace and harmony. The majority of Indians follow the principles of Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma. It is believed that Sanatan Dharma is not just a religion based on a particular faith but is a scientific way of living life that teaches us how to love the Godhead. Temple is an important place for Hindus where they congregate and glorify the Lordship. There are lakhs of temples in India, some of which still stand erect for many centuries. The ancient temples are especially known and revered for their Svayambhu (self-manifested) deities and excellent architecture that attract many tourists throughout the year.