https://www.reenasonistudio.com/zentangle-workshops daily 0.75 2024-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557844075550-SZIKE89QI8XFQ7YRPRIB/IMG_5398.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-1 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557844075550-SZIKE89QI8XFQ7YRPRIB/IMG_5398.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-1 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557845403928-A66RCV89JERA4DXRKJF8/IMG_3560.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-2 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557845561665-QWJHUW0ADHKF3CG4DU9V/IMG_E7728.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-3 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557846357822-BBDZSO2G1WXQX6YM6D7B/IMG_2485.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-4 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913369574-U499MEBQ0YJ7PY2VWBHK/IMG_E0906.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-5 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897570404-2PY3QLKFGM51I3HGVZUS/fullsizeoutput_51ef.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - Zentangle Inspired Art 100 11x14 Mixed Media Acrylic on Paper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897876857-PLJU378SB7C5S42UKMC3/fullsizeoutput_26.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - Zentangle Inspired Art (43/44) Diptych 12 x 18 9x12 (2) Wooden Cradle Frames https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897798971-8XP06VUJO45W8QNNJMH0/fullsizeoutput_3f91.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - Stallion - ZIA 76 - SOLD 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641974812957-JBNAEFEX3WQYR9V8X0AF/IMG_1902.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641974989968-JQH2HVX8AZS178PVZMJZ/IMG_6127.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - Shiva - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976371628-7GUUDE4I4K983E1ESY9M/IMG_2452.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA Puma - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976373755-TP5TDS3757GOM9DG26HJ/IMG_1924.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - Stallion - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976376184-4LJ3HA8G0AZ1EXSK2WD4/IMG_1611.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976378206-DPUJM8LJ2NYDPH0Y7D9U/IMG_E2356.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA Peacock - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976917210-RCIBLJTWF9GFHG6EEDZZ/IMG_2292.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA on Canvas - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1642401037811-F8X3O9Q9YDGU1H1C7WHN/Tanu+Piece+Lower+Res.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA - Pen and Ink on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1642401194603-PRW3XS8Y09RA488HIO2E/IMG_2486.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA - Pen and Ink on Wood Cradle Board- SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557846597116-KYJAQC70KQ7R7WECSKNR/IMG_4767.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-6 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557846692409-TJZOBZOSP31M2ADDGRLY/IMG_0687.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-7 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868894682-1F42PYYIJW7B5HL3EGOX/IMG_9232.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-11 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557936529605-4PZ2MQHI8NZY5UFXDLMM/xz%2BFInIATpSInIqPGy69lA_thumb_8bfe.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - Flowers-13 Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1526659227814-2BSXK1JYDQOYDUEQ2WC9/20748328_1954035081542711_5925674355147916149_o.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557844601578-F18UUBTDB91K48KT3G8T/IMG_8011.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Golden Lava Price on Request https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557844641190-6H0I2X5QDH2QZN1N4MC3/IMG_2779.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557844932465-MTE8TEOC2XJZ2DQ3UQNJ/IMG_7305.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557844778143-RL9JG0NI4BJBLR52FTFY/IMG_7272.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557847143856-08R87KAUXUP37CXQZQQ1/IMG_2114.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-4 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557847472935-ECSNFO6A9MWIAT88RXYQ/IMG_E2197.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-5 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557847668384-REJ9LCCBMSRSUQ0VVXJX/IMG_5016.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-6 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557847914824-4OHAVX62ZGAU0QK9FR5Z/IMG_8303.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-7 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557848013929-SWVPLLGFSQ8SFDGIF6ZG/IMG_9156.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-8 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867563668-WRLCYIT87U7OBXNMLDKA/IMG_5018.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Trishul - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867663635-3Q63JIEUVXXSIRZ41GNF/IMG_3780.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Landscape https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867742851-PVZT0PZA0SXMD928EKYT/IMG_6912.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868024226-8YMLOP6GN34NGJGJJ8SI/IMG_7095.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557936664437-VFZGBWXZKDOJLA7E5EN9/O%25UUx9zeR826whdWspRIGg_thumb_8bff.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868237964-8L3FJPI64U7RUM11L2S1/IMG_2697.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868430808-GF5TD6SX9Q8680BF57XX/IMG_4862.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868506364-R9BPKD6Z5810SLIDZOTV/IMG_3654.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-15 - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868603200-8DWP19O9W3GD9WTFJM6O/IMG_5010.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868665455-USLEJ1EARKKA0NSOLWXH/IMG_1827.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665298569-V7PKU33RRXFWYEOGNG1H/IMG_4133.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665351026-6VTUG6B2T1G3FKGZCAB2/IMG_6715.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665391446-QV566VOSSCXAPMFE7LNM/IMG_6717.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897723239-ALKN3H8R0EHF64E043KK/fullsizeoutput_1f.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - Zentangle Inspired Art - 50 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665458328-98COSSSMTF2C5FW8M3ET/IMG_7066.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897734482-1OIS6PMOERBR8WX4GLWP/fullsizeoutput_12.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - Zentangle Inspired Art 54 - Golf Clubs 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897786196-0ZBC3U0DKDQ59YFBI97H/fullsizeoutput_f77.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - Ribbons - Zentangle Inspires Art 71 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557869452159-XJUINQ6R72YT176879GH/IMG_0184.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557930790313-C6UROBKX3JOJIJVHLWN0/IMG_4437.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913344836-U093AW2BIU7FT5WB9PJ3/IMG_0712.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA -20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557936781778-JHH8O7OYW92U2PAD1RUR/LICPZdYpTmSta2NgpLrlPA_thumb_8c00.jpg Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557869233225-71VA63TRGF14CSCZU5CD/IMG_E1502.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Mondrian Inspired ZIA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913187780-ZT9C4VY29B6NJKTM04T5/IMG_E3297.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Lamp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557868726035-0M8GSHJQODY8R2P5DFPR/IMG_8518.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Mother- SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551912993942-KN0A1VVI737K5IV49358/IMG_4100.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Dancer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557929462565-TA9F41Q93L5TFEPI3AEO/IMG_6508.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Splash with Motif https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557929228227-I57H3N9YTSTXO35KZCLR/IMG_1269.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Mini Mandala-1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557929596288-3WEIX4ULKYKLF12EYJZY/IMG_7245.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Mini Mandala-2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557929652086-5BV6YR2R9OVZ4SGY3HHR/IMG_8744.JPG Zentangle Inspired Art - Mini Mandala-3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665234889-EDS9OHNL0B1BRV3KO3HE/IMG_2775.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - Zentangle Inspired Art 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665239362-EVBAZRXN19NH3MO3RHNF/IMG_4110.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665283836-M5JB6K6HP1UO0D7UGHQY/IMG_4132.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665326293-HHI1K3M05MEBA3MMH69T/IMG_5698.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641894302479-XI3FB5DNXI87O4F9TW3M/Zentangle+Wheel.jpeg Zentangle Inspired Art - ZIA 70 - SOLD https://www.reenasonistudio.com/miniatures daily 0.75 2022-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575686223873-27O728I28R4213OX93RW/IMG_3691.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Peaceful Resolution https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641968774237-ZPC2ZUPK15Z5C9Y74002/Ganesha16-20.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - All Purveyor -Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 - SOLD Inspired by the ongoing debate about the power of science vs. the power of god to heal the body and mind. My perspective on needing both powers to be in sync to help us through life. Who else better exemplify science and god other than Leonardo da Vinci as the script in the background and Lord Ganesha to shine through on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641968753417-NSJKFLZRCGHGMLNIWFTM/BlueGanesha.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Blue Ganesha -Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 - SOLD An abstract inspired by the letter “A”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969128406-V6M74672SUY48QE9DJJL/Ganesha+-All+purveyor+smaller+version.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Vinayak 12x16 SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969093176-1FF1CCYPGGCU9FC43N97/Purple+Buddha+LR.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Buddha Acrylic 18x24 - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641968282648-JCPIZGRU6U6REUL8G3V4/Blue+Buddha.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Blue Buddha 16x20 Acrylic on Canvas - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641968281873-QSIHB9CZAYJQISJHRK54/BuddhahiddenWithin.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Buddha Hidden Within 12x12 Acrylic on Canvas- SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641970433005-NWQ0RD5BFBAYJ3YDG4M5/Buddhapada.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Buddhapada 18x24 on Canvas - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641973084653-XD68XDMWRWYYD2J9VM1O/Japanese+Buddha+.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Buddha 18x24 Acrylic on Canvas The Vitaraka (teaching or discussion) mudra is used with Buddhist iconography to symbolize the transmission of the dharma, or the truth teachings of the Buddha. In this mudra, the thumb and index fingers touch, creating a circle that symbolizes an uninterrupted flow of wisdom. The other three fingers pointing up towards the heavens with the palm facing outward. This is held at around chest level. This mudra can invite receiving and discussing teachings for growth and awakening into your life. Rooms such as a library, study, and or the Gen/Knowledge area of the home would benefit from imagery of this mudra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969124613-O3NQQZ61PO2PIWCLCUK2/Watercolor+Buddha.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Buddha Watercolor 8x10 - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575669534274-UJJ4NWESM39R1NFS75I7/BuddhaGoldMica.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Gold Mica Buddha - Available 8x10 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame he Buddha head holds the secrets of enlightenment within it representing the wisdom, and knowledge of the Buddha. The Buddha head statues and art are normally depicted with curly, short hair, to show that the Prince Siddhartha had cut off his topknot to renounce his prince-hood and his privileged past. Ushnisha is one of the most unique features of Buddhist art and Buddhist iconography. The Ushnisha, or the crown of hair, is the three-dimensional oval at the top of the head of the Buddha. The facial structure of the Buddha heads usually have half-closed eyes which show a state of meditation: looking inward into the self as well as outward. The faint smile on the statue also depicts the serene nature and nobility of the Buddha after attaining enlightenment. The Urna, the spiral or dot between the eyebrows symbolizes a third eye, i.e., vision into the divine world; ability to see past our mundane universe of suffering. Elongated earlobes in the Buddha heads represent the Buddha's hearing power which is believed that he hears what is needed in the world, the exact reason behind is elongated earlobes may be due the vestiges of his life as a prince, when he wore extravagant and heavy jewellery and earrings on his ears. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575669536320-D8MSLZRSLHOBVSZA134X/BuddhaColor.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vibrant Buddha - Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. The Buddha head holds the secrets of enlightenment within it representing the wisdom, and knowledge of the Buddha. The Buddha head statues and art are normally depicted with curly, short hair, to show that the Prince Siddhartha had cut off his topknot to renounce his prince-hood and his privileged past. Ushnisha is one of the most unique features of Buddhist art and Buddhist iconography. The Ushnisha, or the crown of hair, is the three-dimensional oval at the top of the head of the Buddha. The facial structure of the Buddha heads usually have half-closed eyes which show a state of meditation: looking inward into the self as well as outward. The faint smile on the statue also depicts the serene nature and nobility of the Buddha after attaining enlightenment. The Urna, the spiral or dot between the eyebrows symbolizes a third eye, i.e., vision into the divine world; ability to see past our mundane universe of suffering. Elongated earlobes in the Buddha heads represent the Buddha's hearing power which is believed that he hears what is needed in the world, the exact reason behind is elongated earlobes may be due the vestiges of his life as a prince, when he wore extravagant and heavy jewellery and earrings on his ears. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575669542871-WIHGOERJGCPZ1MOEX4NF/Buddhawithinframe.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Buddha Within-3 Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575669542804-LK3IQSENT5E88QADYBLE/BuddhaPattern.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Buddha Within 2 - Available 8x8 on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867472715-16NIEHJFSL5IMRUGDJD0/IMG_9260.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Buddha Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969126207-VQDEXGDI5K00Z126X7Y1/Graphite+shiva.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Graphite Shiva on canvas paper - 18x24 SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641968772885-J1ZFB7V206WCX38CTIMP/Anantara.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Anant Vistara - Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 inches -SOLD Inspired by the story when once Brahma the creator, and Vishnu the preserver of the universe wanted to find Shiva and understand him completely. Brahma said, “I will look for his head and you find his feet” so for thousands of years Vishnu went downwards to find Shiva’s feet and Brahma went upwards to find his head finally when they met each other back where they began they realized that there is no beginning and no end to Shiva. He is Ananta Vistara (of infinite expanse) and the fourth state of consciousness that is beyond waking, sleeping or dreaming encompassing this infinite universe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1642403928946-YGJSL7ZUGZLV5MVN23OS/IMG_6946.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Trishula - 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Trishula or the Trident is a prominent Hindu symbol that is associated with Lord Shiva. Though this three-pronged symbol is usually viewed as a weapon used by the Lord for the protection and restoration of Dharma, it actually carries deeper meanings. They represent three of the fundamental power of Shiva: will (icchya), action (kriya) and jnana (knowledge). This represents that he can destroy evil and ignorance. It also represents that the evildoers are punished by the Lord in three planes: spiritual, subtle and physical. It is representative of the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and stands for the balance between the forces of creation, preservation and destruction. It is also considered symbolic of the three Gunas – Rajas, Tamas and Sattva. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641893102105-EVZELSLVHC30M7NPQ7PX/Shiva+Meditating.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Shiva 56 - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641968290554-YCCKCXJZT7OCNEKB0BPT/Peaceful+Resolution.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Peaceful Resolution - 9x12 Acrylic on Canvas- SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1642402927424-7Z024342J4YLIAW8GWVN/IMG_6480.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Buddha Saranam Gacchami - 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board Buddham saranam gacchami. - I take refuge in the Buddha. Dhammam saranam gacchami. - I take refuge in the Dharma. Sangham saranam gacchami. - I take refuge in the Sangha. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897743373-TOFL3ND3W7F0HE7OKL84/fullsizeoutput_a.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Footsteps of time -57 - Available 9x12 Acrylic on Canvas Board, Framed https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897716657-BM6SPGODD2M102LCFW0Q/fullsizeoutput_1a.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Blessing - 49 Available 8x10 Mixed Media on Canvas Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897834214-3Y6QOVJ0EYGVYLU79RK0/fullsizeoutput_24.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Blessings - 86 8x10 Mixed Media on Canvas Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897728211-LRKKECGEM0WYBQ7J6567/fullsizeoutput_c.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Lotus Monks -53 9x12 Mixed Media Acrylic on canvas board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575669443696-H0KCJC4S2UUNE0ND3JQY/TibetanOm.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Tibetan Om - Available 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557527031630-MJ79UC8N6CJC1JF97E3T/IMG_2993.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Jai Ganesh 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1642400112305-K4O3CVFFACOZ9BGVD6PF/IMG_5523.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Ashtavinayak Series - 6x6 Jute on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575659458660-KAA0HTG1SEYLKLXJPOGI/IMG_5697.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Abstract Mini Ganesha - Available 5x7 on Canvas Board (Framed) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575659402968-C9WNF3WEHH3AJXDRUL4C/IMG_8018.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Cutwork Mini Ganesha Blue- Available 5x7 on Canvas Board (Framed) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575661687843-N6KQO1QSAPOR4EEI0HWI/IMG_0134.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Cutwork Mini Ganesha Green- Available 5x7 on Canvas Board (Framed) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575661635488-8A5RZGPTKE691IT0QBOE/IMG_8586.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Cutwork Mini Ganesha Green- Available 5x7 on Canvas Board (Unframed) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575659302356-1O8FZUL84PFGMN35WJVS/IMG_8577.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Mini Round Ganesha - Available 5x7 on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575659306825-9THTTI92TTANRI0FJPN7/IMG_8594.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vertical Mini Ganesha Red/Violet- SOLD 5x7 on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575659312725-450EVH6CMTE4UBPG5DUH/IMG_8596.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vertical Mini Ganesha Red/Yellow - Available 5x7 on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575659311163-LJR12SBUL7QEQQS1GG4L/IMG_8597.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vertical Mini Ganesha Violet/Yellow - SOLD 5x7 on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575659314276-92BMM73TUH3VZIU82JKB/IMG_8598.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vertical Mini Ganesha Yellow - SOLD 5x7 on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551911054399-B0CQG0ZCV8LN39O8BIU5/fullsizeoutput_3f67.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Dorm Room Ganesha - AVAILABLE 6x6 Pen and Ink on Paper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551911068600-AIKGYFXPYMAYFFW9SY6N/IMG_E9896.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Dorm Room Ganesha - AVAILABLE 6x6 Pen and Ink on Paper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969149308-EDKGFF9FELWFZ7UDB264/IMG_9888.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha - Pen and Ink 8x8 SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969148667-4R4MFQYTTKDJQE91QGEW/IMG_9877.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Pen & Ink 8x8 -SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969158599-2KTNC42SXHRLWDUYJLT9/IMG_E9895.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Pen and Ink 8x8 -SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557528133400-U7S1PJG4XXKUK6QQJJWV/IMG_4869.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Mixed Media https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641971302830-SO0EC712H8C6HJRG0Y7S/IMG_1375.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha 8x8 on canvas - SOLD Wharton colors https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551911115247-6LHY8H5G8RRCAS2IZ358/IMG_E7697.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Dorm Room Ganesha - Available 8x8 on Canvas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969680625-OYBBPL3AQNXQLLMPB4D9/IMG_E7240.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD Berkeley University colors https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976341161-21AMS4GZBFXKN0MIVOK5/IMG_E7598.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha - 8x8 Cradle Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969733904-619NBQ78DSTNXZJ7NESJ/IMG_1376.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD Columbia University Colors https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969680209-SPZOFVZ3VWYEWN3VL9B8/IMG_E7695.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD New York University Colors https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969703475-1KMVDE08KIOB4FETS5E0/IMG_E7700.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976881035-HE9GY20909F0AVDR1A3O/IMG_E7696.JPG Spiritual Expressions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969702359-7CAQHLRVIAZFJJ9T5HLA/IMG_E7699.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969746041-61RQ3C7B7E074AICXSRI/IMG_1378.jpeg Spiritual Expressions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969722896-0Q1YLGO3J5MFGBZ354VQ/IMG_2077.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha Acrylic on Canvas Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109542556-UAY1UJ2NGQ145KFHW6X7/78EFBC0D-D9C9-4108-92EB-78A7C39BD232.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories - Matsya Avataar - SOLD Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a fish (Matsya Avatar) Dashavatara refers to the ten avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. The word Dashavatara derives from daśa, meaning ‘ten’ and avatar (avatāra), meaning ‘descent’. God Vishnu incarnates/descends on Earth to eradicate evil forces, to restore the cosmic law and order. These Avatars played a major role in shaping human evolution through centuries. Lord Vishnu made an appearance before king Manu and told him that the world was at the brink of extinction due to a huge flood in seven days and requested the king to build a huge boat and take the seven sages (Hermits), seeds of all plants, one male and female of every animal species. The whole world was washed up in rain and as a result there was no land to stay. Lord Vishnu appeared in form of a fish (matsya) with horns came to the rescue and the king tied the boat to the fish by using the royal serpent Vasuki and the fish took all of them at great speed to the Himalayas and kept them there till the flood was over and procreation for the new era began. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109545169-U6LIDTRGOWROM7XVT292/DA3162F0-9916-4A98-9A25-ACDC9F40F664_1_201_a.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories - Kurma Avataar - SOLD Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a Tortoise (Kurma Avatar) In the ongoing saga of battle between the gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras), the Devas approached Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu suggested they churn the “Ocean of Milk” in order to make “Amrita”, the nectar of immortality with serpent Vasuki as the rope and the mountain Mandara as the churning staff. He told the gods to request the help of Asuras in lifting the mountain in exchange giving them some of nectar of immortality. But as churning was proceeding the mountain started to sink, and so Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise (Kurma Avatar) to bear the weight of the mountain to keep it afloat. But as soon as the nectar of immortality was released the asuras grabbed it for themselves angering the gods. Then Lord Vishnu took the form of an apsara Mohini a beautiful maiden, and seduced the asuras into letting her distribute the nectar and also to abide by her order of distribution. As soon as the gods were served the maiden disappeared thus totally deceiving the asuras and making them totally weak and losing the war against the gods. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley In the ongoing saga of battle between the gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras), the Devas approached Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu suggested they churn the “Ocean of Milk” in order to make “Amrita”, the nectar of immortality with serpent Vasuki as the rope and the mountain Mandara as the churning staff. He told the gods to request the help of Asuras in lifting the mountain in exchange giving them some of nectar of immortality. But as churning was proceeding the mountain started to sink, and so Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise (Kurma Avatar) to bear the weight of the mountain to keep it afloat. But as soon as the nectar of immortality was released the asuras grabbed it for themselves angering the gods. Then Lord Vishnu took the form of an apsara Mohini a beautiful maiden, and seduced the asuras into letting her distribute the nectar and also to abide by her order of distribution. As soon as the gods were served the maiden disappeared thus totally deceiving the asuras and making them totally weak and losing the war against the gods. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109688345-R6HQINBQHUHP4PUSANVV/79DBCC35-A67E-4554-82B6-F1EEE1CAD62C_1_201_a.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories -Varaha Avatar SOLD Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a Boar (Varaha Avatar) Dashavatara refers to the ten avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. The word Dashavatara derives from daśa, meaning ‘ten’ and avatar (avatāra), meaning ‘descent’. God Vishnu incarnates/descends on Earth to eradicate evil forces, to restore the cosmic law and order. When the demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth (Goddess Bhudevi) and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appeared as “Varaha” (boar) to rescue her. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years. Varaha finally slew the demon and retrieved the Earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and restored Bhudevi to her place in the universe. Varaha may be depicted as completely a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and the human body. His consort, Bhudevi, the earth, is often depicted as a young woman, lifted by Varaha. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109665848-TDKRDUYYZ91CLNJBBUCN/F23D70D1-2B3F-46B6-A127-5965A0720477_1_201_a.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories-Narasimha Avatar SOLD Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a semi-man, semi-lion (Narasimha Avatar) The king of demons, Hiranyakasyapa, wanted to become immortal so he performed severe penance to impress Lord Brahma to grant him a wish. Hiranyakasyapa wished that he be neither killed by a man or beast, nor in daylight or at night and neither inside or outside a building, on earth or the stars, with a weapon either living or inanimate. Having obtained the immortality wish he considered himself the supreme God and forbade all worship of gods by anyone. But his son Prahlada, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. This enraged Hiranyakasyapa very much and ordered numerous ways to kill Prahlada including asking his sister Holika to sit with Prahlada in the fire. But everytime Prahlada escaped unhurt. Enraged, once he asked Prahlad to show him the Lord Vishnu. Prahlad said, "He is everywhere". Further enraged, Hiranyakasyapa knocked down a pillar, and asked if Lord was present there. Lord Vishnu descended as an anthropomorphic incarnation, with the body of a man and head and claws of a lion. He then disembowels the demo at the courtyard threshold of his house, at dusk, with his claws, while he lay on his thighs thus saving the life of his devotee Prahlada. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109621373-30I34FL5ZBXBYSU1ATAN/47B8E6B3-FCEB-47B7-8B3D-B5746595D522_1_201_a.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories - Vamana Avatar SOLD Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a dwarf priest (Vamana Avatar) The fourth descendant of Hiranyakashyap/grandson of Prahlad, Demon King Mahabali, with devotion and penance was able to defeat Indra, the god of firmament. This humbled the other deities and extended his authority over the three worlds. The gods appealed to Lord Vishnu for protection and he incarnated as the dwarf Vamana. During a yajna (ritual sacrifice with a specific objective) of the king, Vamana approached him and Bali promised him for whatever he asked. Vamana asked for three paces of land. After Bali agreed, and the dwarf then changed his size to that of a giant. He stepped over heaven in his first stride, and the netherworld with the second. Bali realized that Vamana was Vishnu incarnate. In deference, the king offered his head as the third place for Vamana to place his foot. The avatar did so and thus granted Bali immortality. Then in appreciation to Bali and his grandfather Prahlada, Vamana made him ruler of Pathala, the netherworld. Vamana taught King Mahabali that pride should be abandoned for advancement in life, and that wealth should be appreciated as it can easily disappear. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109590036-RR8D37K8BMKSNT918C1C/1283EB75-3967-4D87-8EA1-EE416455FAB7.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories - Parashurama Avatar (Sold) Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a warrior saint (Parashurama Avatar) Parashuram, the son to Jamadagni and Renuka, was the first Brahmin-Kshatriya in Hinduism, or warrior-saint, with duties between a Brahmana (priest) and a Kshatriya (warrior). He was always carrying an axe presented to him by Lord Shiva of whom he was an ardent devotee. Lord Vishnu incarnated to avenge all kshatriyas who had become arrogant and were suppressing the brahmans in the world. King Kartavirya and his army visited the father of Parashurama at his ashram, and the saint was able to feed them with the endless supply of milk from the divine cow “Kamadhenu”. The king demanded he have the animal but Jamadagni refused, so the king took it by force and destroyed the ashram. Parashurama enraged with the act killed the king at his palace and destroyed his army. In revenge, the sons of Kartavirya killed Jamadagni. Then Parashurama took a vow to kill every Kshatriya on earth twenty-one times over. Ultimately it was his grandfather, Sage Rucheeka who made him halt this cycle of killing. He is one of the seven immortals mentioned in the scriptures believed to be alive today in penance at Mahendragiri. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109578975-AXNAJVO9VYTH86Y00V8E/A0450FF6-CF13-4DEA-BBF3-43C4521E516C.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories- Rama Avatar (SOLD ) Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as Rama (Rama Avatar) The epic Ramayana is a story of the war raged by Rama against various evil elements of the world and in the end against Ravana, the demon king of Lanka (demon with ten heads). The character Rama (Vishnu Incarnate) is expected to show the world the characteristics of an ideal person, including ideal son, ideal husband, ideal king and an ideal person. For the sake of his father’s honor, Ram abandons his claim to Ayodhaya’s throne to serve an exile of fourteen years in the forest. While in exile from his own kingdom with his brother Lakshman and his wife Sita (Lakshmi Incarnate) who was abducted by the demon king Ravana (who had been granted a boon by God Brahma with immunity from the gods, and other celestial beings therefore was too vainglorious). Lord Rama with the help of Lord Hanuman (monkey king) and his monkey men army was able to killed the demon king and saved Goddess Sita. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109709438-PU0XPD7GSX07LBAT1TBP/3977D231-5E8C-491B-AF41-6858074B2EF8.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories - Krishna Avatar ( SOLD) Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as Lord Krishna Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu in Vaishnava belief and also as the supreme God in his own right. Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as Krishna, the central character in the epic Mahabharata. In the biggest epic of Indian mythology a myriad of topics are covered, including war, love, brotherhood, politics etc. It is essentially the story of two warring groups of cousin brothers, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. As a part of the Mahabharata, during the war lord Krishna, gives a long discourse to his disciple Arjuna, and it is now known as the “Bhagvad-Gita”. Unlike Ramayan, Mahabharata deals with more down to earth issues like politics, human nature, human weaknesses, and does not attempt to idealize the characters as in Ramayan. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109754494-U96ICWI4UD56R040Q0EM/1604910A-38C7-43BA-A491-F1161B604D14.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories - Shesha a Balarama Avatar - SOLD Shesha incarnates himself as Balarama Shesha Sheshanaga or Adishesha is the King of all Nāgas (semi-divine race of half-human half-serpent beings) and one of the primal beings of creation. Sometimes he is shown as five-headed or seven-headed, but more commonly as a many thousand-headed serpent, sometimes with each head wearing an ornate crown. In the Puranas, it is said that when Adishesa uncoils, time moves forward and creation takes place; when he coils back, the universe ceases to exist. Vishnu is often depicted as resting on Shesha. He is said to have descended to Earth in three avatars: Lakshmana, brother of Vishnu's avatar Rama and as Balarama, brother of Vishnu's avatar Krishna and Ramanujacharya, the proponent of Vishishtadvaita school of Vedanta. "Shesha" in Sanskrit texts, especially those relating to mathematical calculation, implies the "remainder"—that which remains when all else ceases to exist. Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna, is regarded generally as an avatar of Shesha an extension of Ananta, a form of Lord Vishnu. Balarama is included as the eighth avatar of Vishnu in the Sri Vaishnava lists, where Buddha is omitted and Krishna appears as the ninth avatar in this list. He is particularly included in the lists where Krishna is removed and becomes the source of all. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109648407-DX31M7PG1IQZ03SZ0HX0/A02780F7-29F7-49DE-89B4-0AA8EFAF55D1.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories - Kalki Avatar (SOLD) Lord Vishnu incarnate himself as destroyer of darkness (Kalki Avatar) The name Kalki is derived from Kal, which means "time”. Kalki, or Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. His birth will be the end of the Kali Yuga, our present epoch, in the endless cycle of existence. He is described in the Puranas as the avatar who rejuvenates existence by ending the darkest and destructive period by removing all unrighteousness and evil and ushering in the golden age, while riding a white horse with his sword drawn, blazing like a comet. The description and details of Kalki are different among various Puranas. The prophecy of the Kalki avatar is believed not only by the followers of the Vaishnavism sect of Hinduism but by Sikhism and Buddhism as well. Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606109744866-LSV37823T07SZC1RZQLG/4D577350-6379-4400-A04C-AA71B084066E.jpeg Spiritual Expressions - Vishnu Stories -Buddha Avatar (SOLD) Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as Buddha, the ascetic prince who renounced the throne to lead the world on the path of peace. He is the founder of the Buddhism and in certain sects of Hinduism, he is considered to be a divine incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was born the crown prince of the Kapilavastu to Suddhodana and Maya. He was named Siddhartha, meaning "All thing fulfilled" by the king. But his mother died soon after his birth but Prajapati, the sister of Maya, brought Siddhartha up. Buddha was saddened by death of living creatures, since his childhood days and used to question: "Alas! Do all living creatures kill each other?" He wasn't happy with any answers that were provided to him and he decided to find out the meaning and the absolute truth and he left his wife and child to a hermit's life in the forest and one day, became the enlightened one. When the world had lost real understanding of the scriptures and was stooped in ignorance (practices without right philosophy), Buddha reiterated the importance of self-realization and self-effort in realizing oneself. He was responsible for the philosophy of Liberation away from the philosophy of heaven and hell. Buddha may be depicted in Hindu scriptures as a preacher who deludes and leads demons and heretics away from the path of the Vedic scriptures. Another view praises him as a compassionate teacher who preached the path of ahimsa (non-violence). Illustration Credit - Nina Paley https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641972939050-U2EED7IHWA2MI7DHDFKA/Goodluck+Chinese+Calligraphy.jpg Spiritual Expressions - Good Luck - Chinese Calligraphy 8x10 on Canvas Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641976335948-1329O8M5DYA71RXHC0F5/IMG_2540.JPG Spiritual Expressions - Ganesha - Pen and Ink 8x10 -SOLD https://www.reenasonistudio.com/pen-and-ink-work daily 0.75 2022-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867279320-Z4VD8DDT19EKCAJZN2KG/IMG_4832.jpg Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867279320-Z4VD8DDT19EKCAJZN2KG/IMG_4832.jpg Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867234233-8RCQZ058GR3XXFJ70F3N/IMG_7241.jpg Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867149868-2U93NTHD0XEAM58U19MB/IMG_5183.jpg Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557864800822-9OF7EWF5ELWA9NWHR85U/IMG_4010.jpeg Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867183588-4RAP3CRAWUCJXQ8ROMIZ/IMG_6514.jpg Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551912922010-VM3ST7OMOCPV3D8W5F6B/IMG_1033.JPG Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551912950601-71HN6GK6TTUUOAMLDDFY/IMG_1750.JPG Pen and Ink Work - Rajasthani Mandna https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557866932471-6X3B98JJ7LWBTFPQ8XGI/IMG_1489.JPG Pen and Ink Work - Warli - Tribal Art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867101229-KGSIP4NBLK2IBPIKS6WU/IMG_2552.JPG Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551912919466-2ICHH3P4CYHEOKF2UOLC/IMG_0965.JPG Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867061603-W5XCRGDP8TO7U6CM5KCI/IMG_0404.JPG Pen and Ink Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913057727-88AR77OHGSOTF0B6LQB1/IMG_7242.JPG Pen and Ink Work - Flying High https://www.reenasonistudio.com/new-blog daily 0.75 2019-06-04 https://www.reenasonistudio.com/black-and-white-abstracts daily 0.75 2022-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897660628-4V2S7ZHMWHK4O356RHWW/fullsizeoutput_7521.jpeg Black and White Expressions - St. Andrews Castle 35 - Sold 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897660628-4V2S7ZHMWHK4O356RHWW/fullsizeoutput_7521.jpeg Black and White Expressions - St. Andrews Castle 35 - Sold 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897635782-2WW1KEGS1NULLZGIJUTI/IMG_E8661.JPG Black and White Expressions - Pure Abstracts 29 Monsoon - Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557672947258-48QH9I7RRDE3EV8U3ZJ5/IMG_3305.JPG Black and White Expressions - Gray Matters -16x20 Mixed Media Acrylic on Canvas Life is not always black and white, it's a million shades of grey! It's not about being right or wrong, but perception; It's not about truth or false, but circumstances; It's not about pass or fail, but luck; It's not yes or no, but subjective; Grey Matters! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897805261-1JCNG2QRQR9KB47KYOBD/fullsizeoutput_3fee.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black White - 78 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897794048-MXUK7QEYCL52XD54T54U/fullsizeoutput_3fe9.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black White-74 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897823742-DUOZICTQ7APVGTZGTLM4/fullsizeoutput_3ff0.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black White - 83- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897650401-JX3Z7DM5NZUWTR3PHOAX/fullsizeoutput_7523.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black White - 32- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897571257-O5YZR2PPCAFRMHM834EL/IMG_8611.JPG Black and White Expressions - Black and White Abstract -13 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897864592-FALMPFQDYU883OYHA97H/fullsizeoutput_51ee.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black White - 96- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575666432797-A1OKBH06IEQXKFZGN5OT/IMG_0379.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black White - 7- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575666435858-G496V74NCCPL2YRPLC2A/IMG_2778.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black White - 8- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575666431227-A3XBW9SKFUBEJOW7G5BR/IMG_0601.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black and White - 9- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575666435564-1CSSR8GLEBESLW5XKZ82/IMG_E8662.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black & White with a hint of Red- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897690246-SFUCMZSAVLOZNQXX21GQ/fullsizeoutput_7537.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black, White, Red Textured 41- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradled Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897630323-B3J3KWQM3I95Z9X9JSC3/fullsizeoutput_753b.jpeg Black and White Expressions - Black, White & Red Textured 27- Available 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradled Frame; https://www.reenasonistudio.com/mandalas-and-more daily 0.75 2023-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897730987-24PY466FZL5KLAA58GVE/fullsizeoutput_11.jpeg Mandalas and More - Pink Mandala 52 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame $80 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897730987-24PY466FZL5KLAA58GVE/fullsizeoutput_11.jpeg Mandalas and More - Pink Mandala 52 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame $80 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667820102-61BN0EA577U25TWZF8OR/ManyMandalas.jpeg Mandalas and More - Many Mandalas 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame $80 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557869523205-UM4V5K7FWTO5YELJ7822/IMG_2016.JPG Mandalas and More - Half Dripping Mandala - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665440688-TU00WZOEFR9JVT4PFDT7/IMG_7144.jpeg Mandalas and More - Radiating Mandala 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame $80 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575665451601-LKRZSWU0X8JFNRDGYG8V/IMG_6718.jpeg Mandalas and More - Growth Mandala 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame $80 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897653558-TMOZRBUQM0UD12O1FOEL/fullsizeoutput_7525.jpeg Mandalas and More - Peacock Mandala 9x12 Acrylic on Paper; 12x16 with Mat. $80 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557867362841-BNZ05TGNCT1O3BWJ1LHJ/IMG_1730.jpg Mandalas and More - Sun & Moon Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557869634166-FR5R8N1B2WQ4VUL4ZW3P/IMG_3522.JPG Mandalas and More - Black & White Mandala-1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557846921420-TTXDX1OTH774W0KYJFGN/IMG_4374.JPG Mandalas and More - Flowers-8 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557847300516-M98OJV6V2OHCZRL8GVHW/IMG_2494.JPG Mandalas and More - Swirling Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551912886247-115TCKV0U1X7XHXR5APZ/IMG_0341.JPG Mandalas and More - Quarter Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557930976539-ZTH7KM53C1QWE1P67D5A/IMG_2507.JPG Mandalas and More - ZIA-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557869855697-VBVYGYP93X2TKST50N9Z/IMG_2565.JPG Mandalas and More - Orange Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557869581901-ZH8UE8383U5X13LRSEF8/IMG_0916.JPG Mandalas and More - Fish Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913405403-S3ZBPI69HHGW9HY86DX8/IMG_E2730.JPG Mandalas and More - Black Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913114285-XGWA58RCNVZCSYTOJ924/IMG_8840.JPG Mandalas and More - Black & White Mandala-2 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557936399158-MMKP666M3T5KBSGYMSMX/KJlXM2neQiOCYjiVf8zeBQ_thumb_8bfa.jpg Mandalas and More - Swirling Mandalas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913019147-ABLYJD68WVNRCHMVQ6ID/IMG_5004.JPG Mandalas and More - Black & White Mandala-3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557929717753-X00TTZCJMIWC8MCHQR3M/IMG_0905.JPG Mandalas and More - Mandala on Canvas Board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557869770884-B4D9BXXA1ZB6AGV935DQ/IMG_1716.JPG Mandalas and More - Mondrian Inspired Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1557929092263-HVPN03LZH81GUT3IYJEH/IMG_2227.JPG Mandalas and More - Madhubani Inspired Mandala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913047800-9978HKSGTRFEZEA7PZA4/IMG_6552.JPG Mandalas and More - Mini Mandala Gold https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551913090837-1UJ9A12DFZ0RUO7W9M3H/IMG_8466.JPG Mandalas and More - Flowers-9 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667800053-NEJ3ZZCF245CRIJBHBKH/Blue+Mandala.jpeg Mandalas and More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667799987-PTY25SEAUGPI0JDELCL6/Green+Mandala.jpeg Mandalas and More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667807624-80AWQ0FAZEU9FNBR7MC2/Orange+Mandala.jpeg Mandalas and More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667823366-O0IYVJMNT5FYY9URWPL0/Pink+Mandala.jpeg Mandalas and More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667824757-PSFVODI03H5VQ6LXOQZN/Purple+Mandala.jpeg Mandalas and More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667832043-32MW8NDT8GEPI5YE3GQF/Red+Mandala.jpeg Mandalas and More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575667836178-A2XGE66AHI06Q5IJL20M/Yellow+Mandala.jpeg Mandalas and More https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284336735-3IE92XT0OISIVXBX5JU0/619D55AC-9365-483B-980D-6DB2162D88ED.jpeg Mandalas and More - Mandala 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Derived from the Sanskrit language, the term ‘Mandala‘ is translated into ‘sacred circle’ symbolizing unity, eternity, wholeness and perfection. The Mandala symbol is an important ritual and spiritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism denoting the Universe and the concept of never-ending life. In Hinduism, a basic mandala, also called a yantra, takes the form of a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a T. Mandalas often have radial balance. In Vajrayana Buddhism, mandalas have been developed into sand paintings. There are different forms of Mandalas all having unique concepts, meanings, and purposes that range from meditation to healing. As a symbol of cosmic and psychic order, the meditation Mandala acts as a tool facilitating our spiritual journey and taking us towards enlightenment. It symbolizes a sacred area where the deities and the universal forces reside. An observer contemplating on the Mandala mentally enters it, proceeds to its center and gets symbolically guided to the essence of life and reality through the vast cosmos. Thus the Mandala serves as a hypnotic; its visually appealing design absorbs the observer’s mind, ceases all thoughts and brings about spiritual or philosophical awakening, leading to higher consciousness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671227405-P73YJZSY7EUVK4RSA0SS/FullChakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - Chakra Series 1 - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671245863-3X0MS47JRFCVUL0GYJSO/Red+Chakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671249849-PZDUIXP4UU0AVJEUYTQX/Yellow+Chakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671245863-36OBXX1X92XN2RV7ZYWT/Orange+Chakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671232411-GOCKV4AIIAPKQIO3HB0R/Green+Chakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671225604-KN1BVCBH8YICSQYXNAVQ/Blue+Chakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671231128-ILSF0B1PZ84X087NF5VE/Indigo+Chakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575671241859-DCXH70NDHZ9STS6DKLDL/Purple+Chakra.jpeg Mandalas and More - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969930553-CMUNZ2AAAGNKJDBOL1KB/Blue+Mandala.PNG Mandalas and More - Blue Mandala - 10x10 Acrylic on Canvas Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641975299755-IXW3GFX4932AW6XPCJQU/16112849_1846868288926058_6847614662662087817_o.jpg Mandalas and More - Golden Mandala - 8x10 Acrylic on Canvas Board - SOLD https://www.reenasonistudio.com/tribal-zodiac daily 0.75 2024-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664170162-37Q6TAWHMJYLHUZZ87VY/IMG_7660.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Libra 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664170162-37Q6TAWHMJYLHUZZ87VY/IMG_7660.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Libra 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664170793-XBSPTTZPK6GN5UKCEOT0/IMG_7661.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Capricorn 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664181113-6EJUJF7TWWRGYME1J6AA/IMG_7801.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Aquarius 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame -SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664185760-EINEE5BJYS6ZWVUDKFQ1/IMG_7802.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Pisces 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1551897858803-28DJ15U6TA5HZ9BCD0UE/fullsizeoutput_51e5.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Pisces 9x12 Acrylic on Paper Matted https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664189029-HZAU0RK0BAOSB7QJI174/IMG_7804.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Scorpion - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641809355900-57IQ5K7MZA3MLH706LD1/Tribal+Leo1.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Leo - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664198726-PIWIJ8PFKBUJHFKM84SO/IMG_7807.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Leo 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664205095-HVEXKX2EWRSL301IEFKQ/IMG_7813.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Aries - SOLD 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664212447-AABSQUKQ8Z2W7I5F0L0X/IMG_7881.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Cancer 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664216858-SNCINF1J8VM80RM8WXZ6/IMG_7882.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Taurus 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641809474099-4A02ARU1HPF5YML7REZQ/Tribal+Taurus1.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Taurus 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664220181-BM7HE822WN149M8VOP3Q/IMG_7884.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Gemini 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575664231176-48H8UWBQJCSDL0VNHWL4/IMG_7888.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Virgo 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641809129953-94SJT7L78NZKKM7L2TEI/Libra1.jpeg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Libra - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641809781924-DL1N5M17AHBMAX6UD7AC/IMG_7800.jpg Tribal Zodiacs - Tribal Sagittarius - SOLD https://www.reenasonistudio.com/mixed-media-small daily 0.75 2022-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575669312910-RECFIP14HGFPQP420J6P/scarab.jpeg Mixed Media - Small - Egyptian Scarab - Lino Cut 1 The Egyptian Scarab beetle was a symbol of rebirth, great power, guide and protection in the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri, the scarab-faced god who represented the rising or morning sun, renewed the sun every day by rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again the next day creating an endless cycle of life and death. This beetle rolls dung into a ball as food and as a brood chamber in which to lay eggs so that the larvae hatch and are immediately surrounded by food therefore seen as a symbol of this heavenly cycle and of the idea of rebirth or regeneration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1575669312910-RECFIP14HGFPQP420J6P/scarab.jpeg Mixed Media - Small - Egyptian Scarab - Lino Cut 1 The Egyptian Scarab beetle was a symbol of rebirth, great power, guide and protection in the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri, the scarab-faced god who represented the rising or morning sun, renewed the sun every day by rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again the next day creating an endless cycle of life and death. This beetle rolls dung into a ball as food and as a brood chamber in which to lay eggs so that the larvae hatch and are immediately surrounded by food therefore seen as a symbol of this heavenly cycle and of the idea of rebirth or regeneration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1642402311098-VVT0IECBAOUUJFQ1B52H/IMG_7695.jpeg Mixed Media - Small - Egyptian Scarab -Linocut 2 The Egyptian Scarab beetle was a symbol of rebirth, great power, guide and protection in the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri, the scarab-faced god who represented the rising or morning sun, renewed the sun every day by rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again the next day creating an endless cycle of life and death. This beetle rolls dung into a ball as food and as a brood chamber in which to lay eggs so that the larvae hatch and are immediately surrounded by food therefore seen as a symbol of this heavenly cycle and of the idea of rebirth or regeneration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641973088048-AU9MRU5IHKVAYKQJ0USK/IMG_0220.jpeg Mixed Media - Small - Abstract Fish - Linocut https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641969851319-6XQUOZ7IZ77PP9FW4B6G/IMG_7155.jpeg Mixed Media - Small - Textured Abstract 8x10 Canvas Board - SOLD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1642400057644-SCXHG1EACOVLWWHNC21B/IMG_5545.jpeg Mixed Media - Small - Ashtavinayak Series - 6x6 Jute on Wood Cradle Board - SOLD https://www.reenasonistudio.com/symbol-stories daily 0.75 2024-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284498244-31J0XDRBVFCN9WCIMS60/4000EF16-CCF4-49B7-898D-CA84A83A23F8.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Monad 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) It means that which is one has no parts and is therefore indivisible. Number 1 is simultaneously a circle, center and the purest tone; The Primary unit or the ultimate unit. A Symbol of Unity, The One, The Great Spirit; God, Permanance; https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284498244-31J0XDRBVFCN9WCIMS60/4000EF16-CCF4-49B7-898D-CA84A83A23F8.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Monad 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) It means that which is one has no parts and is therefore indivisible. Number 1 is simultaneously a circle, center and the purest tone; The Primary unit or the ultimate unit. A Symbol of Unity, The One, The Great Spirit; God, Permanance; https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283692764-MXEUPLTMZTANOG2TIUNS/3A8412F2-71E8-4E3F-8651-7E9D72936D7E.jpeg Symbol Stories - Duality 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The number 2 symbolizes duality and the principle of coming together with another. Two is the number of balance, but also the number of conflict and opposition. Without the number two, the positive and negative could not exist. The double snakes of the Caduceus represent duality and the unification of polar opposites. As such, these double snakes speak of the balance and integration polarities in order to strike harmony and representThe number 2 symbolizes duality and the principle of coming together with another. Two is the number of balance, but also the number of conflict and opposition. Without the number two, the positive and negative could not exist. The double snakes of the Caduceus represent duality and the unification of polar opposites. As such, these double snakes speak of the balance and integration polarities in order to strike harmony and represents healing. In the alchemist’s laboratory, the Caduceus means amalgamation of sulfur (male) and quicksilver (female) which signifies the unity of the polar opposites.The design itself has three parts: the central rod symbolizes alchemical powers and it signifies the connection between the spiritual and earthly world. The wings symbolize awareness of the divine and travel into the cosmic world.s healing. In the alchemist’s laboratory, the Caduceus means amalgamation of sulfur (male) and quicksilver (female) which signifies the unity of the polar opposites.The design itself has three parts: the central rod symbolizes alchemical powers and it signifies the connection between the spiritual and earthly world. The wings symbolize awareness of the divine and travel into the cosmic world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283830071-OWGYW0CUADU6DJTU5Z0L/05CF584A-1C21-4BF5-8A23-410764CF718B.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Triad 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Three was considered the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. Heaven-human-earth, past-present-future, thought-word-action , Birth-Life-death, body-soul-spirit. The Triad being Male in some cultures and female in others like a tree bridges heaven and earth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285425379-U7WF93935X28XV4T6ORR/EB8B09EE-3986-45FB-B3FB-11BE51D88BA5.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Quaternity 9X9 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Four is the first product of procreation i.e. two twos therefore the Tetrad is a symbol of earth and the natural world. Number 4 is the number of stability, order and completion of justice. The number of order in the universe is 4—the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water; the four seasons; the four points of the compass; the four phases of the Moon. The Four Noble Truths epitomize Buddhism. Quatrefoil - the quatrefoil is the ancient symbol for good luck. The word is derived from Latin roots and means four leaves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285640831-O15PMJF8EG11TWW65GIG/IMG_5860.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Pentad 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The number 5 has always been regarded as mystical and magical, yet essentially 'human'. We have five fingers/toes on each limb extremity, five senses - sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. The Pentagram is a symbol of a star encased in a circle. The upward point of the star is representative of the spirit. The other four points all represent an element; earth, air, fire, and water. All these things contribute to life and are a part of each of us. A circle around a pentagram contains and protects. The circle symbolizes eternity and infinity, the cycles of life and nature. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284787625-BLTX68ARTVA80EM99BFX/60173ABD-D627-4D71-8FBB-093845384329.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Hexad 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame The number 6 is a symbol of completeness and luck. Samsara or The Wheel of Life is the six spheres of existence that all are trapped in. 6 points in the Star of David, 6 lines of the Hexagram in Taoism (Iching). Symbolizing the ideal meditative state in Hinduism and magical ceremonies in occult practices, the hexagram can fit inside a perfect circle and is often associated with the heart chakra. The Seed of Life is a universal symbol of creation and is formed from a relationship of 6 circles around one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285019049-S0C62P8X2KEG5YF97HAH/C5702A92-07F0-4C32-B9D4-38BABFD6B80B.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Heptad 9x12 Acrylic on Paper - SOLD 7 is the Symbol of eternal life for the Egyptians: it symbolizes a complete cycle, a dynamic perfection. It also symbolizes every positive and valuable matter in existence like prosper life, happiness, renewal, and perfection. It is 7 days of a week, 7 wonders of the world, and 7 Colors of the rainbow, the Seven Dwarfs. The seven "chakras" - Muladhara, Swadhistana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283675752-OCJ6QDA8NZ6ZOSYKJ2YE/2EF1B683-506C-496F-8DE7-633E21DBC18A.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Octad 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Eight is a symbol of infinity and a constant flow of energy and power. Eight or "Ashta" in Sanskrit, it is the number of wealth and abundance. The buddhist 8-fold path of liberation. Slavic Protection Symbol - 8 pointed Star, the feminine Midnight Sun (Kolyadki) and the four circles representing two way doors (spirit, air, fire and water) with Earth circle at the center. It has magical meanings in Latvian folklore of the ancient understanding of the secrets of magical nature, the magical self in relationship to nature. If your bed sheets are covered with this symbols then bed sheet protects through the symbol the dreamer from any evil shadows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283620452-DWC5AP7GFZKC9W7O1D6S/2E3648A7-9307-4D08-A52E-B06C53DE7115.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Ennead 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Nine is the celestial number of magic, order, harmony and it represents the inspiration and the perfection of the ideas. Ancient stories speak of the nine worlds or levels of reality, nine lives of cats, being on cloud nine, the nine muses in Greek mythology and 9 Daughters of Aegir and Ran in Norse mythology, 9 represents Brahma the creator and many more. Nine Men's Morris is a strategy board game for two players dating back to the Roman Empire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284434059-2IRKN0KW5PXFZEZMXAOI/1962D823-4B82-4E36-BCD7-D2735C31016A.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Decad 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Ten is often referred to as a symbol of constant change and flowing energy. It represents the end of a cycle and the beginning of another and ten was regarded as being the number of the life and the death for the Mayans. Ten is associated with law and judgement symbolized by the ten commandments which give man guidance to rights and wrongs in the Bible. Dashavataar or 10 incarnations of Vishnu the Preserver in Hinduism. The 10 Sephiroth in the Jewish Kabbalah’s Tree of Life - “It is a tree of life to all who grasp it, and whoever holds on to it is happy; its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all it paths are peace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285718250-E3FHZ6ZCAMZI2EUBS9TK/IMG_6017.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Tri Series - Triquetra 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) An ancient Celtic symbol, the triquetra is considered one of the oldest; dating back to as early as 500 BC when it was used to symbolize the triple goddess (maiden-mother-crone). Over the centuries it has become the symbol for the Holy Trinity among Christians in Ireland. The symbol is often used to represent the 3 fundamental elements – air, water, and earth or the infinite cycle of life. It is also known as a rune of protection. The Triquetra first appeared in The Book of Kells from the ninth century. It is a symbol of eternity, unity and hope. The three interlocking ovals have come to represent different trinities. Some believe that they represent the past, present, and future; the earth, sky, and sea; life, death, and rebirth, and more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283742107-3C5DA9XM3CHYY89RZHZ1/3A94382B-18E0-47B5-BA0D-83053B19F2C5.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Tri Series - Triple Crescent Moon 9X12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The Triple Goddess is a deity or deity archetype revered in many religious and spiritual traditions. The triple crescent moon is a symbol of the Triple goddess in the Wiccan religion where the symbol represents the three stages of womanhood – mother, maiden, and crone. Celtic symbolism believes they represent the three Fates – birth, life, and death. The most prominent ancient Greek Triple Goddesses were Diana and Hecate were both represented in triple form from the early days of their worship. Triple Goddesses in Hinduism Tridevi made up of Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati (Kali/Durga) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285058173-PRS28XE30EYGE3VBG3M0/C34359B1-4D78-4EA8-8D57-E3ECF0DE616A.jpeg Symbol Stories - Tri Series - Borromean Rings or Trinity Rings 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Borromean Rings were symbols for strength in unity. They are composed of three circles interlocking each other, forming a Brunnian Link which means that if one were to cut or take away one ring, the other two would fall apart. In Christianity this symbol represented the unity and characteristics of the Holy Trinity therefore they are also known as Trinity Rings. Borromean Rings can also represent the karmic laws of the universe and the interconnectedness of life. Just like the Butterfly Effect, one should expect a reaction out of every action made. Even branches of Science and Mathematics have used the Borromean Rings as a model to explain the universe, through Geometry and Molecular Architecture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284588353-2FODVSF29T10FZTEXU9A/5070F266-B9A9-474C-B871-EB3624799772.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Tri Series -Triceps Triangle 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The triceps triangle, formed of three diamonds (Earth Diamonds), is one of the most powerful ancient symbols, especially known as an ancient Nordic symbol of divine force, power and protection. This symbol is thought to invoke powers of earth, weather and also enhances prosperity. Each of the four-sided element represents the full extent of the elements: Fire, Earth, Air, Water. The combination of all leads to the wholeness of nature and the universe. There are variations of this symbol in early Celtic history too, which may point to the three phases of existence: Life, Death, Afterlife. Also known as the triple alpha symbol it dives into the concept of creation. The Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet. As such, it stands for the beginning of life. The other features of the symbol speak of consequential stages of life. Together, they represent the same in Greek myth as Celtic: Birth, Death, Beyond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285507926-KLNO9BLAZU2YLEIKOX1X/F21AA8B1-C4D2-416F-A0A1-16F30AFC1C38.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Trinity Series - Triskelion 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Derived from the Greek word "Triskeles" meaning "three legs", the Triskelion or Triple Spiral is a complex ancient Celtic symbol. The 3 interlocked spirals they represent eternal motion and the Celtic belief that time is cyclical and is associated with the earthly life, afterlife, and reincarnation. One of the oldest Irish symbols in existence, it appears on the Newgrange kerbstones, which date from approximately 3200 BC and feature prominently in both ancient and modern Celtic art, as they evoke the Celtic interpretation of the three realms of material existence: earth, water, and sky (and all their interconnections). The symbol is also thought to represent the three worlds: spiritual, physical, and celestial. It also appears in Celtic archaeological sites in the north of Spain and Portugal. Another variation to this is that the Triple Spiral is also related to the Sun and a spiral represents the movement of the Sun in three months. Therefore, the Triple Spiral denotes nine months and is considered a symbol of pregnancy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284754653-X9SUVFSV7W0QZ3RSWC25/51295D9F-EEDF-4656-98E3-EC575E96AC1F.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Tri Series - Valknut 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame Valknut, or “knot of the slain,” and it has been found on stone carvings as a funerary motif, where it probably signified the afterlife. This symbol is found in art depicting the God Odin, where it may represent the gods power over death. Some versions of the Valknut can be drawn unicursally (in one stroke), making it a popular talisman of protection against spirits. The Valknut’s three interlocking shapes are suggestive of related Celtic symbols of motherhood and rebirth- it may have been a goddess symbol at some point in history. The nine points suggest rebirth, pregnancy, and cycles of reincarnation. The number nine also suggestive of the Nine Worlds and the nine fates of Norse mythology. Their interwoven shape suggests the belief of the inter-relatedness of the three realms of earth, hell, and the heavens, and the nine domains they encompass. The Valknut is also an important symbol to many followers of the Asatru religion, who often wear it as a symbol of the faith. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285745210-LURUR01N1S7NPK9EXPZQ/IMG_6140.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Tri Series - Piscis Eye Trinity 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame The three circles that make up the Piscis Eye Trinity are also part of the Vesica Pisces symbol. It can be understood as representative of the different moon cycles: waxing, full, and waning. Sacred in various Neopagan and Goddess traditions, the Piscis Eye Trinity is a powerful, ancient symbol that depicts the sacred trinity and the all-seeing eye. The Vesica Pisces is composed of two spheres with the same radius, which intersect within each other’s circumference. The name of this symbol, when translated literally from Latin, means ‘bladder of a fish.’ This symbol figures prominently Pythagorean history and is considered a holy figure because the ratio of its width to its height was believed to be 165:153 or 1.73203—a holy number. It should be noted that the number 153 is written in the Gospel of John as the number of fish that Jesus miraculously caught. Because of this, some believe that it is the symbol for Jesus Christ (ichthys). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283763139-UQYL1E68XH8H0NMX46QB/3D386AA8-602A-47D2-BA97-6B1ECAFF12E8.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Sacred Spiral 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Spirals are one of the oldest geometric shapes in ancient artwork dating back at least to the Neolithic period thousands of years before writing. The spiral represents the universal pattern of growth and evolution. The spiral represents eternity and continuity. The spiral in nature appears frequently. It is a symbol that represents innocence, rebirth, and the eternal. The Taínos often depicted a spiral symbol, which represented cosmic energy and sweet water. Years later, psychologist Carl Jung said that the spiral is an archetypal symbol that represents cosmic force. The Spiral is also a sacred symbol that represents the journey and change of life as it unfolds. In fact, if you look at pure energy under a microscope you will see that energy forms spiral patterns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283578882-7YLIS609LEQEHXC8KDAS/1D3C436F-2647-4169-A005-DB2D2168DEC5.jpeg Symbol Stories - Double Spiral 9x12 Acrylic on Paper - SOLD The double spiral is seen as a symbol of balance as well as a sign of the equinoxes. Some suggest the spiral represents the sun and the double spiral the sun’s journey over the course of the year. his is a sacred symbol of the Celtic goddess Epona. She is a horse goddess of Earth. Epona was invoked during the equinoxes (Autumn and Vernal) to bring about smooth passage of the seasons. These two seasons can be unsettling as they unfold upon the earth. As an overseer of the two equinox, Epona releases her power during these times to help insure easy transition during these times. Aside from being a notable Celtic goddess symbol, the double spiral also holds a profound personal meaning for mortals. Each end of the spiral expresses a polarity. For example: Left vs Right, Night vs Day, Death vs Life, Moon vs Sun, Good vs Evil, etc. The reality of polarity is perhaps one of the must crucial ideals in symbolic conveyance. Indeed, the entire universe is elegantly perched on polar or opposite energies. There cannot be a push without a pull. There cannot nighttime without daytime. Therefore, this double spiral is perfect symbol that portrays the balance between opposite influences. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285140915-00JWD43UVB7SMUOJXFDM/CE966CB0-1A6E-44F6-81DA-F7FEA27CBE04.jpeg Symbol Stories - Nautilus Shell 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame One of the most beautiful water creatures is the Nautilus, a cephalopod encased in a gorgeous shell, which features the best natural example of a logarithmic spiral. It is also considered as a symbol of strength since this shell can withstand very high pressure. This is why the Nautilus is the only shell that managed to survive past the dinosaur era—the exact reason why it is often referred to as a ‘living fossil.’ It is a symbol of nature's grace in perfection, beauty, growth, expansion, and renewal. It is also a symbol of order amidst chaos as reflected in its spiral precision. Each chamber of the Nautilus follows the Fibonacci sequence, with the shape of the shell approximating a Phi spiral, which is considered an important aspect of Sacred Geometry. The Nautilus also represents the golden mean: 1.6180339…, which goes on until infinity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641802021583-O59LXQ4C45KADIHFSDLS/71FA895A-DD94-4FE5-A316-EC2C47FA0786.jpeg Symbol Stories - Ouroboros or Uroboros 11x14 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Ouroboros is one of the world’s most ancient mystical symbols, having appeared in Egypt as early as 1600 BC. It was adopted by the Phoenicians and later the Greeks, who gave it its name where Oura means tail while Boros is translated as eating. Taken together, it means “tail devourer” or “one who eats the tail”. As a symbol, it depicts a serpent consuming its own tail. Over the centuries it has been subject to several interpretations by different cultures. One is that it represents the Universe’s eternally cyclic nature, which creates life out of destruction. In alchemy, it symbolizes the continuous renewal of birth and death that alchemists struggle to break free from. Gnosticism and Hermeticism also hail the Ouroboros as representative of cyclical natural life and the unity of opposites. Gnostics, in particular, regard it as a sign of the transcendence of duality and a connection to Abraxas, the solar god. The mathematical symbol for infinity is said to be derived from this version of Ouroboros, with the serpent looped once before consuming its own tail. The Ouroboros also appears on numerous examples of Masonic imagery, particularly during the 17th century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285408718-QMZZCTQJ544HPBWVJ6RU/E2FF3F52-A22F-4F84-8531-7B1763EABF2F.jpeg Symbol Stories - Lauburu - Basque Cross 11x14 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Lauburu is a traditional Basque hooked cross with four comma-shaped heads symbol that is believed to be representative of the Basque identity, culture, and unity. In the Basque language, Euskara, it literally translates to ‘four (Lau) heads (Buru) and is an ancient symbol of prosperity, but it lends itself to several interpretations that have religious, cosmic, philosophical and naturalistic meanings. Some intellects associate it with the Christian Cross and believe it to symbolize the eternal circle of life. As a sign of mankind, the four heads of the Lauburu are said to be indicative of the four states in which man exists, namely physical, mental, emotional and perceptual. It represents the four fundamental human elements – Form or Density, Life or Vitality, Sensibility, and Conscience. According to another interpretation, the symbol is believed to correspond to the four cardinal directions. It is also supposed to indicate natural phenomena like the four essential natural elements, and the revolution of the Earth around the Sun that results in the four seasons. The vertical heads of the Lauburu are also called sunset and considered as symbolic of the elements of water and fire. The horizontal heads are called sunrise and represent the elements of earth and air. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285507299-XYYIPD5RO3BITY2G0PLV/F4BD6842-218B-4AF2-AFD2-58D975F346B1.jpeg Symbol Stories - Merkaba 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame The Merkaba is an extremely powerful sacred geomety symbol. It is a combination of two star tetrahedrons - one pointing up to the heavens, channeling energy down from the Universe to the earth plain, and one pointing downwards, drawing energy up from the earth beneath. The top, or upward pointing tetrahedron is male and rotates clockwise, with the bottom or downwards pointing one being female, which rotates counterclockwise.The word Merkaba is actually composed of three separate words: Mer, which means light, Ka, which means spirit and Ba, which means Body. Put together, these three words connote the union of spirit with the body, surrounded by light. The symbol, which takes the shape of a star, is believed to be a divine vehicle made entirely of light and designed to transport or connect the spirit and body to higher realms. Ancient Jewish texts reveal that the word is also the Hebrew for a chariot, and the Bible reveals that the word Merkaba itself is found in the Old Testament a total of 44 times. Merkaba's intersecting tetrahedrons that spin in opposite directions, creating a 3-dimensional energy field that surrounds each person. Some believe that even planets have this Merkaba energy field around it. Used in meditation, the Merkaba can become a source of power and enlightenment. It can help a person realize his full potential and connect with the goodness in him, as well as the higher being. This field of light, love, and goodwill can also extend to others, thereby enveloping them in the same healing energy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284844972-Y8MR8YSQ2YVH74YAV3EX/46856312-0169-4985-B38C-C062D1E59927.jpeg Symbol Stories - Viking Vegvisir 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame The Vegvisir, also known as the runic compass or the Viking compass/Nordic compass made of eight Viking rune staves, is a symbol of protection and guidance believed to be used as a compass by Vikings. The word vegvisir means ‘wayfinder’ and ‘sign post’ in Icelandic language. It is believed that the eight Viking rune staves comprising the Vegvisir could be representing the cardinal (North, South, West, East) and intercardinal directions (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast). There are two sources mentioning the Vegvisir: the Huld Manuscript compiled by Geir Vigfusson in 1880 and The Galdrabok, another manuscript which is essentially a grimoire – ‘a textbook for magic’. A leaf of the Huld manuscript provides an image of the vegvísir, gives its name, and, in prose, declares that "if this sign is carried, one will never lose one's way in storms or bad weather, even when the way is not known". As long as this symbol was present, then one would arrive to their destination safely. According to the Galdrabok, to provide guidance and protection, the Vegvisir should be drawn in blood on a person’s forehead. Today, the Vegvisir is used as symbol of Icelandic culture while people of Asatru faith also use it to identify themselves and as a symbol of spiritual guidance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285258258-KPR6DNAWUMHEEYNNK3ND/D169F4B8-E2ED-43B8-9794-E2975066CB97.jpeg Symbol Stories - Innana’s Knot 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Inanna was an ancient Mesopotamian goddess associated with beauty, love, desire, fertility and represents the power of creation and divine feminism. Innana’s cuneiform ideogram was a hook shaped knot of reeds and this symbol was early written form of the name of the goddess. The knot is an agricultural symbol for her and represents the reed boat Inanna built to save humankind after Eniki caused a great flood to try and wipe out humankind. The goddess Inanna was the patron and special goddess of the ancient Sumerian city of Erech (Uruk), the City of Gilgamesh was frequently depicted standing on the backs of two lionesses or on top of a mountain. As Queen of heaven, she was associated with the Evening Star (the planet Venus), and sometimes with the Moon. She may also have been associated the brightest stars in the heavens, as she is sometimes symbolized by an eight-pointed star, a seven-pointed star, or a four pointed star. In the earliest traditions, Inanna was the daughter of An, the Sky, Ki, the Earth (both of Uruk and Warka). In later Sumerian traditions, she is the daughter of Nanna (Narrar), the Moon God and Ningal, the Moon Goddess (both of Ur). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283959328-ZEMYDGG3B3EAGHRR19Q5/8E54E3D5-98F7-43B8-BA85-7FD670B33179.jpeg Symbol Stories - Star of Ishtar 9x12 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame The Star of Ishtar or Star of Inanna is a symbol of the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna and her East Semitic counterpart Ishtar. Alongside the lion, it was one of Ishtar's primary symbols the star of Inanna usually had eight points. Later on it was specifically associated with the planet Venus, with which Ishtar was identified therefore the star is also known as the Star of Venus and during this period, the star of Ishtar was normally shown as enclosed within a circular disc. Slaves who worked in Ishtar's temples were sometimes branded with the seal of the eight-pointed star. On boundary stones and cylinder seals, the eight-pointed star is sometimes shown alongside the crescent moon, which was the symbol of Sin, god of the Moon, and the rayed solar disk, which was a symbol of Shamash, the god of the Sun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284133276-76FIFA5GY8BJURQ1OA96/50A8562B-E022-4293-BBAE-8A99F5CB79FB.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dara Knot 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The Dara Celtic knot traces its history to the root system of the oak tree and originates from the Irish word ‘Doire’ meaning oak tree and symbolizes leadership, wisdom, leadership, destiny, endurance, power, and strength. The ancient Celts considered the oak tree as sacred and used it to derive meaningful stories and lessons for their daily lives. The roots of the oak tree represent the great source of intrinsic divine resources and inner strength we all have. The knot encourages people to unite during the tough times so that they can weather and brace through the challenges of life easily. It also aims to remind human beings of the presence of divine inner strength that assists them in gaining stability during tough and trying times. Dara knots do not have one single design. Rather, there are many depictions of them, all with the central theme of an oak tree’s root system. When you find yourself feeling down, you can turn to this tree symbol as a reminder of what you are truly made of. By doing this, you can pick yourself up, regain your confidence, and continue on your path toward enlightenment and joy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284096819-BJDDYAM53GQ679JAUYT8/28C74AEC-E5DF-479B-87D3-2BA0074E79DF.jpeg Symbol Stories - Shield Knot 11x14 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Frame The Shield Knot is an ancient Celtic symbol of protection and was placed near sick people or on battle shields to protect from physical and spiritual harm. It can be made in several designs, but its uniqueness lies in its four distinct corners. Like many knot symbols, the Celtic Shield Knot was also seen to symbolize faith, love and unity between people. A Shield Knot is usually shaped as a square or appears to be a square within a circle. Besides being a part of the ancient Celtic culture, the Shield Knot is believed to have been used by several other cultures also for invoking the protective power of the four Gods intertwined with the seasons, or archangels, who protect the people of earth as well as bring us the elements or seasons or the earth water, fire and sky which help us, but have power over us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284281763-4CC6KC1QHDML4KW35SAI/94A7602E-B8DB-4F37-929E-9C02DBBD8C03.jpeg Symbol Stories - Solomon Knot 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The Solomon’s Knot is a very ancient Celtic Knot symbol that is believed to represent the union of a man and the Divine. In fact, it is one of the oldest symbols and is seen even in the stone-age carvings. It is also one of the few symbols that can be found in nearly all the major civilizations. Its frequent appearance in ancient synagogues led to it being linked with King Solomon. Solomon’s Knot lends itself to several symbolic interpretations. The absence of any beginning or end in the knot makes it a symbol of eternity and immortality, while the design of two entwined figures makes the knot a symbol of love. Solomon's Knot appears on tombstones and mausoleums in Jewish graveyards and catacombs in many nations. In this context, Solomon's Knot is currently interpreted to symbolize eternity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284983415-EP7TN5GQYACJUGM38E9T/BDD0985C-95AD-4737-9C9D-10421225024B.jpeg Symbol Stories - Gordian knot 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Gordian Knot is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem (untying an impossibly tangled knot) solved easily by finding an approach to the problem that renders the perceived constraints of the problem moot ("cutting the Gordian knot"). It is said that the Gordian Knot can help enlighten one’s mind to see problems and difficult situations more clearly and with renewed hope and energy. There was a legend of Phrygian Gordium and Alexander the Great associated with it. The story goes like this - An oracle predicted that the next man driving an ox cart into the city of Phrygia would be its king. Gordia, then just a poor peasant, drove into the city and priests declared him as king. In gratitude and thanks to Zeus, he then tied his ox cart to a column using an intricate knot. Then another oracle predicted that whoever could untie the “Gordian knot” would rule all of Asia. But while everyone else did not succeed in untying the complicated knot, Alexander the Great, using his wit and cunning, cut the knot in half using his sword in 333BC. The Gordian Knot also takes on a very mystical meaning in sacred geometry. This knot can actually be made from a Torus Tube (which resembles a donut shape), known in physics as the perfect shape. The Torus Tube was used as a symbol for the unity of the consciousness with the universe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284689937-GUA6H9T3QERIZKWHAIB4/8442E940-BB3B-4A77-AA3B-B8FA6C89A4E4.jpeg Symbol Stories - Adinkra Symbol Nykinkyim 12x18 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Nkyinkyim is a symbol depicting the tortuous nature of life’s journey and how these twists and turns are required to be versatile and resilient to survive. The proverb associated with this symbol is “Ɔbra kwan yɛ nkyinkyimii,” which literally means “Life’s journey is twisted.” This Asante symbol itself twists and turns to reflect this wisdom and encourages people to face difficult challenges and overcome them and also take up bad situations and make them better as it signifies prudence, vigilance and balance. It is a reminder that life is made up of good and bad moments. Life is not a straight path. As such, the future of life is uncertain. Therefore, humans must use the resources in great moderation to have them in perpetual abundance for future use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285822778-QXTGJIVSSTQQ3648FNIJ/IMG_6456.jpeg Symbol Stories - Adinkra Symbol Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu 12x18 - SOLD It’s a Ghanaian symbol which literally means "Siamese crocodiles." This West African Symbol stands for "Unity in Diversity", an old Adinkra concept of democracy and unity. It represents Siamese Twin Crocodiles with the two heads, the belly in the center and their tails. The Siamese crocodiles share one stomach, yet they fight over food but neither of them can survive without the other. A reminder that unity is important and that infighting and disharmony will only bring the downfall of the people. This Adinkra symbol from Ghana is actually meant to encourage us to see one-sided interests (the heads) and holistic unity (the shared belly) as complimentary aspects of a larger whole giving rise to diversity. The adversarial process of the two heads highlights the shared unity of the stomach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285865500-DVDQJS14OOYHG6P8Q0DP/IMG_6467.jpeg Symbol Stories - Adinkra Symbol Wawa Aba 12x18 - SOLD The Wawa Aba symbol represents “the seed of the wawa tree” and is symbolic of strength, perseverance, and hardiness. This seed is extremely hard and in the Akan culture it is a symbol used by those that are strong and tough. It inspires the individual to persevere through hardships and be able to overcome great adversity. From this comes the expression, “He is as tough as the seed of a wawa tree.” ( Oye d n se wawa aba.”). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285783101-LIHEH9YAXTOEGV4MGJQ4/IMG_6453.jpeg Symbol Stories - Adinkra Symbol Kokuromotie 12x18 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Kokuromotie a thumb symbol represents cooperation, participation, teamwork, indispensability, and harmony. A thumbs up is an approval. This symbol signifies your participation and cooperation in what is happening. It means you are part of the team and that they have your support. Interesting Ghanian proverbs “Dua baako nndane kwayɛ” which literally means “One tree cannot be a forest” - we achieve more if we work together and “Ɛnam obi so na obi yɛ yie” - Its always through the help of someone that you get somewhere - We should help each other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285900053-XQC05RIBPVO3TO8L9KZM/IMG_6475.jpeg Symbol Stories - Adinkra Symbol Sankofa 12x18 - SOLD A metaphorical symbol of positive reversion and revival, derived from King Adinkera of the Akan people of West Africa. In the Twi language of Ghana the word Sankofa is literally translated, (san - to return; ko - to go; fa - to fetch, to seek and take) and associated with the proverb “se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki” which translates to “it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot”. It also refers to the Asante Adinkra symbol represented either with a stylized heart shape or by a mythic bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg (symbolizing the future) in its mouth. “Sankofa” teaches us the wisdom in learning from the past and bringing it into the present so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward. Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone, or been stripped of can be reclaimed, revived, preserved, and perpetuated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285965516-A2QWXN5K4TCY68878HY0/IMG_6477.jpeg Symbol Stories - Adinkra Symbol Bese Saka 12x18 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Bese Saka, a sack of cola nuts, is a cultural symbol of affluence, power, abundance, plenty, togetherness and unity. The bunch refers to unity because separate pods each with a number of seeds have been brought together. This symbol reminds us of the philosophy of unity in diversity. This symbol also represents the role of agriculture and trade in bringing peoples together and their engagement in activities that brings about economic progress. It educates us that to combat the environmental crisis in society, there is the need for all societal members to join forces in doing that. Also, during environmental cleansing activities, all societal members must come together to partake in them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285958583-ECQ6N56PR2MJNLXOHZ2Y/IMG_6476.jpeg Symbol Stories - Adinkra Symbol Pempasie 12x18 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Pempamsie, an Asante cultural symbol, means “Sew in Readiness” calls for the need to exhibit foresight and precautionary abilities in preparedness for any unforeseen eventualities. The design of this symbol resembles the links of a chain, and implies strength through unity as well as the importance of being prepared. It stands for readiness, steadfastness, hardiness, strength and unity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286013161-I8Q3PI81W7R6GIKB7G4L/IMG_6511.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American Hopi Healing Hand 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Healer’s Hand combines the hand with a spiral to create a powerful symbol of healing and protection. The spiral was derived from Native American solar hieroglyphics and is known as the symbol for eternity or for the path of our existence on earth. The Hopi, a Native American tribe said it had the curative powers of the tribe’s Shaman, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the Shaman’s Hand and holds therapeutic energy. The Healer’s Hand makes a very popular talisman and is often worn by those searching for its curative powers to attract good health, good luck, happiness and wealth. In the modern times, the Healer’s Hand has come to be associated with new age spiritual healing practices such as Reiki. Reiki involves healing people at physical, emotional and spiritual levels by manipulating and guiding life-force energy through symbols. These symbols are created by the Reiki practitioner by moving his/her hands over the client’s body in specified patterns. The Healer’s Hand is seen as a symbol of a Reiki healer’s energy-emitting hand, and so, is also referred to as the Reiki Hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283865808-ODYBIMIMLXAMG7BEUZ66/07FB219A-A42C-413F-B8BE-D836B4D0AA06.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American ZIA Sun Symbol 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Sun Symbol or Zia symbol meant “Earth Guardian in Day”, and it can also represent Healing Energy. The sun symbol is also recognized as a giver of life, and a provider of warmth. The sun is the provider of light and heat, which is what causes crops to flourish, which is why it symbolizes growth. The sun symbol originated with the Indians of Zia Pueblo (Tsi’ya) in ancient times and has sacred meaning to the Zia. Four is the sacred number of the Zia and can be found repeated in the four points radiating from the circle which symbolizes the the four seasons of life, four periods of each day, four winds, four seasons, four cardinal directions, and four sacred obligations - a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others. The symbol can also be seen on the flag of New Mexico. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286060551-WC4MRWT1RC2LRZW29XUM/IMG_6514.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American Turtle 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The turtle is a sacred figure in Native American symbolism as it represents Mother Earth. In the creation myths of some East Coast tribes (such as the Iroquois and Lenape), the Great Spirit created their homeland by placing earth on the back of a giant turtle. This is why some contemporary Native Americans refer to North America by the name "Turtle Island." The turtle has great longevity living up to 150 years therefore symbol signifies good health and long life. The hard shell of the turtle represents perseverance and protection. In some tribes, turtles are often associated with healing, wisdom, and spirituality. In many mythologies and religions around the world, especially in Asia and North America and are often associated with creation myths and symbolize wisdom, longevity, tranquility and steadfastness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286002514-OE3MER0RNXCQLDAVO8GQ/IMG_6513.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American The Great Spirit 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Great Spirit symbolized the divine power which created this world and is watching over humankind. The Great Spirit is a conception of universal spiritual force, or supreme being prevalent among most Native American tribes. Algonquian speaking tribes use the name “Gitchi Manitou”. The Sioux called it “Wakan Tanka” which translates into the Great Mystery. Blackfoot tribes referred to it as “Old Man” or even “Ababinili” by the Chickasaw tribe. In the Western culture, the depiction of this symbol is as The Eye of Providence which basically means all seeing and all knowing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285092170-HKBLDKW8BCBYWL1C8EM7/CBDF2983-9375-4C13-877E-FE098EC97399.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American Protection 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Protection symbol is depicted as two arrows within a circle and it signifies family ties, closeness, and protection. Arrows symbolize defense and protection. An arrow pointing to the left keeps away evil; an arrow pointing to the right also represents protection; an arrow facing downward represents peace while the Arrowheads signify alertness and direction. The circle is an important symbol to Native American Indian “that which has no break and which cannot be broken” as it is symbolic of the life cycle and equality where no person is more prominent than any other person. The black center circle depicts the air symbol which represents life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284927503-DPDYHQEXVGOIYU8L1X34/A4731CB9-534D-4499-824C-9EE99D11E007.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American Hummingbird 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Hummingbird is an important bird in the Southwestern Pueblo cultures. Hummingbirds depending on the tribe can be depicted as a symbol of peace, love, devotion, happiness, permanence, eternity and life cycles. The wings of the hummingbird flutter in a specific pattern that resembles the number ‘8’ or the symbol of infinity. This characteristic is depicted as the symbol of eternity, continuity, or infinity. Hummingbirds were admired as ferocious fighters and defenders of their territory. Its feathers are highly prized and used ceremonially and in dance costumes. It was believed that it brings luck to see a Hummingbird before major events such as long hunting trips or traveling to other villages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283798018-VD40S9WVMEAG5SGUVUNI/5A782FA0-4313-473A-8743-E7F9F6225043.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American-Butterfly 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Native Americans, the butterfly is a symbol of change, balance, good luck, and joy. Miracle of transformation and resurrection. Pueblo tribes of southeastern Arizona and northwest Mexico believed that the butterfly played a part in their creation and the story was “The Creator took the most beautiful colors of all living things and placed them into a magical bag. He gave the magic bag to the children and when it was opened colorful butterflies flew out singing. The children were enchanted by the butterflies but because the song birds grew jealous that the Creator took away the ability to sing from the butterfly”. The Butterfly is also believed to be a messenger from the spirit world and the message it brings depends its color. A black butterfly indicates bad news or illness, yellow brings hope and guidance, brown signifies important news, red signifies an important event and white signifies good luck. The Blackfoot tribe believe that this symbol is associated with sleep and dreams. Women embroider the sign of a butterfly on a small piece of buckskin and tie it to a baby’s hair or on the baby's clothes to encourage the child to go to sleep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285193749-P2QJTAYZLIVBPGTFLZKH/D6ACD425-88D8-4802-A1E0-4C3CC2AB62B7.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American Eagle 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Native Americans consider the bald eagle and the golden eagle to be sacred as eagles are the highest flying birds they were seen to be nearer to the Creator. The Eagle symbolizes courage, strength, wisdom, and a special religious connection due to its association with spirits and visions. Their feathers were used during prayer and during special council meetings where they were held as an assurance that the person was telling the truth. Among the Pueblo tribes, eagles are considered one of the six directional guardians, associated with the upward direction, spirituality, and balance. The Zunis carve stone eagle fetishes for protection, ascribing to them both healing and hunting powers, and the Eagle Dance is one of the most important traditional dances held by the Hopi and other Pueblo tribes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286064567-AYWPIW1KBU4UHTJ53MVQ/IMG_6581.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American Feather 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) For Native Americans the meaning of feathers is intricately tied to the belief that birds, as spirit guides, walk through different stages of life with a person, teaching, guiding, and protecting them. Birds were revered as bringers of messages and symbols of change and often symbolized light-hearted freedom. Feathers are perceived as gifts from the sky, the sea and the trees were awarded to great warriors and other highly decorated members of the tribe. When a feather falls to earth, the Native Americans believe it carries all of the energy of its former attachment on a bird to a living being. They have been thought to have powers that guide the mind and body in a direction of hope, courage, and strength. The feather is a powerful symbol that signifies honor and a connection between the owner, the Creator, and the bird from which the feather came. Each feather has special symbolic significance for example, hawk feathers symbolize guardianship while owl feathers symbolize wisdom. The eagle’s feather, however, is one of the most esteemed it symbolizes great strength, courage, leadership and prestige. The different types of headdress feathers worn by Native American Indians all had specific meanings and symbolism. The way a feather was cut or colored had great significance and represented the history and deeds of a warrior. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285573656-6A5G5ICQEDULK7ODJ83X/F25637E9-F972-4F7A-BC80-5F0534E88A6F.jpeg Symbol Stories - Native American Cactus 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The meaning of the Cactus symbol was to signify the desert and it symbolizes warmth, protection, longevity and endurance. The cactus flower is a symbol of maternal love because it can endure and thrive in harsh conditions and therefore symbolic of a mother's unconditional love. A mother's protective qualities conveyed by the cactus flower due to its medicinal properties. The pulp and juice was used to treat numerous wounds and sickness due to digestive inflammations. The spiritual meaning behind the cactus is symbolized in its hard protective exterior, its endurance and strength to survive in new environments and situations. The cactus is adaptable and strong. While it may not be recognized for its beauty, the real beauty and treasure of the cactus come from the inside, with its unique ability to store water. Keeping a cactus in your home or at work will remind you to stay strong, endure and remember that the essence of both your truth and your beauty from within. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284861764-ELF5DB3Z7VNTLEYIBNGD/47074564-ABBE-4403-BCE5-4E150501EB8B.jpeg Symbol Stories - Mayan Hunab Ku 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Hunab Ku is an ancient Mayan symbol that is said to represent the Supreme God or the One Being. In the Yucatec Mayan language, ‘Hunab’ meaning ‘one state of being’ and ‘Ku’ meaning ‘God.’ It encompasses all opposites in the universe and unites them as one: male and female, dark and light, conscious and unconscious, internal and external—the list goes on. It is analogous to the yin-yang symbol, with black spirals on one side, and white spirals on the other. It can be used to achieve balance and harmony in life because of its intrinsic powers of uniting or bridging opposites. It acts as a bridge to connect one’s inner being with one’s external body or to achieve oneness with the universe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286110242-8MAMIQ65XIVAJL203QJK/IMG_6600.jpeg Symbol Stories - Mayan Jaguar 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) A central figure of Mayan zoomorphic symbolism, the Jaguar was a powerful symbol of ferocity, strength and valor. As a god of the Mayan underworld, the Jaguar ruled the celestial forces of night and day. In Mayan scripture, it represents the power to face one’s fears and to confront one’s enemies. It also symbolizes vision, having a dual meaning: the ability to see during the night and to look into the dark parts of the human heart. Along with physical vision, jaguars are also associated with the foreshadowing of things to come. Mayan warriors wore jaguar skins into battle as a sign of honor and courage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285321954-WKLGXL2ZS6YZGUENU842/DC285DA6-3489-4EFE-A88A-3B3D3A99FE0D.jpeg Symbol Stories - Mayan Caban 9x9 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) To the ancient Maya, Caban defined as the earth and represented the vital force within the earth and also within the human body, known as earth and heart rhythm, respectively. This is representative of the Earth keeper who sanctifies the Earth and venerates all life that exists on it. The drawing in the middle represents the brain, and the circles are the increasing degrees of human spirituality. It is the energy that governs the mind, knowledge and memory. The full picture depicts interaction between expansion and the infinite, as well as, the concept of reality and the limitations imposed on humans. Focusing on the Caban symbol helps one become centered and experience spiritual unfolding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286193607-OCTN8AWHCDEWATUWQNWH/IMG_6648.jpeg Symbol Stories - Inca Cross or Andean Cross or Chakana 11x14 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Each corner and side of the Chakana could represent seasons, gods or the values of the Inca culture, such as love (munay), knowledge (yachay) and work (llankay), or values established by the Incan Empire such as respect and obligation to parents, to the Inca ruler and to the Gods. The Incas believed that the world was divided into 3 planes: the world above or the gods (Hanan Pacha), the earthly or living world (Kay Pacha) and the world below or the dead (Uku Pacha). It is believed that its 3 staggered angles represented the Inca trilogy: the Snake, the Puma and the Condor as symbolic representatives of the underworld, the middle world of humans and the upper world of the Gods respectively. It was believed that when a person died, the soul went to the underworld, and the puma would descend into the underworld to collect it. The condor would then take it to the upper world of the Gods. In the ancient times, an Inca shaman journeyed through the central axis, in a trance, to the Underworld and to the higher levels, inhabited by the superior Gods, to find out the reasons for misfortunes on the Earth level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286133385-EQD0FWKC0QG6Y18EVPJ7/IMG_6592.jpeg Symbol Stories - Inca Puma 12x16 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Incas represented their world by the snake, the puma and the condor called the “Inca trilogy”. The Andean puma is the subspecies of the puma that inhabits the territories of South America. For the Incas it was a divine animal that represented the ‘Kay Pacha’, Quechua word that means ‘the world of the living’. In Inca culture it symbolized strength, patience, wisdom and intelligence. Inca people wanted to transform themselves into a Puma to have enough strength, determination and agility to reach the Upper World. It is believed that Cusco, the capital of the empire of the Incas, has the shape of a puma. The puma's head was the temple of Saqsaywaman. Two rivers outlined the body. The main plaza, Hawkaypata, was in the belly. High-ranking persons lived within the outline of the puma and the rest lived outside these boundaries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284056706-LB8OD9RWQ3MOR4L96MTD/9AF6D418-7F8D-4666-9E43-ADBD6C47FAA8.jpeg Symbol Stories - Inca Trilogy - Condor 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Incas considered the Condor as their most sacred bird because they believed that it was a messenger between the upper world (Hanan Pacha) and the earthly world (Kay Pacha). The Andean condor (Kuntur in Quechua) is a large black bird and is a species of Vulture that lives mainly in the Andes Mountains of South America and has the ability to fly long distances and as high as 5 thousand meters above sea level (16,404 feet). The Incas believed that the Condor was in charge of taking the spirits or souls of the dead people to heaven on its wings. It is a national symbol of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru and plays an important role in the folklore and mythology of the Andean regions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284579751-A6Y8M5L192LR8C2063VZ/5431F0C5-8DFB-4094-AB8E-CD634A81935C.jpeg Symbol Stories - Persian Huma bird 12x16 (Unframed) The ancient Persians were fascinated by mythical creatures and gave them a lot of importance. The Huma bird (or Homa) is a believed to be a bird of compassion, happiness fortune and good omen. Huma bird also called the Bird of Paradise is depicted similar to the Phoenix. It flies invisibly high above the earth, impossible to spot through the human eyes, lives its entire life during flight, consists of the physical features of both male and female in one body. It consumes itself in the fire after a few hundred years and rises anew from its own ashes. Huma is a legendary bird which finds mention in the Hindu Scriptures as well. According to a prominent Sufi preacher Inayat Khan this divine bird represents the evolution of a thought to the zenith where it breaks all limitations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286223803-A7AVAZ96PR3KDC1NIB0D/IMG_6709.jpeg Symbol Stories - Persian Simurgh 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Simurgh is an ancient Persian guardian figure with protective and healing powers. It was seen as a messenger or mediator between the Sky and the Earth, and symbolic of their union as well as believed to purify the waters and the land and bestow fertility. This immortal, gigantic, female winged creature is usually described as having a scale-covered body, with a dog’s head and foreparts, lion’s claws and peacock’s wings and tails. It is also depicted sometimes with a human face. The Simurgh is mentioned in classical as well as modern Persian literature, used specifically in Sufi mysticism as a metaphor for God. The mystical bird appears in several old tales of creation. According to Persian legends, the Simurgh was very old, so much so that it had witnessed the world’s destruction thrice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283952028-NLLIJMFT6JKOSK8IU6CG/8EA6A6C4-72FA-48C1-AF99-DC9395E37244.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian-Scarab 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Egyptian Scarab beetle was a symbol of death, rebirth, great power, guide and protection in the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians believed that Khepri, the scarab-faced god who represented the rising or morning sun, renewed the sun every day by rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again the next day creating an endless cycle of life and death. This beetle rolls dung into a ball as food and as a brood chamber in which to lay eggs so that the larvae hatch and are immediately surrounded by food therefore seen as a symbol of this heavenly cycle and of the idea of rebirth or regeneration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284718604-7U9K90NA3A3A4CRZ7NJS/8895DEEF-1E10-4EF3-B03C-F3CCF774D9BB.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian-Tyet 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Tyet or Knot of Isis, is an ancient Egyptian symbol that is connected with the goddess Isis and symbolizes life. Knots were widely used as amulets because the Egyptians believed they bound and released magic. It was identified with the goddess Isis and used mostly with the ankh and the Djed pillar of Osiris because together they were interpreted as the dual nature of life. This symbol is sometimes called the Blood of Isis or Girdle of Isis as Tyet resembles a knot of cloth and scholars have suggested that it might depict the cloth a woman used during menstruation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286283298-XVWH7V726DRFIKHD4CF6/IMG_6725.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian - Eye of Horus 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Also known as the Eye of Ra, Wadjet or Udjat, is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power, and good health. According to legend, the left eye was torn from Horus by his brother Seth. It was magically restored by Thoth, the God of Magic. The Eye of Horus was believed to have healing and protective power, and it was used as a protective amulet, and as a medical measuring device, using the mathematical proportions of the eye to determine the proportions of ingredients to prepare medications (The right side of the eye = 1⁄2; Pupil = 1⁄4; Eyebrow = 1⁄8 ; The left side of the eye = 1⁄16 ; Curved tail = 1⁄32; Teardrop = 1⁄64. ) When Egyptians wrote prescriptions the first part was a magical verses, and then the real prescription. With time the magical part became smaller, and the real prescription more important. Eventually, all that was left of the magical verse was the Eye of Horus. It remained in prescriptions to this day as the R at the beginning of each prescription. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286284770-1S9PDYSZMOTW57PVZTGR/IMG_6760.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Lotus - Sesen 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Sesen is the lotus flower which appears so often in Egyptian art and symbolizes life, creation, rebirth and, especially, the sun. The lotus flower closes at evening and sinks down beneath the water, then at daybreak, it emerges to open again; this pattern identified it with the sun and, therefore, with life. The flower was associated with the god Osiris. The Four Sons of Horus, regularly represented on canopic jars, are often depicted standing together on a lotus in the presence of Osiris. The symbol dates to the Early Dynastic Period but became most popular from the Old Kingdom onwards. In ancient Egypt there were two main types of the lotus the white, and the blue also the lotus flower was used as a symbol for the unification of the two Egyptian kingdoms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286372383-VZW4J015C87COS028LVV/IMG_6761.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Feather of Maat 11x15 SOLD The goddess Maat represented highest principles of truth, justice, and balance. Maat’s white Ostrich feather is one of the most common Egyptian symbols used in ancient inscriptions in the context of “ensuring justice”. The feather of Ma'at was an integral part of the Weighing of the Heart of the Soul ceremony in the afterlife where the heart of the soul of the dead person was weighed in the scales of justice against the feather. If the heart was found equal or lighter than this it would mean that he was a virtuous person and he would go to paradise ruled by Osiris. If not, then his heart would be eaten by Ammit, the goddess who ate the soul and he would be cursed to remain in the underworld forever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286336138-LOA3D34XWZ66OVQ3OM2Y/IMG_6764.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Sons of Horus 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The ancient Egyptians believed that when a person died they would need all internal organs in their afterlife. The heads of the four sons of Horus were described as their Canopic jar animals, each protected by their mothers. Imsety with the human face stored the liver and protected by mother goddess Isis. Duamutef with jackal face stored the stomach and protects by mother goddess Neith. Hapi with the baboon face stored the lungs and was protected by mother goddess Nephthys. Qebehsenuef with hawk face stored the intestines and was protected by mother goddess Serket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286406932-L40U8AXGZYSV6LNSECFG/IMG_6765.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Ankh, Djed, Was and Shen 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Ankh is a cross with the looped top which symbolizes eternal life, the morning sun, the male and female as well as heaven and earth. The Djed is a column with a broad base and it rises to four parallel lines representing stability and literally is the backbone of human life. The Was scepter is a staff with a head of a canine which was usually forked at the bottom but color and animal head changed depending on which god was holding it. It represented power. The Shen is the circle of rope knotted to form an unbroken circle symbolizing completeness, serving as protection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1638954524513-H55XL1YE2QYGJ09SYO0F/IMG_6936.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Bennu Bird 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Bennu is an ancient Egyptian deity which was a self-created being said to have played a role in the creation of the world. It was said to have flown over the waters of Nun that existed before creation, landing on a rock and issuing a call that determined the nature of creation. It was also known to be a symbol of Osiris and is said to have sprung from the heart of Osiris as a living symbol of God, thus renewing itself. The Egyptian sunbird Bennu was identified with the Temple of the Sun God Re at Heliopolis, which was revered by the Egyptians as the sacred mound from where the Sun god, in his aspect of the Benu Bird, arose cyclically to renew Egypt. The word Benu in Egyptian means both purple heron and palm tree and the predecessor of the Phoenix of Greek mythology. It lived for 500 years before dying, resurrecting, building a funerary egg with myrrh for the paternal corpse, and carrying it to the temple of the Sun at Heliopolis. It is this egg, of the Great Cackler, Geb, that is left on the primordial mound where the sun god Ra is reborn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284434308-Q2SI9FYG6LQRFO3XEQ0I/981EBCC4-1688-4226-9C1E-7D24828571EC.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Winged Sun God Behdety 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) A symbol of ancient Egypt that was one of the most important and ubiquitous was the winged solar disk known as the Horus Behdety or Horus of Behdet, symbolizing kingship, power, the flight of the soul, and divinity. In Egypt, it seems to have at first represented the syncretization of the god of the midday sun, Behdeti and the sky god Horus. In time, it came to be associated with the supreme power of Horus and his representative on earth, the pharaoh. This symbol was used as an amulet to provide protection to the Egyptians who wore it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285675134-WD0CXPH8U92XVJHV2GCX/FE6764E5-C47C-47CB-BCEB-2452B6B73E92.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Bastet 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Cat known in Ancient Egypt as the Mau, were sacred and very important in ancient Egyptian society. The goddess Mafdet was a fierce lion-headed warrior goddess of the sun worshiped throughout most of ancient Egyptian history. The cat goddess Bastet eventually replaced the cult of Mafdet, and Bast’s image softened over time and she became the deity representing protection, fertility, and motherhood. She then was depicted as the daughter of Ra and Isis. When Bastet's temple was excavated more than 300,000 mummified cats were discovered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286479496-EN20FP419OMAV249BUQ4/IMG_7018.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Akhet 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) Akhet is an Egyptian hieroglyph that represents the sun rising over a mountain and it is often translated as “horizon” or “mountain of light”. Also called Ajet, it was also associated with the concepts of creation and rebirth. The sun disk symbol is set beneath a line symbolizing the horizon and between two mountains representing the concept of enclosure and protection. This symbol is shown guarded by the god Aker, the god of the underworld, composed of two lions that turned their backs on him, these lions represented the yesterday and today, and the eastern and western horizons of the Egyptian underworld. In his role as a protective deity, twin lion statues representing Aker were placed at the doors of palaces and tombs to protect against evil spirits, a practice adopted by both the Greeks and Romans. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606890916689-LNKXKWL7JGAA3O8SWVRV/0C07AE5B-0FD3-4CF8-BA7A-E7D5FB06B798.jpeg Symbol Stories - Egyptian Ka and Ba 11x15 Acrylic on Paper (Framed) The Ka was the part of the soul believed to be life-force of a person that survived after death and in hieroglyphs, is symbolized with arms stretched up or forward. The Ka was a spiritual twin born with every human and lived on after they died. The Ka was confined to an existence in the tomb as a temporary dwelling-house of the soul until it could rejoin the Ba and travel to the afterlife. The Ba was the heavenly spirit and human personality part of the soul believed to be able to fly therefore it is always shown in the form of a bird with a human head carrying the features of the deceased person thus expressing mobility of the soul after death. The Ba kept returning to the tomb until, following the judgement of the earthly life, the Ka and Ba could be reunited in the afterlife. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283884653-LYSV0XBS2MMUHP49A37N/8B940275-425C-4B04-B3C6-006C374B27A2.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala - Conch Shell 12x12 Canvas - SOLD The white conch shell spiraling to the right represents the beautiful, deep, melodious, and pervasive sound of the Dharma (cosmic law and order). As a Buddhist symbol, it represents the voice of Buddha and his sacred teachings. It awakens disciples from the deep slumber of ignorance and urges them to accomplish their own welfare and the welfare of others. The Buddhist deities hold the conch in the left ‘wisdom’ hand symbolizing the proclamation of the Buddha dharma as the aspect of speech. The Hindu god Vishnu also holds the conch shell as one of his main emblems and Vaishnavites believe that Gautama Buddha is one of God Vishnu’s avatars. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284916452-HRVYGHQV7N1M1CRBO9R7/A5BE1A32-A33E-49AE-AF47-8E75AFE6807B.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala - Lotus 12x12 Canvas - SOLD The lotus flower has been used in many teachings of Buddhism to impart the true nature of all mankind. It symbolizes divine beauty, primordial purity of body, speech and mind as well as renunciation, for its ability to float above muddy water of attachments and desires. The lotus can be analogous to how we rise from our sufferings to reach enlightenment, beauty, and clarity. When seen in artwork the lotus represents the divine origin of deities where Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are often represented sitting on lotus flowers, symbolizing divine language and the purification of the body, word, and spirit. The Buddhist lotus is described as having 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, 64, 100, or 1,000 petals symbolically corresponding to the internal lotuses or chakras of the subtle body, and to the numerical components of the mandala. In Buddhism, white lotus means spiritual and mental purity, pink means the traditional Buddha, purple is for mysticism, red means love and compassion, while blue means wisdom. The yellow lotus/golden lotus are generally known as the “Padma” and as a hand-held attribute, the lotus is usually colored pink or light red, with 8 or 16 petals is usually identified as the “Kamala”. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284145650-72KS0GER4IU40K6L3O3Z/52A28B6E-BF87-4DD3-98FE-58043134C5B8.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala- Endless Knot 12x12 Canvas - SOLD The endless knot is present throughout many ancient cultures and beliefs. It was originally a symbol of love, and represented ultimate unity of everything. In Buddhism, it symbolizes the great spirit of the Buddha, the interdependence of all things, as well as, enlightenment that arises from the union of compassion and wisdom and serves as a symbol of the Buddha's endless wisdom and compassion in addition to eternal harmony. As a symbol of the Buddha’s teachings, it represents the reality of cyclic existence. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286540737-B85TQYZ28ER4MV4L3RLA/IMG_7115.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala - Treasure Pot 12x12 Canvas - SOLD The Treasure Vase represents material ease or prosperity in wealth, health or longevity, and spiritual benefits that come with enlightenment. It symbolizes Buddha's unlimited ability to teach the dharma, no matter how many teachings he shared, the treasure was inexhaustible. In Vajrayāna Buddhism anointing ceremonies it is the container of wisdom and can represent the vastness of space. To spread abundance to the environment and to appease the indigenous spirits who abide in places such as mountain passes, pilgrimage sites, springs, rivers, and oceans sealed treasure vases are placed or buried at sacred geomantic locations. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286562855-6DU9R83M9O3MMDPIBUPQ/IMG_7117.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala - Parasol 12x12 Acrylic on Paper - SOLD The Parasol has its roots serving as an Indian symbol of royalty and protection. Traditionally, the more parasols an individual had, the higher they were in the social hierarchy with royalty usually having around thirteen. According to Buddhist beliefs, the person or symbol underneath the parasol is the center of the universe and several pictorial depictions of Lord Buddha, show him with thirteen parasols representing his sovereignty as the Buddha. Now in Buddhism it represents the head of the Buddha, offering protection against material and spiritual dangers such as illnesses, harmful forces, and the elements of the aether. It can also represent the canopy of heaven, the expansive firmament of the sky, and the unfolding of space. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284276265-ONG022KJOMEZQBPRR5YX/545A8A74-E165-4CF6-908E-3C3788F79DE8.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala - Golden Fish 12x12 Canvas - SOLD The two goldfish originally represented two sacred rivers of India- the Ganges, and Yamuna, and is associated with the lunar and solar channels, said to originate in the nostrils, carrying alternating rhythms of breath and prana. In Buddhism, the fish symbolize happiness and spontaneity as they have complete freedom of movement in the water and represent fertility and abundance as they multiply very rapidly. Depicted symmetrically in the form of a male and a female Carp, are regarded as sacred on account of their elegant beauty, size, and life-span and they represent the vision of the Buddha aiding those along the spiritual path towards liberation. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286638886-SN57YA6VA5HPC0PR27CB/IMG_7157.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala - Victory Banner 12x12 Canvas - SOLD In early Buddhism, the concept of “Mara” as a demonic obstructer to spiritual progress was presented as a group of four evil influences. Buddha is said to have defeated the four maras and reached enlightenment by meditating upon the ‘four immeasurables’ of compassion, love, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. In Tibetan Buddhism, there are eleven different forms of the banner, which represent eleven specific methods for combating negative forces. Many variations of the banner’s design can be seen on monastery and temple roofs, where four banners are commonly placed at the roof’s corners to symbolize the Buddha’s victory over the four maras. The Banner of Victory is used to remind people that one must win over their own pride, lust, and passions to be able to reach enlightenment. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284661266-EJG0BSIEX0HWE087NVTW/5434B8AD-74DD-4426-A978-8FE7FBB53BF8.jpeg Symbol Stories - Buddhist Ashtamangala -Dharmachakra 12x12 Canvas - SOLD The Tibetan term for dharmachakra literally means the ‘wheel of transformation’ or spiritual change. Buddhism adopted the wheel as the main emblem of the ‘wheel-turning’ Chakravartin or ‘Universal Monarchy’ and the three components of the wheel – hub, spokes, and rim – symbolize the three aspects of the Buddhist teachings upon ethics, wisdom, and concentration. The central hub represents ethical discipline, which centers and stabilizes the mind. The sharp spokes represent wisdom or discriminating awareness, which cuts through ignorance. The rim represents meditative concentration, which both encompasses and facilitates the motion of the wheel. The eight-spoked wheel is meant to represent the aspects of the Noble Eightfold Path. Ashoka Chakra has twenty-four spokes symbolizing the twenty-four ideal qualities of a follower of Buddhism and represents the reversal of the Twelve Links and becoming free from the continuous cycle of reincarnation. A Dharma Wheel with thirty-one spokes represents the thirty-one realms of existence found in Buddhist cosmology. **This Buddhist Ashtamangala Series of 8 cannot be sold individually https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286719733-0VMGADTEMBJHW2APJSN4/IMG_7185.jpeg Symbol Stories - Tibetan Om 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The sacred symbol Om (Aum) in Hindu philosophy represents the primordial sound of the universe but in Buddhism it has differing connotations. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Om symbol is often placed at the beginning and/or end of Buddhist mantras and texts. During the 14th century, the Dalai Lama described Om as consisting of 3 separate letters, these being A, U, and M. There are various symbolizations associated with these 3 letters including the “pure exalted body, speech, and mind of the enlightened Buddha. Another version is that OM symbolizes “wholeness, perfection, and the infinite.” Om Mani Padme Hum is the most frequently used mantra, the syllable “Om” represents body, spirit and the speech of Buddha; “Mani” is for the path of teaching; “Padme” for the wisdom of the path, and “hum” indicates to the union of wisdom and the path to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606283532907-PA0U19CQNMCOX0SEV90K/2A4131BC-879E-4531-92C1-BCA750AEFF89.jpeg Symbol Stories - Unalome 9x12 Acrylic on Paper - SOLD The Unalome symbol represents the path to enlightenment in the Buddhist culture. The spirals are meant to symbolize the twists and turns in life, and the straight lines the moment one reaches enlightenment or peace and harmony. The dots at the end of the symbol represent death, or the moment we fade to nothing. According to Hinduism, the Unalome symbol denotes Shiva´s third eye as the spiral at the bottom and also our lives which are given to us without any direction. We are the only ones who have to discover our way. The path that goes up which looks like a line with knots represents every spiritual milestone of our lives. The knots are lessons that we have to overcome to reach the lotus flower at the top represents Moksha or Enlightenment or Nirvana in the Buddhism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286636990-J98COMWDUDTKUNVU2RJX/IMG_7175.jpeg Symbol Stories - Jainism - Jain OM 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The Om symbol is used in ancient Jain scriptures to represent the five lines of the Navakar mantra, which is the most important part of the daily prayer in the Jain religion. The Navakar mantra honors the Panch Parmeshtis (the five supreme beings). AAAUM is one syllable short form of the initials of the five supreme beings: Arihant, Asharira, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Muni. • The first “A” represents Arihanta - a human being who has realized the true nature of the soul and reality and has conquered passions. The 24 Tirthankaraas or Jinas, the legendary founding figures of Jainism in the present time cycle are Arihants. • The second “A” represents Ashariri/Siddha, the souls which have been liberated from the birth and death cycle. • The third “ä” represents Ächärya - Head of an order of ascetics. • The fourth letter “U” represents Upädhyäy (the second highest leader of a Jain ascetic order after an Acharya). • The fifth letter “M” represents Muni (Muṇi for male monastics and aryika for female monastics who practice Jain principles). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286904055-QJRB13E13P2D3MC6H6CJ/IMG_7237.jpeg Symbol Stories - Jainism - Symbol of Ahimsa 8x8 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board Frame The Ahimsa hand represents the most important practice of Jainism called Ahimsa (non-violence). It is a right hand shown fingers facing upwards with the thumb slightly pointed out. The position the hand takes is known as Abhaya mudra, an energy position in the body meaning “No fear”. The circle in the middle of the hand symbolizes Saṃsāra (wheel of life) and the 24 spokes represent the preaching from the 24 spiritual teachers, which can be used to liberate a soul from the cycle of reincarnation. In form, the Chamsa and the Ahimsa Hand are very similar and both are symbols of non-violence, protection, and peace. The Chamsa is usually shown upside down, and the Ahimsa Hand is usually shown right side up. Both of their far right fingers are shown pointed outward, and on the Chamsa the far left finger is pointed outward while on the Ahimsa Hand the far left finger looks like a fifth finger. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286903248-KYZ1WO2HXAA0H3JQIWI4/IMG_7242.jpeg Symbol Stories - Purna-Kalasha 8x8 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board Frame Purna-Kalasha, a husked coconut circled by five mango leaves on a pot (Kalasha). In Hinduism, the Kalasha is believed to contain the elixir of life, and is viewed as a symbol of abundance, wisdom, and immortality. Coconut is a symbol of good luck and prosperity and the five mango leaves are associated with the God of Love, Kama. The Purna-Kalasha is worshipped at Hindu ceremonies and all auspicious work begins with the breaking of the coconut and the offering of ‘Nariyal’ is a traditional ritual. The breaking of a coconut is symbolic of breaking one’s ego and humbling oneself before God. The shell of ego and ignorance is smashed which paves the way to inner peace and knowledge which is represented by the white part of the coconut. The coconut very special to Lord Ganesha and is always offered to him. The story is that one day as a child when Lord Ganesha was playing he was attracted by his father’s third eye and he went to touch it. Lord Shiva told him not to touch him and gave him a special ball to play with which was a coconut. The round marks on the coconut are thought to represent the three-eyed Lord Shiva and therefore it is considered to be a means to fulfill our desires. In Jainism, two eyes are depicted around the Kalasha, symbolizing right faith and right knowledge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285574481-3OC1Q7LEGOHR44ZFC5Y3/F23EA5BD-4424-403C-92F1-94E6416455E4.jpeg Symbol Stories - Om 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) ‘Om’ or ‘Aum’ is a sacred sound known as the sound of the universe. Om is all encompassing, the essence of ultimate reality, and unifies everything in the universe. The first mention of Om was in the Mandukya Upanishad, which is a sacred Hindu text that focused on the different theories of the Om meaning, it says that Om is imperishable and that it is all states of time, past, present, future, as well as transcending time itself. The Om symbol represents the sound in a visual form is a combination of curves, a crescent and a dot and is composed of three distinct sounds: a, u and m. The meaning of the Om symbol, while purely looking at its visual form, comes from the states of consciousness that Aum represents. The letter 'A' represents the waking state, 'U' represents the dream state and 'M' is the unconscious state, or state of deep sleep. In the symbol, the upper curve represents the state of deep sleep, the bottom curve represents the waking state, the middle curve represents the the dream state. The crescent shape above the curves denotes Maya, or Illusion, which is the obstacle that sits in the way of reaching the highest state of bliss. The dot at the top of the symbol represents the absolute state, which is the fourth state of consciousness and is absolute peace and bliss. This fourth state is believed to be the state in which someone could truly connect with the Divine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285149617-A9DOADFBGI3R4NXIN55X/D1BB3FA7-8D7D-481C-A3F2-538572592926.jpeg Symbol Stories - Shri 8x8 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board Frame After the symbol Om, Shree is the most sacred symbol used in Hinduism. Shree or Shri (श्री) is the sacred sound of cosmic auspiciousness, abundance, affluence, grace, wealth, light, luster, splendor, beauty, loveliness and authority. Among today's orthodox Vaishnavas, the English word "Shree" is a revered syllable represents the Mother Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth while "Sri" or "Shri" is used to address other Hindu gods, elders, teachers, holy men. When addressing individuals, to show respect ‘Shriman’ is used to address male members and Shrimati is used address female members in a society. Another symbol associated to this is the Shri Chakra (or Sri Yantra) means a sacred circle, the circumference or the circle of the earth, a wheel of Indra’s chariot, and which is used in the worship of the Mother Goddess. One of the famous Creation Hymns of the Rig-Veda is known as Shri Suktam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286754142-9IJQ3SQDW2T2XT6QIK8H/IMG_7183.jpeg Symbol Stories - Shri Yantra 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) The Sri Yantra, or Shri Chakra used in the Shri Vidya school of Tantra as the representation of the universe as well as the body of the goddess related to the feminine principle of Shakti or energy. Every line, triangle, and lotus petal symbolizes a specific type of Shakti. The word ‘yantra’ meaning ‘instrument’ is a powerful tool for intense meditation, prayer or concentration to allow one to achieve a higher level of consciousness. It acts as a focusing point, with an inner and outer doorway that can lead one to commune with different deities through various levels or force centers in the universe. Symbolically, it consists of nine interlocking triangles that radiate outwards from a central point known as a “Bindu” which is the cosmic center, a meeting place between the physical world and the spiritual world or the source of the universe. Of the nine triangles, four point to the sky and are believed to be symbols for Shiva (the masculine), while the five pointing downwards represent Shakti (or the feminine) therefore believed to be a strong symbol for the union of the masculine and the feminine divination. The 9 constituent triangles vary in size and shape and intersect to form 43 smaller triangles, organized in 5 concentric levels and together they represent the totality of the cosmos and express non-duality. These triangles are circumscribed by two concentric circles composed of 8 and 16 petals, representing the lotus of creation and reproductive vital force. In Vedic sacred geometry, the square corresponds to the earth. The T-shaped structures are aligned with the four cardinal directions and are called the gates or doors. Because of its nine triangles, Shri Yantra is also known as the Navayoni Chakra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286795300-A0KKDULFDIZ4Y3X4G7LA/IMG_7216.jpeg Symbol Stories - Peacock feather 8x10 Acrylic on Canvas Board - SOLD Throughout history, legends and myths, peacocks have also been associated with the idea of immortality, spirituality, wisdom, vitality, noble traits, purity, protection and gracefulness. Peacock feathers have great significance in Hinduism. According to the Hindu mythology, the peacock was created from one of the feathers of the bird Garuda (a mythical creature) which is the carrier of Lord Vishnu. The Peacock is also associated with Goddess Saraswati, a deity representing benevolence, patience, kindness, compassion and knowledge. It has a special relation with Lord Krishna who wears peacock feathers on his head and also ties them with his flute. These feathers are given to him by the peacocks themselves. It represents the divine wisdom or the third eye of Krishna. Peacock is also the mount of Hindu God of War Murugan, (Kartikeya, the Son of Lord Shiva and brother of Lord Ganesha). Lord Indra is often depicted as seated on a peacock throne and the story behind is that in a battle between Ravana and Lord Indra, the peacock opened its feathers for Lord Indra to hide behind and win a war. So in gratitude, blessed it with iridescence, with a "thousand eyes" and fearlessness from serpents. Peacocks also eat poisonous plants, which symbolizes immortality, and they have the ability to thrive in the face of suffering. In Christianity, the peacock is a symbol of eternal life. They also symbolize purity, hence their feathers are often used in Buddhist purification ceremonies. In both China and Japan, peacocks were associated with feminine deity of mercy, compassion and grace. In Feng Shui, peacock feathers are used for protection of home. But in Eastern Europe, it was considered a symbol of bad luck as a peacock is thought to be vigilant of everything, due to its multiple eyes, it is considered a symbol of bad luck, which is why it is never allowed inside a home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286856745-8FX0Y1PKTZJ6H86MPMDG/IMG_7223.jpeg Symbol Stories - Star of Laxmi & Laxmi Charan Paduka 8x8 Acrylic on Wood Cradle Board Frame The Star of Lakshmi is a special octagram, a regular compound polygon, made from two congruent squares with the same center at 45° angles, and figures in Hinduism, where it represents Ashtalakshmi (Eight manifestations of Goddess Lakshmi). She presides over eight sources of wealth in this context means prosperity, fertility, good fortune or good luck, good health, knowledge, strength, progeny and power. Shree Laxmi Charan Paduka symbolize the foot prints of Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. There is a mythological tale that gives the evidence of the Laxmi Paduka existence to be very old and its relevance even in the Vedas and the Puranas. The story is that when the demons and the Gods were performing the churning of the great ocean or the Samudra Manthan taking the help of a mountain to get the divine nectar, 14 gems came out of the ocean during this process. At this time the Goddess Laxmi emerged from the ocean as the 15th gem and was fully dressed up as a bride holding in her hands a lotus garland for Lord Vishnu. At that moment, she left imprints of her feet in heaven. These imprints had 15 symbols on them and each symbol having its own significance. All the gods took the impressions of her feet to keep with them and celebrated this occasion by the lighting lamps or divas. The regular worship of Laxmi's feet brings eight kinds of wealth into one's home. The Laxmi footprints should be placed at the entrance of the house pointing inwards leading to your place of worship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285317654-36KR8BX2HB554W4WH4AD/DB25639F-8430-4591-A35E-CDF2E38A104B.jpeg Symbol Stories - The Dancing Shiva 16x20 Acrylic on Canvas Board - SOLD Nataraja or Nataraj, the dancing form of Lord Shiva, is a symbolic synthesis of the most important aspects of Hinduism, and the summary of the central tenets of this Vedic religion. ‘Nataraj’ means ‘King of Dancers’ (In Sanskrit nata = dance; raja = king) is an iconographic representation developed in southern India by 9th and 10th century artists during the Chola period (880-1279 CE) in a series of beautiful bronze sculptures. By the 12th century AD, it achieved canonical stature and soon the Chola Nataraja became the supreme statement of Hindu art. The cosmic dance of Shiva is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy – creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion. Shiva performs the Ananda Tandava (dance of bliss), the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved. Nataraj is shown with four hands represent the cardinal directions. He is dancing, with his left foot elegantly raised and the right foot on a dwarf demon figure — ‘Apasmara Purusha’, the personification of illusion and ignorance over whom Shiva triumphs. The upper left hand holds a flame, the lower left arm sweeps across his torso with the hand pointing to his left foot in the gesture of gaja hasta, symbol of salvation and liberation.The upper right hand holds an hourglass drum or ‘dumroo’ that stands for the male-female vital principle, the lower shows the gesture of assertion: “Be without fear.” Snakes that stand for egotism, are seen uncoiling from his arms, legs, and hair, which is braided and bejeweled. Shiva dances in ‘Rudra Tandava’ (dance of destruction) in an aureole of fire, creating wild thunder storms all around the universe, even shattering the Sun, the Moon and stellar bodies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606894653072-YWSMM4FYV9HS6L3POXEK/IMG_7312.jpg Symbol Stories - Vishnu 18x24 Acrylic on Canvas Lord Vishnu, one of the Trinity Supreme, is the Preserver. The name Vishnu comes from the root “Vish” which means, "to spread in all directions, to pervade". In Vedic literature god Vishnu is said to be eternal, an all-pervading spirit, and associated with the primeval waters that are believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe. The worshippers of Lord Vishnu are called as "Vaishnavas". He is blue-skinned and seen in rich ornaments and regal garments. His wife is Lakshmi or Sri, the goddess of wealth and fortune. His vehicle is Garuda, a giant sized eagle, which often is shown as a winged human-shaped figure having a beak-like nose. To protect, restore and preserve the universe from the evil forces it is said that Vishnu incarnated in the form of an "Avatar". Lord Vishnu always carries his four symbols white conch shell, rotating disk, golden mace, and lotus flower with four arms, the symbol of watery elements sitting or standing on a lotus flower or on water. The Conch (Shankh) named Panchjanya is the fountain that evolves the five elements, i.e., water, fire, air, earth and sky or space. When blown it produces a sound that is associated with primeval sound from which creation developed. The Discus (Chakra) of Vishnu named Sudarshana has six spokes and symbolizes six-petal lotus. It represents the limitless controlling all the seasons and is the fearful weapon that cuts off the heads of all demons. The Lotus of Vishnu is named Padma. It is the symbol of purity and represents the unfolding of creation. The Mace (Gada) of Vishnu is named Kaumodaki. It represents the elemental force, from which all physical and mental powers are derived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284334398-VXZHU50G912E7FGAASWM/964A5079-F7A6-4E9A-B663-80DE8D000104.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series- Lord Vishnu "Matsya" 6x6 - SOLD Dashavatara refers to the ten avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. The word Dashavatara derives from daśa, meaning ‘ten’ and avatar (avatāra), meaning ‘descent’. God Vishnu incarnates/descends on Earth to eradicate evil forces, to restore the cosmic law and order. These Avatars played a major role in shaping human evolution through centuries. Lord Vishnu made an appearance before king Manu and told him that the world was at the brink of extinction due to a huge flood in seven days and requested the king to build a huge boat and take the seven sages (Hermits), seeds of all plants, one male and female of every animal species. The whole world was washed up in rain and as a result there was no land to stay. Lord Vishnu appeared in form of a fish (Matsya) with horns came to the rescue and the king tied the boat to the fish by using the royal serpent Vasuki and the fish took all of them at great speed to the Himalayas and kept them there till the flood was over and procreation for the new era began. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286945223-JLRRJ01OOH2C54LKGN58/IMG_7399.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu (Kurma Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD In the ongoing saga of battle between the gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras), the Devas approached Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu suggested they churn the “Ocean of Milk” in order to make “Amrita”, the nectar of immortality with serpent Vasuki as the rope and the mountain Mandara as the churning staff. He told the gods to request the help of Asuras in lifting the mountain in exchange giving them some of nectar of immortality. But as churning was proceeding the mountain started to sink, and so Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise (Kurma Avatar) to bear the weight of the mountain to keep it afloat. But as soon as the nectar of immortality was released the asuras grabbed it for themselves angering the gods. Then Lord Vishnu took the form of an apsara Mohini a beautiful maiden, and seduced the asuras into letting her distribute the nectar and also to abide by her order of distribution. As soon as the gods were served the maiden disappeared thus totally deceiving the asuras and making them totally weak and losing the war against the gods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285194160-BUTNGUBIGELTHI4FO344/D01D32EF-6B09-4044-A88E-B958E00C666A.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara - Lord Vishnu (Buddha Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as Buddha, the ascetic prince who renounced the throne to lead the world on the path of peace. He is the founder of the Buddhism and in certain sects of Hinduism, he is considered to be a divine incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was born the crown prince of the Kapilavastu to Suddhodana and Maya. He was named Siddhartha, meaning "All thing fulfilled" by the king. But his mother died soon after his birth but Prajapati, the sister of Maya, brought Siddhartha up. Buddha was saddened by death of living creatures, since his childhood days and used to question: "Alas! Do all living creatures kill each other?" He wasn't happy with any answers that were provided to him and he decided to find out the meaning and the absolute truth and he left his wife and child to a hermit's life in the forest and one day, became the enlightened one. When the world had lost real understanding of the scriptures and was stooped in ignorance (practices without right philosophy), Buddha reiterated the importance of self-realization and self-effort in realizing oneself. He was responsible for the philosophy of Liberation away from the philosophy of heaven and hell. Buddha may be depicted in Hindu scriptures as a preacher who deludes and leads demons and heretics away from the path of the Vedic scriptures. Another view praises him as a compassionate teacher who preached the path of ahimsa (non-violence). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606287011783-2R0ZQ518FPE97U02W3LA/IMG_7408.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu (Varaha Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD Dashavatara refers to the ten avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. The word Dashavatara derives from daśa, meaning ‘ten’ and avatar (avatāra), meaning ‘descent’. God Vishnu incarnates/descends on Earth to eradicate evil forces, to restore the cosmic law and order. When the demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth (Goddess Bhudevi) and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appeared as “Varaha” (boar) to rescue her. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years. Varaha finally slew the demon and retrieved the Earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and restored Bhudevi to her place in the universe. Varaha may be depicted as completely a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and the human body. His consort, Bhudevi, the earth, is often depicted as a young woman, lifted by Varaha. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606287000707-KPRA5RSOFJCJCMD3BZDT/IMG_7407.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu (Narasimha Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD The king of demons, Hiranyakasyapa, wanted to become immortal so he performed severe penance to impress Lord Brahma to grant him a wish. Hiranyakasyapa wished that he be neither killed by a man or beast, nor in daylight or at night and neither inside or outside a building, on earth or the stars, with a weapon either living or inanimate. Having obtained the immortality wish he considered himself the supreme God and forbade all worship of gods by anyone. But his son Prahlada, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. This enraged Hiranyakasyapa very much and ordered numerous ways to kill Prahlada including asking his sister Holika to sit with Prahlada in the fire. But everytime Prahlada escaped unhurt. Enraged, once he asked Prahlad to show him the Lord Vishnu. Prahlad said, "He is everywhere". Further enraged, Hiranyakasyapa knocked down a pillar, and asked if Lord was present there. Lord Vishnu descended as an anthropomorphic incarnation, with the body of a man and head and claws of a lion. He then disembowels the demo at the courtyard threshold of his house, at dusk, with his claws, while he lay on his thighs thus saving the life of his devotee Prahlada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606286985772-L3RZJULNPHACFBKY7BZQ/IMG_7403.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu (Vamana Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD The fourth descendant of Hiranyakashyap/grandson of Prahlad, Demon King Mahabali, with devotion and penance was able to defeat Indra, the god of firmament. This humbled the other deities and extended his authority over the three worlds. The gods appealed to Lord Vishnu for protection and he incarnated as the dwarf Vamana. During a yajna (ritual sacrifice with a specific objective) of the king, Vamana approached him and Bali promised him for whatever he asked. Vamana asked for three paces of land. After Bali agreed, and the dwarf then changed his size to that of a giant. He stepped over heaven in his first stride, and the netherworld with the second. Bali realized that Vamana was Vishnu incarnate. In deference, the king offered his head as the third place for Vamana to place his foot. The avatar did so and thus granted Bali immortality. Then in appreciation to Bali and his grandfather Prahlada, Vamana made him ruler of Pathala, the netherworld. Vamana taught King Mahabali that pride should be abandoned for advancement in life, and that wealth should be appreciated as it can easily disappear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284800041-I39XA0OFSCTP2PJVAZ0S/45785038-3B71-4F90-9B0B-1BCBA2AC29EF.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu (Parashurama Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD Parashuram, the son to Jamadagni and Renuka, was the first Brahmin-Kshatriya in Hinduism, or warrior-saint, with duties between a Brahmana (priest) and a Kshatriya (warrior). He was always carrying an axe presented to him by Lord Shiva of whom he was an ardent devotee. Lord Vishnu incarnated to avenge all kshatriyas who had become arrogant and were suppressing the brahmans in the world. King Kartavirya and his army visited the father of Parashurama at his ashram, and the saint was able to feed them with the endless supply of milk from the divine cow “Kamadhenu”. The king demanded he have the animal but Jamadagni refused, so the king took it by force and destroyed the ashram. Parashurama enraged with the act killed the king at his palace and destroyed his army. In revenge, the sons of Kartavirya killed Jamadagni. Then Parashurama took a vow to kill every Kshatriya on earth twenty-one times over. Ultimately it was his grandfather, Sage Rucheeka who made him halt this cycle of killing. He is one of the seven immortals mentioned in the scriptures believed to be alive today in penance at Mahendragiri. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285364767-ZSVJAVKGMZILU6FRFS5W/E8A58830-F792-42A6-AF7C-8B8D960EC137.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu (Rama Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD The epic Ramayana is a story of the war raged by Rama against various evil elements of the world and in the end against Ravana, the demon king of Lanka (demon with ten heads). The character Rama (Vishnu Incarnate) is expected to show the world the characteristics of an ideal person, including ideal son, ideal husband, ideal king and an ideal person. For the sake of his father’s honor, Ram abandons his claim to Ayodhaya’s throne to serve an exile of fourteen years in the forest. While in exile from his own kingdom with his brother Lakshman and his wife Sita (Lakshmi Incarnate) who was abducted by the demon king Ravana (who had been granted a boon by God Brahma with immunity from the gods, and other celestial beings therefore was too vainglorious). Lord Rama with the help of Lord Hanuman (monkey king) and his monkey men army was able to killed the demon king and saved Goddess Sita. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606285247612-5L0IGFCT4CGWC1QA55P3/D869C877-F068-430A-84CF-517E1CAB0B51.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu as Lord Krishna Avatar 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu in Vaishnava belief and also as the supreme God in his own right. Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as Krishna, the central character in the epic Mahabharata. In the biggest epic of Indian mythology a myriad of topics are covered, including war, love, brotherhood, politics etc. It is essentially the story of two warring groups of cousin brothers, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. As a part of the Mahabahrata, during the war lord Krishna, gives a long discourse to his disciple Arjuna, and it is now known as the “Bhagvad-Gita”. Unlike Ramayan, Mahabharata deals with more down to earth issues like politics, human nature, human weaknesses, and does not attempt to idealize the characters as in Ramayan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284200252-1I9HUSJ7A45KI8XE8SUD/88F31942-3E79-468A-A37C-D309E759EA82.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Shesha Balarama Avatar 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD Shesha Sheshanaga or Adishesha is the King of all Nāgas (semi-divine race of half-human half-serpent beings) and one of the primal beings of creation. Sometimes he is shown as five-headed or seven-headed, but more commonly as a many thousand-headed serpent, sometimes with each head wearing an ornate crown. In the Puranas, it is said that when Adishesa uncoils, time moves forward and creation takes place; when he coils back, the universe ceases to exist. Vishnu is often depicted as resting on Shesha. He is said to have descended to Earth in three avatars: Lakshmana, brother of Vishnu's avatar Rama and as Balarama, brother of Vishnu's avatar Krishna and Ramanujacharya, the proponent of Vishishtadvaita school of Vedanta. "Shesha" in Sanskrit texts, especially those relating to mathematical calculation, implies the "remainder"—that which remains when all else ceases to exist. Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna, is regarded generally as an avatar of Shesha an extension of Ananta, a form of Lord Vishnu. Balarama is included as the eighth avatar of Vishnu in the Sri Vaishnava lists, where Buddha is omitted and Krishna appears as the ninth avatar in this list. He is particularly included in the lists where Krishna is removed and becomes the source of all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1606284501112-L7O7ICQ01VGGZDTZ87DB/3474C7B2-0ACA-4A4A-BA95-B973A3D9B3BA.jpeg Symbol Stories - Dashavatara Series - Lord Vishnu (Kalki Avatar) 6x6 Wood Cradle Frame - SOLD The name Kalki is derived from Kal, which means "time”. Kalki, or Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. His birth will be the end of the Kali Yuga, our present epoch, in the endless cycle of existence. He is described in the Puranas as the avatar who rejuvenates existence by ending the darkest and destructive period by removing all unrighteousness and evil and ushering in the golden age, while riding a white horse with his sword drawn, blazing like a comet. The description and details of Kalki are different among various Puranas. The prophecy of the Kalki avatar is believed not only by the followers of the Vaishnavism sect of Hinduism but by Sikhism and Buddhism as well. https://www.reenasonistudio.com/heritage-art-of-india-1 daily 0.75 2024-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811262110-6IONOU88ZA4KD3STZENW/IMG_1673.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Sohrai Art by Kurmi Tribe - Acrylic on Paper 18x24 inches (Framed) The Kurmi tribe, through the use of glyptic art depicts Lord Shiva/Pashupati (Lord of the animals) as a horned deity on the back of an animal. One of the oldest art forms of tribal art which has continued since 4,000 BC. Mud murals are an integral part of the domestic architecture of Jharkhand in eastern India.The name ‘Sohrai’ is said to have derived from a Paleolithic age word—‘soro’, meaning to drive with a stick.The Sohrai festival is celebrated one day after Diwali, and the Sohrai art form is handed down from mother to daughter. These paintings are considered auspicious symbols related to fertility and prosperity of the harvest. There are four major painting techniques- scraping with fingers, scraping with broken pieces of combs, twig-brush and cloth swab stencil or glyptic paintings. It is a symbolic and sacred art form of signs that carry multiple meanings. After the monsoon season, the mud houses have to undergo an renovation with many layers of colored clay. Black mud represents the womb, and the white mud represents god, sperm and light. When the white is covered entirely over the black earth and cut with a comb, the result is seen as a transformation of inert earth into an expression of the mother goddess.Once the mud wall surface is prepared, the motifs are painted in red, ochre and black.The red line is drawn first as it represents the ‘blood of the ancestors’, procreation and fertility. The next line is black which signifies eternal dead stone and mark of the God, Shiva. The next all-encompassing outer lines stand in their traditional values of protection, fidelity, and chastity. The white is painted with the last year’s rice, grounded with milk into gruel, this represents food.In case of elaborate designs of the Kurmi tribe, the designs are first drawn on the wall using a nail or similar sharp object. After this, the designs are painted using the frayed and softened edge of the chewed Neem tree twig allowing the artist to produce lines and dots on the walls. Popular Sohrai motifs are animals, birds, lizards, elephants and Pashupati. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811262110-6IONOU88ZA4KD3STZENW/IMG_1673.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Sohrai Art by Kurmi Tribe - Acrylic on Paper 18x24 inches (Framed) The Kurmi tribe, through the use of glyptic art depicts Lord Shiva/Pashupati (Lord of the animals) as a horned deity on the back of an animal. One of the oldest art forms of tribal art which has continued since 4,000 BC. Mud murals are an integral part of the domestic architecture of Jharkhand in eastern India.The name ‘Sohrai’ is said to have derived from a Paleolithic age word—‘soro’, meaning to drive with a stick.The Sohrai festival is celebrated one day after Diwali, and the Sohrai art form is handed down from mother to daughter. These paintings are considered auspicious symbols related to fertility and prosperity of the harvest. There are four major painting techniques- scraping with fingers, scraping with broken pieces of combs, twig-brush and cloth swab stencil or glyptic paintings. It is a symbolic and sacred art form of signs that carry multiple meanings. After the monsoon season, the mud houses have to undergo an renovation with many layers of colored clay. Black mud represents the womb, and the white mud represents god, sperm and light. When the white is covered entirely over the black earth and cut with a comb, the result is seen as a transformation of inert earth into an expression of the mother goddess.Once the mud wall surface is prepared, the motifs are painted in red, ochre and black.The red line is drawn first as it represents the ‘blood of the ancestors’, procreation and fertility. The next line is black which signifies eternal dead stone and mark of the God, Shiva. The next all-encompassing outer lines stand in their traditional values of protection, fidelity, and chastity. The white is painted with the last year’s rice, grounded with milk into gruel, this represents food.In case of elaborate designs of the Kurmi tribe, the designs are first drawn on the wall using a nail or similar sharp object. After this, the designs are painted using the frayed and softened edge of the chewed Neem tree twig allowing the artist to produce lines and dots on the walls. Popular Sohrai motifs are animals, birds, lizards, elephants and Pashupati. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811203531-CBQ3JDKDT5YKDFQIG8KX/IMG_1746.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Sohrai-Kohvar art by Ganju tribe Acrylic on Paper, 18x24 inches (Framed) It is common practice for the tribal women of Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) living in forested hill villages and agricultural valleys to paint murals in preparation for weddings. Such paintings are known as Khovar where Kho is cave and Var a bridal couple. Sohrai and Khovar paintings are stylistically the same, however they commemorate different occasions. As said earlier Sohrai paintings are made in the harvest season in winter. Khovar paintings are made during weddings. These paintings are marriage mural art to decorate the bridal chamber. During the harvest as well as the marriage season the women decorate their houses with beautiful large murals of jungle animals and birds, and exotic plant forms, as if bringing the forest indoors. The Ganju houses at Saheda have their own distinctive and unique form of wild and domestic animals and birds forms like peacocks, elephant, tiger, crocodile, snake, jackal, and plants depicting the pictures as a story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811144735-RMBQ1KC1RCSC7J0O00DE/IMG_1805.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Sohrai-Kohvar by the Ghatwal/Agaria tribe Acrylic on Paper, 18x24 inches (Framed) Women artists of the Ghatwal and Agaria communities paint murals using a stencil-type method using kaolin creamy white clay obtained from forest streams, hematite red- oxide iron-ore, and manganese black earth colour found in the hills. The Sohrai harvest murals are a feast for the eyes revealing labour of love done by traditional women artists after repairing, re-plastering, and painting the village mud house walls with cloth swabs daubed in liquid earth colours sometimes taking two weeks to paint the entire household, and courtyards. The wall is segmented into large rectangular panels when the kaolin clay layer is applied. Then, using a darker red or black clay, women paint the negative spaces within the panel, leaving some areas white which form the animal or plant motif. The technique is complicated since it requires the artist to visualize and paint not the motif but the space surrounding it. The Sohrai-khovar art painted on the mud walls is a matriarchal tradition handed down from mother to daughter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811224833-J0CP0AZJ19GHJQ3UFYZS/IMG_1723.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Sohrai art by Santal tribe -Acrylic on Paper, 18x24 inches (Framed) According to the Santhal mythology, Marang Buru (God of the mountains), Jaher Ayo (goddess of the forest) and the elder sister of the Santhals, would descend on earth from heaven to pay a visit to their brothers and to commemorate this the Sohrai Harvest festival is celebrated and the Santal women decorate their walls with bright geometric murals of Sohrai art. The Santal mural colors and patterns of the Singhbhum region is brighter than that in the Hazaribagh region because the types of clays found in the two regions in Jharkhand differ in mineral content and therefore in pigmentation, leading to two distinctive colour palettes. Singhbhum has brighter colour clays with the murals painted in deep rust, ochre, black and light blue colours and Hazaribagh is dominated by black manganese-rich clay, the nearly white kaolin clay and the occasional use of reddish coloured clays. The difference is further heightened by the use of artificial paints and paint brushes which is much more common in Singhbhum as it is a highly industrialised region and Adivasi and non-Adivasi villagers have been employed by local industrial establishments for generations. Santal women in Hazaribagh paint lengths of geometric patterns and have a restricted colour palette red and black. These are painted using the cloth, and attention is paid to achieving very precise edges to produce a sharp geometric mural. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811165026-0LMYQTMI904WFSWZZ8M0/IMG_1750.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Tree of Life by the Munda Tribe - Acrylic on Paper, 18x24 inches (Framed) Jharkhand has heavy monsoons and the mud houses “maati-ghar” of the region are repaired and re-plastered after the rainy season. The preparations begin with the reworking of the wall surface. the final mural produces a smooth surface that works to largely repel water or at least ensure that it flows down and does not penetrate and weaken the earthen wall. In this way, the practice of painting murals becomes integral to the preservation of the mud houses. Sohrai art is a “Parampara” tradition carried on and taught from generation to generation by women artists. The village of Isco adjoin the rock-art (10,000 B.C) sites in the Sati hills where the Munda tribal women paint the similar pre-historic designs on the house walls giving it a symbiosis with the art. The Munda paint or scrape with their fingers in the soft-wet earth of their houses, using unique motifs such as the rainbow snake (Lorbung) and plant forms of a deity similar to the Prajapatis and Kurmis. They commonly spot their painting with vermilion and white dots. First the designs are cut in mud clay and then filled in with white markings, and vermillion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811302451-1V3D6OUTPKO9JBW0BC0T/E0318671-5A54-4B6C-9EA0-F7AC192D671A.jpg Heritage Art of India - Sanjhi Floor of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan - 18x24 SOLD Sanjhi, floor art is considered to be one of the finest arts of spiritual expression. Created in the temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, as part of a fifteen-day autumnal festival as well as to an annual ritual “Pitra paksha” the period of the ancestors and the departed. Contemporary evidences show the early use of stencils cut out in banana leaves later moved to paper was then taken to its glory by the Vaishnava temples in the 15th and 16th century. The most common type of temple Sanjhi is made of colored powder on an earthen platform (Vedi). Another type is created from dry colors on water “Jal Sanjhi” and underwater respectively. The preparation of intricate design stencils “sancha or khaka” carefully cut with small special scissors, demands a considerable amount of time, patience and effort on the part of the artist, paired with high artistic proficiency. The theme for the Sanjhi stencils are derived from Krishna-lila and the Bhakti movement. The development of this art form, its migration from U. P. to Rajasthan and the Mughal influence visible in it is fascinating. Different from other rangoli floor art, Sanjhi starts on the outer edge border and moves inwards to the central portion. The most elaborate Sanjhi art is made by the temple priests with stencils that are superimposed on each other and filled with powders of different colors until the final pattern appears. The final image then presents a more complex design and depth. Sanjhi is created on an earthen platform or “Vedi”, which is octagonal or in the shape of eight-pointed star. Colored powder is pushed through a cloth with the fingers onto a stencil placed on the Vedi. Whole series of stencils are used; creating a sequence of patterns layered one over the other, like a printing process, resulting in the final image having intricate design and depth. The “Hauda” (heart) or the central portion of the Sanjhi, constitutes the sanctum sanctorum, encircled by interlocking decorative patterns requires considerable time and effort and is entrusted to specifically trained professional artists associated with the temple tradition as hereditary Brahman priests. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811104567-RWVP2FT8UHW2OBFRYRIB/IMG_1831.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Stick Figure Stories by the Warli tribe Acrylic on Paper 9x12 (Unframed) The Warli or Varli are an indigenous tribe living in mountainous as well as coastal areas along the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. Women are mainly engaged in the creation of these paintings. In this art form, chewed bamboo stick brush and mixture of rice paste and gum binder is used for white paint. They have a very basic graphic vocabulary: a circle, a triangle and a square. The circle and triangle come from their observation of nature, the circle representing the sun and the moon, the triangle derived from mountains and pointed trees. Humans and animals are represented by two triangles joined at the tip. Their precarious equilibrium symbolizes the balance of the universe. It is rare to see a straight line in Warli paintings it is shown as a series of dots and dashes. The square is a newer addition, indicating a sacred enclosure or a piece of land but when used for a ritual painting, the central motif-a square, known as the "chauk" or "chaukat”. The harmony and balance depicted in these paintings signify the harmony and balance of the universe. Painted white on red mud walls, they are similarto pre-historic cave paintings and usually depict scenes of human figures engaged in activities like hunting, dancing, sowing and harvesting created in a loose rhythmic pattern. They do not depict mythological characters or deities, but depict the tribe’s daily social life. One of the important aspects within Warli paintings is the “Tarpa dance” – the tarpa is a trumpet-like instrument, which is played in turns by different men. While the music plays, men and women join their hands and move in a spiral form around the tarpa players. This circle of the dancers symbolise the circle of life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811101134-DYZ6K3M6JRV2VBLORV0Q/IMG_1839.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Stick Figure Stories by the Saura tribe - Acrylic on paper 9x12 (Unframed) Saura wall painting called ikons (ekons) painted by the Saura tribes in Odisha and hold religious significance for the Sauras. Ikons were originally painted on the walls of the huts by the high priests (Kudangs) where the base color is red or yellow ochre earth. Then motifs are painted on using tender bamboo brushes shoots. Each painting has a rectangular frame and a house-like structure with different levels and no block is left empty. People, horses, elephants, the sun and the moon and the tree of life are recurring motifs in these ikons. Ekons use natural dyes and chromes derived from ground white stone, hued earth, and vermilion and mixtures of tamarind seed, flower and leaf extracts. The Saura paintings have a striking visual resemblance to Warli art but they differ in both their style and treatment of subjects. Warli paintings have a red background and patterns and figures are drawn in white, figures are not well organized and highlight themes like festivals, dancing, hunting, fishing. Figures are equilateral triangles where male and female icons are clearly distinguishable whereas Saura paintings can have a red, white, or yellow background and the lines and patterns are drawn in white, red, yellow and black. It depicts religious matters, and its connections with nature and human. It uses a fishnet approach of painting from the border inwards, well organized in levels, the figures are larger and elongated, Saura women are represented with two triangles, while the men are shown with just the upper triangle while the lower half is projected on horseback, playing the drums etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811053385-LYZDNGHKLF2BMKU1DB9U/IMG_1843.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Stick Figure Stories by the Kurumba tribe - Acrylic on Paper 9x12 (Unframed) Kurumba art is a unique tribal art form found in the Nilgiris or “blue-mountains” (Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu). Kurumba is a tribe of hunters and medicine men, their art is primarily ritualistic describing various facets of tribal life in the remote forests of the Nilgiris. Originally, they drew with burnt twigs and colored the art with a resin extracted from the bark of the Kino tree. Kurumba art is traditionally practiced by the male caretakers of the temple, or the priests of the Kurumba tribe paint on the outer wall of the temple and the house. The figures are made up of lines and are minimal in style representing their gods, Kurumba beliefs and the milestones of the village. There is an unusual depth created in these paintings by the way the background is painted. The figures slowly decrease in size as things move further and further away from the foreground. The background color usually ranges from shades of brown and green, whilst the figures are commonly dark brown or black. There are also bushes and shrubs drawn at regular intervals to show the natural beauty around the village. The colors used are yellow, brown, black, green, white and orange. A piece of cloth as well as cut and shaped bamboo sticks serve as brushes, sometimes along with the feathers of the wild fowl used to apply the colors on the prepared walls. Kurumba paintings are similar in many ways to the Warli paintings in their themes and representation. The only difference is that the figures are flat with rectangular bodies, the women are recognized by the bun on their head. There are hardly any patterns used and it looks like a painting and not like a decorative patterned art like in Warli or Saura art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811050536-C4K9D6DHWSZS07NQAB96/IMG_1940.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Mithila Painting of Bihar Snake-goddess Manasā - Acrylic on Paper 9x12 (Unframed) The snake-goddess Manasā is shown at the centre of the painting rising up out of the head of a cobra, naga; she is surrounded with sprigs of foliage with brightly-coloured leaves. She wears a hair ornament, earrings, a nose-ring, a necklace, bracelets and upper-arm bands. The body of the snake winds it way around the body of the goddess in a concentric series of ovals; the tale is seen in the bottom left-hand corner. The other corners are filled with branches also with brightly-coloured leaves. Madhubani, an ancient style of folk art painting that originated 2500 years ago in Mithila region of Bihar. Traditionally women used to paint Madhubani art on freshly plastered mud walls of huts to celebrate occasions such as religious festivals, births, and marriages. The themes and motifs of Madhubani are drawn from mythology, rituals and local flora and fauna. Some of the main attributes of all the Madhubani paintings are the double line border, ornate floral patterns, bright colours, intricate details and patterns, abstract-like figures of deities and bulging eyes and a jolting nose on the faces of the figures. Bharni, Kachni or Kayastha, Godhana and Tantric are the different styles within this art form. These paintings were made using brushes, fingers, twigs, pen-nibs and bamboo sticksas well as natural colours that were sourced from the paste of powdered rice, natural dyes, and plants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811005077-I47AQXTWJO4NCPHSF4QH/IMG_1978.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Gond painting from Madhya Pradesh- Acrylic on Paper 9x12 (Unframed) Gond art is folk and tribal art, practiced by one of the largest tribes in India – the Gonds, predominantly from Madhya Pradesh. This community draws positive energy by surrounding itself with color and reverberates with a culturally distinct ethos and draws stimulation from myths, legends to images of daily life interlinked with nature, the surrealism of sensations, aspirations and imagination. The mythical beasts and the intricate detailing of flora and fauna are the dominant themes. The child like simplicity of these art works reflect the community’s own straight forwardness and how it is rooted in their folk tales and culture, as story-telling is a strong element of Pradhan Gond art. They believe that viewing a good image begets good luck and so they painted on the walls and floors of their house and are also called Digna and Bhittichitra paintings. These paintings begin from the base of the wall and reach up to the height of eight to ten feet. Lines are used in such a way to convey a sense of movement to still images. Dots and dashes are added to impart a greater sense of movement and increase the amount of detail. They use bright vivid colours derived naturally from objects such as charcoal for black, coloured soil for brown, yellow, white and red, plant sap, flowers for deep red, bean leaves for dark green and cow dung for light green. The painting is done with the help of a cotton swab or piece of cloth tied to the twig of neem or babul tree. One of the distinctive elements is the use of ‘signature patterns’ that is used to ‘infill’ the larger forms and every Pardhan Gond painter has developed his or her own signature style. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811002207-O0R3YHJ6V75OHCYH6X55/IMG_1989.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Pointillism by the Bhil tribe - Acrylic on Paper 9x12 (Unframed) The Bhils, India’s second largest tribal community, live in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The history of its art is as old and as veiled in mystery as the Bhils themselves. These ritualistic paintings were done by Badwas (holy priests) or specially appointed male members who convey their tribe’s stories, prayers, memories and traditions as beautiful images in a symphony of multihued dots onto the clay walls of their village homes using neem sticks and other twigs, and natural dyes such as turmeric, flour, vegetables, leaves and oil to derive brilliant colors. The dots on a Bhil painting are not random. The first step to learning the Bhil art is the mastering of the dots is to skillfully repeat equal sized and uniform dots in rhythmic patterns and colors. These dots have multiple layers of symbolism as they are inspired by the kernels of maize (corn their staple food and crop). These patterns could be made to represent anything that the artists wish, from ancestors to deities. The work of every Bhil artist is unique, and the dot patterns can be counted as the artist’s signature style. The two most famous artists of the Bhil tribe are Lado Bai and Bhuri Bai. Nature, flora and fauna, rituals, festivals, Bhil Gods and Goddesses are something they paint in the old Bhil style. Instead of painting on mud walls now, the tribe have now moved to paper or canvases and these ritualistic paintings are even offered as gifts to gods and goddesses at the time of festivals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810961216-NDI5TK2UVPC91QEFC3F1/IMG_2283.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Hase Chittara by the Deewaru Tribe- Acrylic on Canvas Board 10x10 (Framed) Deewaru, an agrarian tribe living deep in the forests of Karnataka, is a matriarchal society where women are highly respected and control most of the activities. This power relationship between men and women is also manifested in the social culture like wedding ceremonies where the bride's family commands higher respect. The community is culturally integrated by unique customs and ritualistic practices. These practices reflect their interaction and profound relationship with their environment. The traditions and ritualistic practices of the community are incomplete without the practice of Hase Chittara, a traditional folk art painted on the mud walls of their huts and always associated with a folk song. Chittara murals are intricate patterns that represent the auspicious ceremonies and rituals of life using several lines, segments, and symbols. The paintings are done free hand and usually 2 to 3 feet in size requiring understanding of geometry, ratios, and proportions, which the women of the community have been using with great dexterity. These murals are done basically in four natural colours, White (Rice Powder), Black (Burnt Rice Powder), Red (Laterite Soil) and Yellow (Pigment from the Gurige Flower) and the brushes are made of Areca nut fibre. While the designs are common across the entire community, the colours used distinguish one family or clan from another. Chittara bears a close resemblance to Warli art, but it can be distinguished by its elaborate geometric designs. The chittara shown here is called Hasegode which depicts the wedding and in the center is the wedding altar where the bride and the groom are seated. Symbols of Hase Chittara by the Deewaru Tribe wedding ceremony Yaileyh: the vertical or horizontal ‘lines’ which symbolize subtle attraction/intimate relationships, the Chittara painting cannot be started without these lines. Nilee Kochu: is the cross hatching all throughout is the symbol of strength of teamwork or unity is strength. Garagasa Saalu: the mountain border all around is the symbol of sharpness is. It implies that without being sharp in life it’s difficult to break through the obstacles. Peeti/Pathanga: the square with the X in is the symbol of a Guest is a butterfly/a bee. In Hase Chittara paintings, the pair of Bees indicates the presence of abundant sexual desires during the married life. Madhumaga & Madhnageethi: the Symbol of Eternal Bonding- In the center square is the bride with the bridegroom, an epitome of unconditional love. Dhandigey: Symbol of Highness is the palanquin used to carry and to honor the Gods, kings and bride/bridegroom. Maadhana Kai is the symbol of marital bliss as this is to invoke the lord’s blessing on the newlywed couples so that they have a blissful married life ahead. Chanduvina Saalu: lines of marigold flowers are drawn in the chittara painting symbolize friendship promotes friendship between the two families. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810961218-8094IQD9QO4Q6D7F6LS3/IMG_2293.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Lippan Kaam from Gujarat - 8x8 on CradleBoard Mud and Mirror Work (Lippan/Chittar Kaam) is a traditional mural craft of Kutch, Gujarat. It is carried out by the women of the Rabari tribe and the Meghwal community whereas by men in the Mutwa community who live in circular mud houses known as “Bhungas” with thatched roofs; these dwellings have evolved over the years to take on the harsh climatic conditions of Kutch. Lippan or mud-washing using materials like mixture of clay and camel dung keeps the interiors of the houses cool. Lippan kaam on the outer surface of the homes acts as an insulator by reflecting heat therefore helps keep the interior of the home cool. Inside the home, the inner walls are adorned with decorative mud-mirror work where a single lamp proves enough to light up a considerable part of the home, thanks the light reflected from the glittering mirrorwork. The mirrors used are called “Aabhla” and can be round, diamond or triangular. The mirrors are believed to ward off evil and are therefore found as an integral part of their embroideries and their walls. In about 4-5 days the clay dries off, a layer of white clay, which comes from the marshland sand that is rich in salt content, is painted over the artwork. Though the authenticity of Lippan Kaam lies in a completed piece that is all white or in shades of neutrals; bright colors like red and green are sometimes painted on the dried clay work. Once the walls are completed, they look stunning with mirrors embedded in the mud work, much like the embroideries itself. Some of the motifs are peacock, camel, elephant, water bearer women, women churning buttermilk, temples, mango tree as well as pure geometric patterns. Mud and mirror work was done directly on the walls of the house by artists who do not use any kind of sketch or markings for reference. The clay used is mud which has been passed through a sieve to obtain fine particles that mix more easily. The camel or donkey dung used acts as a binding agent as it is rich in fibres. Equal proportion of dung and clay are mixed and kneaded to form the dough used for lipan kaam. Some use of husk of Bajri i.e. millet as an alternative to the dung which attracts termites, and the husk does not. Small portions of the dough are taken and shaped into cylinders of varying thickness by rolling between the palms or on the floor. This is then pasted on to the moist surface i.e. the wall or wooden panel on which the decorative artwork is to be done. Each artwork usually starts by using the dough to first create lines that define the boundary of the artwork. The lippan on the walls, partitions, doorways, lintels, niches, and the floors of the bhunga are elaborate bas relief decorations that consist of textures created by the impressions of fingers and palms-and sculpted forms that are inlaid with mirrors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810922943-QKNXC2JV7WEAWIR2O0CP/IMG_2354.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Wall Mandana by the Meena Tribe Diptych 12x12 on Canvas The Meena tribes of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, India, who claim to be descendants of the fish incarnation of Vishnu, are the first painters of Mandana. Mandana in the local language means ‘to draw’ in the context of Chitra mandana or ‘drawing a picture’. Dating back to the Vedic age, 1500 to 500 BCE these paintings are an intrinsic part of the mud house architecture and painted on walls and floors, both within and surrounding the house, to welcome divinity into the house and keep away from evil forces. In Rajasthan they are painted on walls and the floor but in Madhya Pradesh its restricted to the floor. Mandana paintings can be divided into two types called Vallhari pradhan & Aakruti pradhan. Vallhari Mandanas usually done on walls consists of floral patterns & nature living objects like- birds and animals. Aakriti Mandanas usually done on floors depict geometric forms expressing the five elements of Prakriti (nature) like- triangle (fire), square (earth), circle (water), dot (ether) crescent-curve line (air) and non-living objects. The red clay and the mixture of water and cow dung mark the beginning of the process as it plasters the traditional pattern of the floor. The colors used are red and white, as these abundant in the area. The brush made of twigs, cotton and a small portion of squirrel hair are the paintings tools. Wall paintings by the Meena women are nature paintings without a narrative. There is no ground line so all the motifs float freely. The peacock is their forte and is drawn in several different beautiful ways. There is a specific way to draw and paint the perfect Mandana. First, the exterior walls or floors are plastered with red clay, which is the most crucial element for this type of painting, along with a mixture of cow-dung and water. The motifs, which are almost re-done daily by women from the village, are drawn onto the wall or floor using rudimentary tools such as a brush made of a date twig, a clump of squirrel hair and cotton. Once the motifs are made, they are then filled with color. The color scheme of these paintings is actually very basic i.e., white, and red, and are chosen specifically because they are easily available in the community’s natural surroundings. White paint (Khadiya) is made of chalk while the red paint (Geru) is made of brick. Since concrete houses have been constructed in place of traditional mud houses, this art form is on the verge of extinction as it’s not possible on cement walls. Two villages Tonk and Sawai Madhopur (Rajasthan) are among the few which still daily practice Mandana art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810896213-CD9BUMTTTKLHJGT3RTXR/IMG_2424.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Wall art of Naga Tribes - 8x10 on Canvas board (Framed) Nagaland is vibrant with a rich architectural wood craft tradition which has its roots in an animistic past. Traditionally practiced only by male members, the Konyak, Phom and Angami communities are especially noted for their amazing woodcarving skills while the other tribes are distinguished by signature styles with marked differences in the usage and portrayal of designs and symbols. The typical Naga wood carving motifs on the wooden houses are mostly abstractions of animal forms. Human figures or sculpted heads related to fertility or achievements of a warrior in the head-hunting tradition and the Hornbill and the Indian bison or Mithun almost a signature of Naga architecture and can be seen in every village in their magnificence, but degrees of use vary. Other common motifs used are Tigers, Elephants, Snakes, Barbets, Lizards and Monkeys each with their associated symbolism. Often colored in black, terracotta and white pigments derived from natural sources, they proclaimed the status and power of the house owner or the village itself. Characteristics of Naga wood craft is that it’s basically sculpted out of solid trunks or pieces of wood from the Hollock/hollong, Leikai or Teak tree trunks. The Dao or Machete, Hammer and Chisel were the only tools used in woodcarving. These decorative carved elements adorned the village gates, front doors and walls of only tribal chief’s house or of men of social distinction. The men’s dormitories (Morungs) had the most elaborate and impressive of wood carvings and distinct architectural styles and were positioned in special sites in the settlement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810862734-5PI5IVMCCE9P03867HKE/IMG_2433.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Temple Frescos of Kerala - Acrylic on Paper 9x12 (Unframed) Kerala has the second-largest number of mural sites in the country, after Rajasthan. The Kerala frescos depict deities like Vishnu, Shiva in all their glory along with Hindu mythological tales from the Puranas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Although it originated in the 9-12th century, the best murals were created between the 14th-16th centuries due to the rise of the “Bhakti Movement” - the patronage of local rulers and landholders, who commissioned these paintings as a way of expressing their devotion. The frescoes of Kerala belong to a class known as ‘Fresco-seco’, characterized by its lime-medium technique where the murals are painted only after the prepared wall is completely dry. These are usually found on the exterior walls of the sanctum sanctorum, the mandapas and the circumambulatory path of temples. The paintings are a highly stylized version of the gods, with wide open eyes, elongated lips and exaggerated eyebrows, like the forms depicted in the classical theatre of Kerala. The six painting stages of Kerala Murals are : * Lekhya Karma: On a white background, sketching with a pencil/crayon the contours and curves of the motifs. * Rekha Karma enhancing the outlines of the sketch. * Varna Karma breathes life into the painting with colors derived from natural sources – red, yellow, green, black and white. The human figures are colored according to the characters and their virtues. The divine and noble characters are painted in green, those inclined towards power and wealth painted in shades of red to golden yellow. Evil characters in white and demons in black. * Vartana Karma: Shading process. * Lekha Karma is adding the black outline to the full painting. * Dvika Karma is the final finishing touches and details. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810865197-N1ZCDT7IOSNIKVQ1ZFDI/IMG_2571.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Aipan from Uttarakhand - Acrylic on Paper 10x14 SOLD Aipan/Aepan floor art, from Kumaon region in Uttarakhand, founded during the reign of the Chand dynasty to celebrate all festivals and rituals ceremonies by decorating the floors and entrances of their homes due to beliefs that these motifs evoke divine power which brings good fortune and wards off evil. The word "Aipan" derivative of a Sanskrit word "Arpan”. The actual meaning of Aipan is "Likhai" that means writing, and it is a pattern that is made with the help of the last three fingers of the right hand. It is passed down from mothers to their daughters and daughter-in-laws and primarily was practiced by Brahmin women. The patterns differ for each ceremony, occasion and according to the deity. The central designs of the Aipan have their own significance and usually comprise of a yantra or a symbol assigned to a particular deity, required to be drawn exactly as it without any changes to its assigned shape and place, while the outer decorative design can be extended or reduced to fit the red background. The dots (Bindu), is an important element without which the Aipan is considered incomplete and inauspicious. Seen above is the “Nav Durga Chauki ”- Durga, the goddess of power and strength, is worshipped for nine days during Dassehra. The central design is drawn at the time of worship is composed of nine Swastikas woven in an intricate pattern called Khoria/Bhadra. The pattern is a square of eighty-one dots which are joined by dashes in a particular order forming nine Swastikas - representing the nine names/forms of goddess Durga and there is a Ashta-dal Kamal (8-petalled lotus) around the Nav Swatika within the larger square and is surrounded decorative borders beyond it. Aipan art is practiced daily with simple designs and elaborate ritual designs are prepared on ritual and festive occasions which can take months, even when a group of women working on them. The raw material used is simple geru (sienna red clay) for base and rice paste made by soaking any rice for about 16 hours and then grinding it into a fine paste with a medium to runny consistency. The ring finger of the right hand is used to draw the elaborate patterns with help of cotton balls or cloth. The women manipulate their hands with swiftness when the geru base is moist so as to enable smooth painting. The rice paste is easily absorbed by the ground and dries within a short time, leaving a bright white design against the reddish brown background. Generally aipans are drawn with liquid colours but sometimes they are also made with wheat and rice floor and dry-powdered earth colours. Aipans are executed in the courtyard (kholi ke aipan), on the steps leading to the main door of the house (dwar aipan), on the threshold (dehali aipan), in the pooja area, on low wooden stools, on the vedi during sacrificial rituals, on the inner and outer surface of the winnowing scoop, on the outer surface of the pot in which the tulsi plant is sown or on the floor round the mortar (ukhal) which consists of a hollow stone sunk in the courtyard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810815416-831DAUD5NMLB7319ZBUF/IMG_2588.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Aripana of Bihar- Acrylic on Paper 11x15 (Unframed) Aripan is floor art of the Mithila region of Bihar. Aripan is derived from the Sanskrit word “Alepan” meaning to smear the ground with cow dung and clay for the purpose of purification of the earth. Initially, these were made as an offering to appease the Gods to make the cultivable land fertile and fruitful but now it has become a part of festivals and each and every life-cycle rituals, including the ceremony of the dead; each have a specific associated Aripan diagram drawn on the courtyard, on the threshold of their houses, and at the entrance gate of their houses.. The Aripan diagrams have a very strong tantric origin. The yantra of the goddess and the red vermillion dots (Rakta-bindu) placed at pre-determined spots in the Aripans, setting them apart from other rangoli art. Rice paste (Pithar), Rice powder mixed with turmeric and sindoor is also used for some Aripans. Seen here is the Shada-dal and Ashta-dal (six and eight petalled lotus) Aripans, with the Shatkona and Ashtakona yantra respectively is made in the centre of each temple for auspicious occasions to propitiate the mother goddess Bhagavati (Gauri). Mantras, expressing their desires are chanted by the girls while drawing the Aripan. The patterns inscribed in a circular mandala are very cosmic in nature and contains the whole universe including the sun and the moon, the planets and stars, the red dots representing the twelve months, six seasons, the cycle of day and night, the hours, minutes, seconds in a day and also the various symbols and attributes of gods. These aripans are drawn to ensure protection from the malevolent forces of nature and to propitiate the goddess reflecting the prevalence of the Shakti cult. oth old and young women practice this particular art form and any ceremony or ritual is considered incomplete without this traditional art form adorning the ground.. To create an Aripan, women dip two fingers into the a paste of powdered rice and water, and by graceful and deft movements produce beautiful, geometrical patterns on the mud floor of their homes and courtyards. These patterns also include different design elements integrated into them to thank Goddess Earth. In order to adorn the creations more, the women also smear vermillion (Sindur) red powder/local red clay for red at specific spots of the Aripan; turmeric and flower petals for yellow; leaves for green; soot for black and crushed berries for blue, are used to adorn the Aripans. The designs or the motifs used in Aripana fall into the following five categories: - human beings, birds and animals - flower (lotus), leaves, trees and fruits - Tantrik symbols, like yantras, bindu (dots), etc - Gods and Goddesses - Other objects like lamp, swastika, mountain, rivers, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641876676127-VKVUVCWBFVEB2D1ZME4J/IMG_2666.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Alpona from Bengal and Assam - Acrylic on Paper 11x15 (Unframed) The sacred art form of Alpana/Alpona, is closely associated with folk rites and rituals and created on the floor before sunset. Alpana originated from a Sanskrit word 'Alimpana', meaning 'to plaster or to coat with' and another version traces its roots to the word 'Alipana', meaning the art of making ails or embankments believed to keep homes and neighborhoods safe. The ritual, usually practiced by women, is also intertwined with an aspect of self-expression. The Alpana patterns remain best documented amongst all the floor arts of India with motifs being ritualistic images from mythology and scriptures and having a purpose to serve. Although, predominantly it is white in color, other hues turmeric paste for yellow and red clay with vermillion paste for crimson can be used. It has an ecological importance too, the rice flour used served as “bhutayajna” an offering to tiny creatures like ants and other insects and rice powder is a cleansing element which is traditionally attributed to preventing chicken pox during the summer and is hence applied on the faces of children in several parts of India as a preventive measure. There are 4 types of Alpanas: 1. General decoration Alpana consist of abstract decorative motifs which are drawn with no specific intentions and their sole purpose remains to be good luck charms. These are non-ritualistic alpanas drawn every morning or during festival and on auspicious days. The artist may take the liberty of imagination with respect to the motifs drawn in these. 2. Asana Alpanas (Pinrhichitras/Alpanas of seats) - Asana for the deity; Asana for the bridegroom; Asana for the baby 3. Vrata Alpanas : The term vrata means to undergo solemnly certain physical and mental discipline with a view to achieve a desired result or object. These Alpana are highly symbolic and executed in abstraction with the specific intentions for fulfilling the desired objectives. The artist is required to put the ritualistic motifs in their proper shape and place and has no option regarding these factors as the drawn motifs are of great importance in the vrata rite. 4. Alpana of Nagas: The naga cult as prevalent in this region worships an anthropomorphic serpent goddess known as Manasa. Colored powders are used in such drawings and the entire floor of the room appears to be a picture-gallery. In the Bengali alpanas, generally liquid white pigment made of rice powder is used and made with the help of a small piece of cloth that is soaked in a paste of powdered rice and water but the alpana drawn on the occasion of Maghmandala-vrata dry rice powder with powdered colours are used. The process of drawing designs with coloured rice powder is called gundi chitra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810786319-6D9CE8OZHK8PI9LD5O5C/IMG_2853.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Likhnu from Himachal Pradesh 12x16 on Fabric Paper (Framed) In Himachal Pradesh, the Pahari women draw many diagrammatic designs called ‘Yantras’ on the thresholds on ceremonial occasions. This form of floor painting is locally known as ‘Hangaiyan’, while the other forms of floor art paintings are Dehar (threshold), Likhnu (writing) and Chauk (ritual places ). The process involves sweeping the floor and then “Lipna” which is plastering it with cow-dung which, once it begins to dry, is then burnished with a round stone. Sometimes women create foliated borders using finger-tips on the wet coating. The background is painted with brown coloured earth (Loshti). Materials used to paint include rice or wheat flour paste or white earth known as Golu or Makol. Mostly in India, the patterns are normally executed with their fingers by the ladies but the here the patterns can be created using makol involves a different technique. The makol paste is prepared by adding water to the white earthen cakes. It is then filled in an earthen pot with a small hole at its bottom which is then moved by the women so as to create various circular patterns. Sometimes an earthen jar with a spout is used for this purpose. The woman keeps on moving unselfconsciously in a rhythmic formation, spontaneously creating a large bold, fluent and rhythmic pattern. Here, the fingers or hands are insufficient to perform the job, thus the whole body moves blissfully to accomplish the feat. These patterns so formed are necessarily circular with inset lotus symbols. Shown here is Likhnoo drawn on Aas Navami day Goddess Navami Parmeshwari (Goddess of hope) is appeased on that day for the well-being of the children in the family. She is believed to possess vindictive dominance over those who defy her rule. According to a tale told on the occasion, once a landlord and his wife who had nine married sons. The landlady deliberately defied the goddess so the goddess became furious and cast a shadow of doom over the whole family. The landlady and her daughters-in-law prayed and on the ninth day of the bright half of the Jyeshtha (called as Aas Navami) the Goddess Navami Parmeshwari’s temper was calmed down so then from that day onward all married women worship her. The characters of the tale find a symbolic representation in the drawing made on the floor on this day. Eleven figures representing nine sons, the landlord and his wife are drawn in a quadrangular frame, symbolizing the earth. A figure of an attendant is also drawn in the notch left out at the bottom of the frame. The sun and the moon also find a place in the frame of the earth, symbolizing cosmic unity. In two small pockets drawn within the frame, eighteen spots are marked as offerings to the goddess. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810733959-JHXPMMJOXZ3O9N3HO35T/IMG_2968.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Chowk – Sona Rakhna from Uttar Pradesh 8x8 on Wood Cradle Board A tradition passed from mother to daughter in Uttar Pradesh, chowk means "auspicious area of home” whereas purana means "drawing on floor/wall." Designs in square forms are generally known as Chowk. The process of making chowk is referred to as Chowkpurana. The square chowkis are made for glorifying deities like Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati. These designs have symbolic motifs like the dot signifying the absolute, with a number of concentric circles depicting growth and expansion. These are nearly always associated with a ritual. Besides the chowks, general floor patterns drawn on various occasions are also referred to as Sona Rakhna. Some of the festivals when chowk art is drawn include Raksha Bandhan, Devthan Puja and Holi. The night before painting the mud walls, geru is mixed with water to be spread over walls and the floor. Rice is soaked in water on the day of the painting, then finely ground and mixed with water. Geru is "spread in a square or rectangular shape depending on the occasion and after that the design was drawn." Women draw sketches using dots to draw the outline which would then be connected with lines using chalk powder on wet ground, or rice paste on dry surface. The art is drawn on religious and social occasions. The art of Chowk Purana in Uttar Pradesh is practiced by women on festivals and happy occasions. a specific type of Chowk art - When art is drawn at the threshold of a house on a wedding, the art is called Chetrau or Chiteri which incorporates an image of Ganesh. The colours used to draw a Chiteri included yellow, blue and green. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641880160903-7SUZFOWTUBY3CF1AUQBN/ChowkPooranaPunjab.jpg Heritage Art of India - Chowk Poorana from Punjab - 8x8 on Wood Cradle Board In Punjab, chowk-poorana refers to preparing the square on the floor with flour and turmeric on weddings and other religious ceremonies, symbols like planets, floral, geometrical designs and Om are drawn for worshipping are drawn on mud walls and in courtyards using powdered colours or earth colours such as White, Ultramarine Neel and Indian Red Gerua. The patterns are created using a piece of rag. These patterns tend to be very simple in comparison to the intricate designs of mandana paintings in Rajasthan and Gujarat. There are different types of chowk but they all start as a square made with flour and then design can be made within the square such as circles or triangular shapes. Dots are drawn using red sindoor (Vermillion). A Phulkari chowk is when designs drawn are the motifs used on Phulkari embroidery. Green is used for the branches and leaves, and white, red and yellow is used for the flowers. Modern squares are more colorful and use rice as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810705047-54G3SR2N7V3WEZ1L8L1N/IMG_3015.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Dogra Floor Art from Jammu Acrylic on paper 8x8 9 (Unframed) “Rut Raade” is a Dogra folk festival of Duggar is celebrated for centuries throughout the Jammu region. The reasons behind the celebration is that the farmers sow the seeds of various crops before the onset of monsoon to find out the quality and viability of the seeds and to see which plant will grow better in the given climatic/weather conditions and then they would sow the seeds of that crop to reap a rich harvest. Another belief is that these seeds are sown by the unmarried girls who are treated as the symbols of Goddess Laxmi so that the family be bestowed with the blessings of the Goddess for a good harvest. The term Raade refers to the rims of broken earthen pots which, on this day, are arranged in a circle representing the number of males in the house. Unmarried girls draw colourful floral and geometric designs around these raades every Sunday evening for a month with the natural colours obtained by crushing bricks, charcoal, turmeric, flour and ground rice and dried leaves of plants. As the seeds sprout into saplings these raades are protected and watered everyday. The girls eat their food collectively placing their thali over the rade and sing folk songs related to the ceremony. After the month long festival is over the raade is taken out and the grain saplings are sown in the fields by the brothers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810617598-4MDLQPCBUJHS49J4856G/Mandana.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Floor Art Mandana from Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh - SOLD Mandana is a ritual art bearing some characteristic differences of the region from where it has originated. There are seven main festivals on which elaborate floor patterns are made - Deepawali, Makar Sankranti, Holi, Gangaur, Bar Pujani Amavasya, Teej and Rakshabandhan. The courtyards, floors of the verandah, rooms, steps, parapets, water- stands and stoves are replastered and decorated with Mandanas. The wall decorations on the mud walls of their houses are called Thapa. Though the technique of Thapas is similar to Mandana -the major difference lies in the motifs used. The Thapa motifs consist mainly of the animals, birds, flora and fauna of the region whereas the motifs of the floor mandanas are highly symbolic with definite meaning and purpose. These are mainly geometric patterns drawn without any tools or grids and comprise of three main parts: * A main central motif with a specific name, is enclosed within a circle or a series of lines (Dora) drawn, parallel to the lines and angles of the original motif. * The “Laddus” surrounding the central motif and empty spaces are filled with “bharat/bharana” oblique parallel lines, dots, small alternate squares making a chess-board design depending on the region and artist. (Not shown here) * To fill up the residual space around as well as to enhance the beauty of the central motif design smaller independent forms of motifs called the “Chhota-mota mandana” are made. These are objects scribed as per the occasion signifying the associated customs and rituals. One of the myths associated with the origin of Mandana floor painting popular in these regions, links it with Shiva’s consort Parvati – Once Shiva and Parvati had an argument when Shiva challenged her to make the courtyard of their house glitter and dazzle with splendor or else he would retreat to the Himalayas for four months. If she succeeded, her art would spread in the world and be known by her name”. Parvati had an idea to mix together cow dung and clay and smooth it over the courtyard to fill up the cracked and flacking surface. When Shiva returned he found the house sparkling clean but it still did not dazzle with splendor. He called out to Parvati and said: “You could not keep the promise. I am leaving for the Himalayas”. Parvati, who was inside the house, ran after him to stop him and as she did that, she left numerous foot-prints on the still wet ground and the courtyard began to dazzle as if filled with beautiful flowers. Shiva was astonished and he said: “From now onwards these mandanas would enhance the beauty of the houses and in whichever house they would be map, I would come to reside there and the household would prosper forever”. Since then, after the house has been given new coat of mud and dung, mandana designs are drawn on it. One may step on to this freshly plastered ground only after the mandanas have been drawn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641810666343-24K1ORN8MT43G0NTRJX8/IMG_3139.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Jhoti Chita of Odisha-Acrylic on Paper 9 x 12 (Unframed) Floor art in Orissa is known by various names like Jhoti, Chita, Osa and Muruja. Jhoti/Chita is a traditional Odia white art used to decorate the house walls and floors and maintain the religious and ritual heritage associated with it by specific patterns. The Jhoti or Chita is believed to establish a relationship between the mystical and the material, thus being highly symbolic and meaningful. For each occasion a specific motif is drawn on the floor or on the wall using is a semi-liquid paste of rice, the fingers become the brush to make it or one can draw with a piece of cloth surrounded with a stick to create beautiful Jhotis. Most of the patterns have a motif of two feet seen in the center implying the pious entry of goddess Lakshmi into the home. Lotus is an important symbol associated with the goddess along with the conch shell is used in all pujas. The term “Osa” in Oriya means vrata (pious observance) and hence the floor designs related to vrata rituals are referred to as Osa. These are made out of rice paste and may be round or square mandalas depicting assemblages of objects. Muruja is white powder or fine sand with colour added to it . Muruja is generally used in November during rituals in the forms of mandalas, a sacred geometric figure representing the universe on the pedestal of Tulasi (Holy Basil plant ) with coloured powder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641877145923-5L57RH4T3GIKNKQ1OA19/IMG_3116.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Jain Floor Art: Gahuli Acrylic on Paper 11x14 (Unframed) The tradition of making Gahuli (Rice Swastika) by followers at Jain temples in front of Jain deities or on religious events as a sign of good omen or auspiciousness. Swastika is an important symbol in Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism. In Jainism, the four arms of the Swastika symbolize the four states of existence, namely, heavenly beings, human beings, hellish beings, subhuman like flora or fauna as destined to one of these states based on their karma. It symbolizes that one has to rise above the running cross of Swastika, meaning that one has to transcend imperfect world to a permanent state of enlightenment and acquire the four characteristics of the soul: infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite happiness and infinite energy. In Sanskrit, the word Swasti is composed of 'su' - meaning "good, well" and 'asti' meaning "it is", which thus stands for the "thing that is auspicious”. According to the scriptures every Jain has to draw them with pure un-broken rice grains before the icon of the Tirthankara. To make rice gahuli, first of all the rice is spread on the floor in square, circular of hexagonal shape. Then successively the first finger is run in the rice in cyclic order to get the Swastika design in simple or complex designs. It is widely known as an important symbol used in Indian religions, denoting "auspiciousness." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811340744-U63L6ZCM9VLLSUQZK3HF/D1E0DA7C-96B4-41C4-A03A-7B7DFCAA96F2.jpg Heritage Art of India - Floor Art of Kerala-Poovidal or Pookalam Acrylic on Paper 11x14 (Unframed) Poovidal or Pookalam ritual of creating flower mats on the floor in front of the house continues for all ten days of the Onam festival in Kerala. “Poov” means flower and “Idal” means arrangement, and Kalam means drawing. A basic design begins on the first day and increases each day making a huge Poovidal for the main day of festival. A traditional Pookalam consists of the “Dashapushpam”meaning ten flowers each making one ring to honour Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati, their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya, Lord Brahma, and last but not the least, the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu and King Mahabali. Therefore, the symbolic meaning of the pookolam is that it is not just a decorative pattern but a symbol of divinity and these flowers are believed to have medicinal qualities. The flowers used are specifically associated to the deities are * Thumba Or Ceylon Slitwort: the small white flowers * Tulasi or Holi Basil: Lavender flowers * Chethi Or Flame Of The Woods: Red flowers * Chemparathy or Hibiscus or Shoe flower: Dark red colour * Shankupushpam Or Butterfly Pea: Deep blue colour with yellow * Jamanthi Or Marigold: Yellow flower * Mandaram: White and yellow * Kongini Flower Or Lantana: Multicolored * Hanuman Kereedam Or Red Pagoda Flower: White and red * Mukkuthi: Dark yellow colour https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641880162715-ZCEBIS1EVVVO0R9958P1/BodanMaharashtra.jpg Heritage Art of India - Floor Art of Maharashtra- Bodan Rangoli Acrylic on Paper 9x12 (Unframed) In Maharashtra, it was and still is a custom to draw a symbolic white rangoli in front of the house in the mornings. The floor Art “Rangoli” is drawn on the threshold (umbartha), in front of the Tulsi plant, in front of the Gods and the one drawn at the entrance. The traditional Maharashtrian rangoli is geometrical in style where designs are drawn by first making the dots and then joining them to make figures and finally filled in uniformly with powdered colours. Sometimes turmeric and kumkum (Vermillion) dots are marked in the white rangoli to make it attractive and auspicious. Seen above is a Rangoli drawn only by the Chitpavans or Koknastha Brahmans in Maharashtra during the religious ritual of of “Bodan”. This symbol is also found on the Ganesh-patti on top of the entrance doors of some houses in Konkan. This is made in the center on which the paat (low stool) is placed then the puja of the goddess is performed on this past by the ladies on various occasions like birth, Upananayana, marriage, new house and even after fulfillment of certain wishes (navas). In some families it is an annual ritual to be performed to please the family Goddess and seek her blessings. In the Konkan region of Maharashtra, where rice grows in plenty, rangoli is made out of rice husk. Rice husk when burnt slowly, converts into a fine crystalline white material which is used as rangoli. This powder is very popular as it is made out of waste material- rice husk and therefore easily available and cheap. It is also used for brushing teeth and cleaning utensils. The powder obtained from stones (shirgole or gote) found near the river is also used for rangoli. In the Ghats and Desh region quartz (kachmani) or silica sand and lime-stone powder (chunkhadi) is used for rangoli. Mixture of fine and coarse silica sand was used earlier but in recent years the white silica sand is filtered through sieves and cloth to obtain a fine mesh of spreadable sand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1627460850070-QW4DHCANBYYGW96VYHYJ/30_NagaMandala_Karnataka_.jpeg Heritage Art of India - Floor Art of Karnataka: Nagamandalas - SOLD Serpent God is a symbol of fertility and life and serpent worship is common among the Hindus all over India. Coastal Karnataka has an all night ritual performed during December to April. Snakes are considered auspicious and one can find these nagamandalas drawn on the floor or carved on the wall/pillars of temples in many parts of India. Nagamandala is Naga which means serpent and mandala implies decorative pictorial drawings on the floor. Nagamandala depicts the divine union of male and female snakes where a pattern is formed of a "snake which weaves itself " into a number of knots called "nagabandha" (snake knots ). It is a highly intricate and complex motif created out of knots (pavitra), depicted by the entwining snake. A full mandala is made up of sixteen knots. Twelve knots make three-quarters of a mandala, eight knots comprise a mandala and four knots form the quarter mandala. The dance ‘naaga’ takes place around this ‘mandala’ drawings. The all night dance and song propitiation creates an awe inspiring experience. Brahmins utter the mantras in sanskrit and the other proceedings take place in Kannada. The drawings in five different colors on the sacred ground are drawn by only the Vaidya community group. The five colors are white (white mud), red (mix of lime powder and turmeric powder), green (‘jangama soppu’ green leaves powder), yellow (turmeric powder) and black (roasted and powdered paddy husk) used in the Nagamandala drawings. The combination of these five colors is called as ‘panchavarnahudi’ in the local dialect. The snake coiled in the panchavarna rangoli, daylong homas and night long dance of the nagapatri and nagakanika, whose dance movement depict courtship are symbols of fertility and prosperity. The leg movements of the dancers are imitative of the excited snake. The rangoli is obliterated by the dancers in the act of dancing. After the ritual the rangoli powder and the betelnut flowers become the prasadam for the gathering witnessing the ritual. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641811354851-4VR96YPBVQ48P7HV0Y2A/CB44CA4A-0F3A-4021-80C4-B50961AB8A0C.jpg Heritage Art of India - Floor Art of Andhra Pradesh - Muggulu - 9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) Rangoli in Andhra Pradesh is called as Muggu (the plural is Muggulu). The muggu consists of geometrical patterns or dots, which are joined by lines or curves that have a mathematical calculation. So it can be inferred that ancient Indian women had artistic traits combined with a sense of arithmetic, which they represented in the drawing patterns of the muggu. The patterns of muggu are very complicated and huge during festival months. The temples usually have complex patterns that cover thousands of square feet and created by several women working together thus bringing in the spirit of team work and speed and these are considered as “painted prayers”. There are different types of Muggu: * Chukkala Muggulu (Dot Designs): Dots are arranged in a specific sequence, in a matrix form equidistant from each other and these dots are joined either by lines or curves to create different muggu designs. A chukkala muggu in plain white muggu pindi (white rangoli powder) created in the courtyard of a home. Sometimes after the creation of the basic muggu in white muggu pindi (white rangoli powder), various coloured rangoli powders are used to fill in the pattern to create a decorative look for special occasions. * Chukkalu leni Muggulu (Designs without dots): These designs are made without dots. They are similar to free hand drawings of lines and curves, but use occasion specific elements to make different muggu patterns. * Tippudu Muggulu (Curved Designs): A basic matrix of dots, equidistant from each other is created first. Then twisted chains are created around the dots in an expert fashion to create exquisite, symmetrical muggu patterns.
 Muggulu are believed to bring prosperity to homes and on festive occasions it is drawn in every home. Every morning before sunrise, the women folk clean the entrance to a home and/or the courtyard with water, considered the universal purifier, and the muddy floor is swept well to prepare an even surface. Cow dung is mixed with water and this slurry is expertly sprayed on the requisite area and spread evenly with a broom. This is done on a regular basis in rural areas, and on festive occasions in certain urban areas, where there is availability of sufficient cow dung, and space to draw the muggu. This procedure is performed as it is believed that cow dung has antiseptic properties and hence provides a literal threshold of protection for a home. The muggu is then drawn on this prepared surface. The dark colour of the cow dung slurry also provides a good contrast for the white powder of the muggu. Muggupindi is a mixture of calcium and /or chalk powder which is used for creating these exquisite and unique muggu patterns. It’s a slightly heavy powder that falls thickly across the wet earth and stays in form while being used. As the index finger and thumb clasp a tiny bit of it and start dropping it from half an inch above the wet floor, the white powder falls gently leaving a white trail behind. There is a knack of letting this powder flow smooth and even, as one draws lines and curves of the muggu designs. During festivals rice flour is used to create the muggu, instead of the muggupindi as it is considered as an offering to the ants, insects and sparrows that tend to feed on them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ad76cbf96e76f651f312e20/1641880184865-1M4JLN17C7E5VOYM1ZBE/KolamTamilNadu.jpg Heritage Art of India - Floor Art of Tamil Nadu - Kolam -9x12 Acrylic on Paper (Unframed) In Tamil Nadu, the drawing of a kolam forms an essential part of the daily work routine of women. Normally, kolam is drawn twice, once at sunrise and again before sunset. The kolams of each occasion vary from each other and are drawn with a specific purpose. Wet paste of rice flour is used to trace the design on the floor is called Makolam which are sometimes outlined in red with kavi, a red brick paste, to make it look grander and more beautiful. The auspicious combination of white and red ensures fertility and warding off of evil. Sometimes, powdered quartz or slaked lime is also used. In Chettinad, all kolams are bordered by double rows of dots. The dots are considered as couples and hence are representative of the dual aspect of a whole. Only on inauspicious occasions a single row of dots adorns the kolam. Shown here is a variation of the “Nalvaravu” (Welcoming Kolam) which is drawn on the threshold of the house welcoming people at the meeting point of the external and the inner space of the house. Sacred symbols are drawn such as the Lotus for prosperity, Conch shell which has its genesis in water and water is taken as a life force which is needed for sustenance in any household and the lamp signifies light therefore the removal of darkness (symbolic for ignorance). There is a center grid around which depending on the requirement, imagination, space availability the design is drawn. By creating the Kolam a sacred space has been defined and that space is further bound for auspiciousness by the color red as well as to heighten the contrast. 
 Every Kolam has its own place and its own meaning and significance. Nalvaravu, (or welcoming kolams), indicates that a home is open to visitors and friends. They are especially used to welcome guests to a home or venues where celebrations are being held. This kolam uses the element lotus on the fringe ends of the kolam, which is a symbol of the sacred. Elements like the conch which has its genesis in water are also used. The lamp is dispeller of the darkness. After the kolam is drawn it is bound by the red coloured kaavi. This defines the sacred place that has been prepared with all pure intention. The colour red of the kaavi is the colour of prosperity and aesthetically speaking it heightens the contrast of the kolam. 1. A basic grid is drawn at the venue before the kolam is created. 2. After the central square the side squares are decorated. 3. The squares in the grid are filled with horizontal and vertical lines. 4. The squares are connected with curved lines. 5. The central square also gets connected to the side squares with a short set of lines 6. More curved lines are built around the central pattern to develop the kolam. 7. More elements are added beyond the curved lines and to the periphery of the kolam. 8. The red kaavi is used to create a bold outline along the kolam exterior. 9. The red kaavi instantly heightens the look of the white kolam. 10. The completed kolam that waits to greet the guests at the venue. https://www.reenasonistudio.com/beast-forte daily 0.75 2025-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56cb3e0bf85082a807c001fe/1456172520505-VBOZM0WDHSSUPJ8T5P37/MHeiderich-NIP01-edit.jpg Beast - Beast / March 2016 Photos by Matthias Heiderich. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56cb3e0bf85082a807c001fe/1456172520505-VBOZM0WDHSSUPJ8T5P37/MHeiderich-NIP01-edit.jpg Beast - Beast / March 2016 Photos by Matthias Heiderich. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56cb3e0bf85082a807c001fe/1456172170435-9RGRCZTTHCA7OJETR983/MHeiderich-NIP02.jpg Beast Integer non nisl at mauris faucibus pharetra eu eu mi. Sed vitae feugiat purus. Vivamus dignissim orci eros, nec aliquet odio varius non. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56cb3e0bf85082a807c001fe/1456172168452-6BOOWK70YT8B67VBDIIY/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-01.jpg Beast Aenean placerat metus et quam scelerisque posuere. 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