THE FIRST.

The Restless Ocean and the Fish.

The ocean is in turmoil, as the earth gets tossed into a reshuffle.

Indian Mythology talks of Vishnu's mien (fish) avatar as a giant

God fish creature that pulled the (Noah's arc) boat out of the

perilous ocean to safety and protected the human race. The ocean's

turmoil is enhanced by this mythical creature pulling the huge

ship, fighting the resistance of the waves, that stand up like rocks.

It takes superhuman effort to pull the ship, but that is what he is

here for. The fish are looking out for any signs of alarm, and the

tug continues.

THE CALL

Saraswati & the Sursagar.

In this work, Saraswati (an archetype of the primeval source of all

creativity and learning) sits on a rock (symbolic of a strong

foundation) immersed in the music she draws out of her

instrument. In the background, her pet swan discerns milk from

water, separating value from information.

Saraswati stirs the deep waters of the ocean towards her while she

plays the veena. Moving in response to her call, the ocean opens up,

and from its depths emerges a lotus untouched by the waters to

receive the elixir of beauty, art and knowledge (Rasa).

The CLEANSING.

Descent of Ganga on Shiva's Matted Hair.

-he who receives the raging waves of ganga in his matted hair.

Ganga in the heavens is invoked to descend onto earth. Within it, the giant

waves of time and timelessness, and existence and death in the three worlds

coexisting; pushing it's way over it all the pristine waters of Ganga move

towards the earth in a large white wave.

The pindas of the deceased ancestors of Bhagiratha, wait patiently at the

river bed for salvation. The earth turns deep red with the blood and the pains

of the undead lying, waiting.

The raging river decides to descend and to bear it's wrath stands the yogi

ascetic, his matted flying hair ready to break the fall of the heavenly waters.

Shiva the light, Shiva the eternal, Shiva the Aadi-madh-anta, destroys the

ego of Ganga, and cleanses the earth of its karma.

THE CHURNING.

Ksheersagara & The Sleeping Tortoise.

Vishnu takes the form of a tortoise and holds the churning staff

Mandhara steady on his back. Man-dhara - the pointed mind in a state

of concentration. The churning motion lulls the tortoise to a short

sleep and he breathes deeply, even snoring slightly in his sleep. This

creates large tidal waves in the ocean, making it rise and fall, causing

a gentle swinging motion and the shloka says "May the ocean waves

created by the divine breath emanating from the Supreme One

resting on the ocean floor, who took the form of the divine Tortoise,

protect and preserve all the creatures residing in the three worlds."

The ocean lies separated in two directions - the asuras and the devas.

IN THE KAMANDALA.

Kaveri Becomes a River.

Kaveri, the young and beautiful wife of Sage Agastya. He turns her into

water in his kamandala every time he goes away and she goes with him.

This morning he keeps the kamandala on the banks of the dry river bed

and walks into the shrunken river for his morning prayers. The land is

parched, cracked and bleeding in pain. A dark curse lingers.

Just then, some divine intervention and with the blessings of Ganesha,

the cow knocks the kamandala over. An auspicious beginning. Kaveri

gushes out, gurgling and cascading over the rocks. The flowers bloom in

abundance. The curse is lifted. Kaveri, the princess who wanted to serve

her people is now Kaveri - the southern Ganges.

THE RUNAWAY.

Bhoodevi & The Magnificent Boar.

Bhoomi-Devi the Earth, is distressed. She has been relentlessly exploited for their unending needs by remorseless humans. She runs away from it all and hides in the dark depths; the bottomless space in

the oceans of dark matter, which has sunk deep in the absence of the sun.

But she is Vishnu’s favourite and he can never leave her to such a miserable existence. He takes the

form of gorgeous boar, Varaaha. The Boar’s eyesight is poor and his eyes are only able to distinguish the colour blue. But then, in the depths of darkness Bhoomi Devi is a radiating ball of bright blue lifegiving waters. In the blink of an eye, Varaaha surges to the surface with Bhoomi secure

between his tusks, glowing like the moon.

THREE DAYS & THREE NIGHTS.

Ram & The God Of High Seas, Varuna.

After days of walking on hard ground, Ram finally reaches lands end. Over the past few days he has delivered many common and uncommon seekers and bhaktas from their miseries. But here at Rameshwaram he beholds a formidable sight, a vast and treacherous ocean landscape that bounces his fears and doubts right back into his

heart. The magnificent emerald blue, with its tumultuous waves belittles every human presence on the shore. And Somewhere behind this seemingly endless unconquered Ocean is Lanka.

For three days and three nights Ram submits to tapa. Sending out powerful energies to the Lord of the high seas and skies, Varuna. Ram asks for support, pleads for subsistence and prays for a way to Lanka. For three days and three nights Varuna watches Ram from his seat in the hi-seas. Varuna watches in reverence as the divine avatar of righteous human nature, demonstrates to the world, the desired path to approach difficulties and conflict in life - Acknowledgement, acceptance and submission. Varuna sits still, experiencing this powerful moment of obescience and highest honour.

GANGAPUTRA.

Ganga Delivers the Eight Vasus.

At a certain twilight hour, Ganga immersed her 7 newborns into

her waters. Each time their father Shantanu stood watching in

disbelief and despair. But he was bound by an oath, never to ask

why. This eighth time around, unable to deal with the agony of

loosing yet another child, he breaks his vow. And thus, the eighth

child must live out his life, his fate and his curse.

Ganga, lowers her eyes in acceptance of the failure. It was time to

go. Makara the guardian of the gateway to the otherworld stands

waiting. The seven vasus, born to Ganga, and drowned in the

waters of the holy river, now free from their curse of mortality,

wait for their eighth to join them. But destiny has other plans.

The Eighth child of Ganga and Shantanu, Gangaputra Bhishma.

THE DIVINE HURDLE

Hanuman Faces Surasa.

"I have already entered into your mouth, oh

Mother of snakes, salutations to you" Hanuman

says.

Hanuman, the monkey god, encounters divine

maya in the form of Surasa, the mother of the

nagas, born in heaven. Beautiful in her terrible

form, her yellow eyes glowing she refuses to give

way to Lanka, obstructing Hanuman's path. As

real as every illusion seems, Surasa opens her

mouth gaping in the middle of the vast ocean,

responding to Hanuman, who has also grown to

the size of many yojanas.

In the blink of an eye, Hanuman shrinks into a

wasp like size and flies in and out of Surasa's

mouth. The pure, unfazed and diligent mind,

when driven by divine grace can tackle any

challenge, and think beyond its limits. Hanuman

passes the test and Surasa smiles. He bows down

to Surasa, paying his respects and moves on. A

lesson in courage and humility. The huge

expanse of water waits for him with more

surprises.

Title - Hiranyagarbha
The Story of Creation

In the beginning there is a huge body of water whose waves coil and recoil, and heave in the darkness of the universe. From it arises a gigantic serpent, the five headed Adishesha, his birth signifying the beginning of time, he is the primal being of creation. With Adishesha uncoiling himself in these deep waters, time moves forward. Creation begins.

Then comes the brilliant and beautiful golden egg, Hiranyagarbha, in which the creator of the universe sits assimilating everything within himself. Hiranyagarbha, the collective totality of the universe, it's creation it's existence and it's supreme intelligence.

Many eons pass. And then the egg hatches, splitting into two parts. The sun, the sky and the heavens arise from the upper part while the lower transforms itself into the earth, with its mountains, rivers and other landscape. And so begins life on earth, the cycle of life and death.

Time moves on, Adishesha continues to rest on the waves.

Title: The Tapaswi

Narmada Comes to Be.

समुद्र: सरित: सर्वा: कल्पे कल्पे क्षयं गता: ।
सप्तकल्पक्षये क्षीणे न मृता, तेन नर्मदा ।।

In the dense forest, days, months and years passed while Shiva sat in Tapa. Outside - The landscape around him transformed, mountains formed and eroded. Shiva remained still, deep in his yogic trance, unmoved amidst the dance of nature around him. Mountainous rock formed shapes around his dense matted locks, and the greens grew deep blue. Shiva remained unmoved in contrast to his surroundings.
Inside - Yogic energies built up over time began their own Tandava inside Shiva's being. They radiated a bright glow and warmth. The Tapa. Shiva began sweating due to the heat. The sweat trickled down his blue stained throat and formed a pond. The pond soon filled up and the water cascaded down the mountains and the valleys. 
Thus, a bright and beautiful river was born that flows for eternity through the kalpas, and the mountains alike. Narmada, the undying river, the rasa of divine tapa of Mahayogi Maheshwara.

Shakuntala, a woman who's beauty is beyond words is the daughter born of the seduction of the meditating Vishwamitra by celestial nymph Meneka. As she journeys on in a boat towards Hastinapur to unite with her husband and king Dushyant, the gentle breeze on the river calms her excitement, and the sounds of the water hypnotize her into the dreams of meeting her beloved at last. The dense forest casts a cool shade and butterflies dance in joyful abandon. As she dozes off into the thoughts of finally meeting her love, her saree trails in the river and her hand slips to touch the surprisingly cool waters. Unapparently, "the ring" slips off her finger into the green waters and is swallowed by a fish.

Earlier too she has lost all sense of her body and surrounds while she remained engrossed in memories of Dushyant. And so the curse of Durvasa. "May he who you think of so much so that you have been disrespectful of me, may he forget you, just as a drunken man does not recall the talk previously made by him". Later he softens the curse to say that if he who she thinks of, sees the ring he gave to her, it will bring back all his memories of her.

The story of Shakuntala occurs twice in Indian literature. Once in the Mahabharata and later in the works of celebrated poet writer Kalidas. The difference in the occurrences was - the episode of the lost ring. In Kalidasa's AbhignAnashAkuntalam Shakuntala, is the gorgeously endowed ethereal beauty who hardly ever talks, she is innocent and pure "as delicate as Jasmine", unlike the assertive and sensible Shakuntala of Mahabharata. And when fate is brought in, who else to fit the role of the game changer, to lead the most crucial turn of events in one of the most celebrated literary works in history of Indian literature; a river.

Framed Art mockup courtesy rawpixel.com/Freepik