Meenakshi Kalyanam in Tamil Hindu tradition is the celebration of the union of goddess Meenakshi Amman (a form of Maa Parvati) and Mahadeva Shiva, in the realm of humans. The temple town of Madurai is where Devi Parvati as Meenakshi incarnated, after a spat with Bhagwan Shiva, who followed his beloved Uma-Parvati and succeeded in winning her back.
Shiva with Meenakshi Amman resides in Tamil shrines as Sundareshvara (the beautiful God), where the occasion of their marriage is immortalized in the tradition of Tanjore paintings, dedicated to the lotus feet of Shiva and Shakti.
This Meenakshi Kalyanam Tanjore artwork comes framed within a sturdy teakwood frame whose dark outline directs the eyes to fall on the divinely vibrant scene that the painting holds.
Golden arch decorated with sprawling vegetation and a luxurious green drapery and a rectangular pedestal covered with gold leaf and tiny stones set the stage for the commencement of the auspicious ritual of “Paani-grahana” (taking or grahana or Paani or hand of the bride, by the groom). A deep red background which is one of the characteristic features of traditional Thanjavur paintings represents universal activity powered by the union of Shiva with Shakti.
To the left of the viewer on the golden canvas stand the blue-skinned Lord Vishnu alongside the divine bride Meenakshi Amman, clad in golden attire, holding a lotus flower in one hand, while the other extends to reach Shiva’s. Bhagwan Shiva is presented as a four-armed heavenly being, glowing with a moon-like aura, his hair tied in a snug and unique Jatamukuta (crown of hair locks), Tripunda on his forehead, and a layer of gold enriching his image with a deific aura in this Tanjore painting.
Sri Vishnu in South Indian tradition is the brother of Devi Parvati or Durga, which makes him a relative to Meenakshi Amman whose hand he gives in marriage to Pashupati (Lord of Souls) Shiva. Though the canvas appears to be divided into two halves due to the opposite positioning of Sri Vishnu, goddess Meenakshi, and Lord Shiva, the use of a two-third facial profile, equal height of the divine subjects and their left hand in a pointing forth gesture brings a hidden symmetry to the image.
Under the golden platform on which the three stands are diminutive figures of Lord Brahma identifiable by his three visible faces and an officiating priest, sitting on either side of the pious sacrificial fire. Brahma Ji appears to be offering ghee to the fire, as the priest chants ritual mantras for the ceremony. A classic example of Tanjore tradition, this Meenakshi Kalyanam painting will bring to you the enlivening powers of Shiva-Shakti along with the benevolence of Sri Vishnu and the creator Brahma himself.
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