by Selvi Viswanathan, Los Alamos, NM
When we met Sri.Rajam first time at his home(which is also his studio) at 41 Nadu Street Mylapore Madras in 1979 summer, he was working on this big painting called Sandhya Thandavam. Around that time we were contemplating building a music room at our home. This painting looked very nice which represented all Major Gods and goddesses;Lakshmi,Sarswathi,lesser gods, and celestial beings all playing music as accompanists to Siva's dance. This was to entertain Parvati, Siva's wife. We told Sri Rajam we would like to buy this painting and some other paintings like composers, Navagrahas and South Indian women. He was very glad and also we bought his rosewood frames for the pitures.He was using them for his paintings, but he readily offered them. We brought the paintings with us, but the frames came latter by airfreight.
This is a very unique painting in many aspects. It portrays a mythological story combined with Religion, Music and Dance, the three main paths to attain God. The painting depicts the three major Gods, the creator(Brahma), the protector(Vishnu) and the destroyer(Shiva), their spouses, demi- gods and celestial beings even some animal cum human forms etc. described in the Hindu pantheon.
The dance of Shiva depicted here is not the Cosmic dance usually portrayed by Shiva as "Nataraja"(means the "King of Dance") where destruction is involved. Instead it is"Ananda Nadanam"a joyful dance. In this dance performance there is no fire shown in the hands of Shiva. Also his matted hair is shown not hanging down.
In South India,on one particular evening people will only go to Shiva's temple
for worship.The gods won't be present at other temples as they have assembled
at Mount Kailas to play music for Shiva's dance. The event is to honor Shiva's
consort Parvathi(also called Sakhti
which means the 'energy').
In this painting we see that Mount Kailas(the abode of Shiva-in Himalayas
mountain range-) is the setting for the event for the performance. This painting
is portrayed according to the Sanskrit work called Patanjali's "Pradosha
Dharsana". Shiva dances with snakes as his ornaments in his arms (snakes
are represented as attachments and ties with worldly affairs) while Parvati
is seated on left-hand side, and his mount (vahana) Nandhi the bull on right
hand side keeping rhythm to the dance and music. Shiva is always shown ash
colored. So Patanjali's description of who played what musical instrument
who kept the rhythm are accurately presented here. Vishnu, the protector,
always associated with blue complexion ( blue represents vastness, depth and
usually hard to attain, like the sky, the oceans, and the distant mountains)
plays on the Mridangam (drum, a rhythmic instrument ), Brahma , the creator,
with four heads, represent the four Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures, or
four directions, plays Cymbals also keeping rhythm. Brahma's consort Saraswati,
the goddess of arts is playing the instrument Veena, ( India's National
Musical instrument) the fretted stringed instrument, while Lakshmi consort
of Vishnu, the goddess ofwealth is singing. The colors, the attires chosen
are all very authentic and it is really a feast for the eyes to see this painting.
It is a rare piece indeed. The different instruments are also
very beautifully shown.
The lesser gods Indra, the king of the demi-gods, is accompanying on the flute, the wind instrument, while Tumburu, and Narada ( renowned for their knowledge in music) the celestial beings are singing. The short and fat human forms shown are the 'Bootha Ganas'(also part of Shiva's abode)are shown blowing Conch, at the bottom of the painting.
It is said that the Raga or musical scale of the Music played for the performance was Natta Kurunji, or Nattai with the Talam (Rhythm) Simma Nandana.
Vidvan.com
