MOMENT OF DECISION
Shiv Sati. Painting number 1 from a series of 5 from Shail Gulhati: Shiva and Mysticism.'s pvt collection.
The artist is Devdass who used to paint magnificent Murals and frescos for the very Famous Shivji temple, Ranbireshwar Mandir of my Hometown, Jammu.
14 Years ago, i contacted him and requested him to make 5 paintings which would span the most important events of Shivji's Life, and each would have a definite message from the timeline, a definite theme, which i would outline in my own wonderment of the Shiv Lila, When all five would be seen as a series, a humble Recap of the story would be presented to the viewer. Devdass agreed and he was commissioned to do the artwork in a years time, which he very gracefully accomplished in about 18 months.It was a pleasure to visit His home several times to see the work in progress, it was a jugalbandi indeed between the artist and a story teller, trying to recreate the story of their Beloved God and Goddess. Today, as i share all these with Shiv bhakts, my tribute goes out to Devdass ji. Aum Namah Shivaya! Aum Bhakti Namah!
The artist is Devdass who used to paint magnificent Murals and frescos for the very Famous Shivji temple, Ranbireshwar Mandir of my Hometown, Jammu.
14 Years ago, i contacted him and requested him to make 5 paintings which would span the most important events of Shivji's Life, and each would have a definite message from the timeline, a definite theme, which i would outline in my own wonderment of the Shiv Lila, When all five would be seen as a series, a humble Recap of the story would be presented to the viewer. Devdass agreed and he was commissioned to do the artwork in a years time, which he very gracefully accomplished in about 18 months.It was a pleasure to visit His home several times to see the work in progress, it was a jugalbandi indeed between the artist and a story teller, trying to recreate the story of their Beloved God and Goddess. Today, as i share all these with Shiv bhakts, my tribute goes out to Devdass ji. Aum Namah Shivaya! Aum Bhakti Namah!
The Concept given to the artist for the making of the Art.:
This painting, is called "Moment of decision".
When Lord Shiva learned of Sati's death, he was devastated, and the Universe meant nothing to Him now. He contemplated destroying it. This painting captures that moment.The smouldering fire is actually a metaphor for what Shivji was going through.Even Being the God of Gods, he felt a tremendous helplessness at the giving up of the body by Sati. He could not make Sati come back to life, it was not in His power, because she chose to use her power as Durga to do this, and the action was irrevocable.
When Lord Shiva learned of Sati's death, he was devastated, and the Universe meant nothing to Him now. He contemplated destroying it. This painting captures that moment.The smouldering fire is actually a metaphor for what Shivji was going through.Even Being the God of Gods, he felt a tremendous helplessness at the giving up of the body by Sati. He could not make Sati come back to life, it was not in His power, because she chose to use her power as Durga to do this, and the action was irrevocable.
THE PLOT:
It had all begun with Narad, the astral messenger who was the harbinger of celestial news, but also, paradoxically a catalyst for upheaval, Narad informed Sati of a great feast and Yagya her Father Daksha was holding. Sati and shiva were not invited . At first, Sati asked for permission from Shiva to attend.
Shiva had resisted Sati's request saying we should not go uninvited. Sati was adamant, and became kali just for a moment , in her dark mood, and Shiva acquiesed.
The moment she arrived at the feast, however, her father's crude and cryptic references to her beloved husband Shiva , as a vagabond and a sham, made Sati realise her great mistake. And this , is how Life changes in a moment.
Sati virtually burnt herself up with the mix of anger and rage, humiliation and sorrow . Anger at the insults heaped at shiva, and sorrow at being Daksha's daughter. she ended her life. and none could avert this divine catastrophe. It was an irrevocable vote in favour of the husband over the Father.But ironically, getting that vote cost Shiva his wife.One moment he was a happily married Yogi, and in the other a widower. The great God was separated from His own essential Half.
Not in the power of shiva it was, to save her from this end, But, it was in His power to destroy the entire Universe, because without her his life was meaningless.
Ultimately Lord Vishnu convinced Him to spare the world.He did this by cutting Sati's body into 51 pieces that scattered over the earth, making Shakti peeths, or the most sacred spots of the Devi. Shivji, on his part went away from Kailash as a recluse. And meditated in an unknown area of the Himalayas. The lesson? He became well acquainted with Human attachment and sorrow, before Mother Durga reincarnated a second time as parvati and re joined him, thereby rejoining shivji to his divine bliss.
Shiva had resisted Sati's request saying we should not go uninvited. Sati was adamant, and became kali just for a moment , in her dark mood, and Shiva acquiesed.
The moment she arrived at the feast, however, her father's crude and cryptic references to her beloved husband Shiva , as a vagabond and a sham, made Sati realise her great mistake. And this , is how Life changes in a moment.
Sati virtually burnt herself up with the mix of anger and rage, humiliation and sorrow . Anger at the insults heaped at shiva, and sorrow at being Daksha's daughter. she ended her life. and none could avert this divine catastrophe. It was an irrevocable vote in favour of the husband over the Father.But ironically, getting that vote cost Shiva his wife.One moment he was a happily married Yogi, and in the other a widower. The great God was separated from His own essential Half.
Not in the power of shiva it was, to save her from this end, But, it was in His power to destroy the entire Universe, because without her his life was meaningless.
Ultimately Lord Vishnu convinced Him to spare the world.He did this by cutting Sati's body into 51 pieces that scattered over the earth, making Shakti peeths, or the most sacred spots of the Devi. Shivji, on his part went away from Kailash as a recluse. And meditated in an unknown area of the Himalayas. The lesson? He became well acquainted with Human attachment and sorrow, before Mother Durga reincarnated a second time as parvati and re joined him, thereby rejoining shivji to his divine bliss.
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