Interview & Photo

Interview with DD1

Artist Kanchan Bagari In Delhi

Kanchan Bagari in New Delhi

"Story Of Vishnu Ka Varana Avtara"

"Vishnu Ka Varaha Avatar"

(Oil on Canvas)

Artist: Kanchan Bagari

The Veharah Incarnation Of Vishnu

The ten best known Avatars of Vishnu are collectively known as “Dasavtara”

{1} MATSYA, the fish-avatar who saved Manu- the progenitor of mankind from the great deluge and rescued the Vedic scriptures by killing a demon

{2} KURMA, the tortoise- avatar, who helped in the Samudra manthan- the churning of the ocean

{3} VARAHA, the boar- avatar, who rescued the earth from the ocean, by killing her kidnapper-damon Hiranyaksha

{4} NARASIMHA, the half man-half lion avatar, who killed the tyrant demon- king Hiranyakashipu, to rescue the demon’s son Prahlada, who was a Vishnu-devotee

{5} VAMANA, the dwarf-avatar, who defeated the demon-king Bali

{6} PARASHURAMA, sage with the axe who defeated the demon-king Kartavirya Arjuna

{7} RAMA, the king of Ayodhya, and the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana

{8} KRISHNA, the king of Dwarka, a central character in the Bhagavata Purana and the Mahabharata and reciter of Bhagavat Gita

{9} GAUTAM BUDHA

{10} KALKI (“Eternity”, or “Time”, or “The Destroyer of foulness”), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga.

Here Vishnu’s 3^rd incarnation is shown

A demon Hiranyaksha, had prayed for Lord Brahma and got awarded a boon that no beast nor man nor God could kill him. But somehow from the list of beasts the name of boar was missing. He pushed the world to the Pataal loka, or the under of the sea. He stole the Vedas, the holy scriptures from the Lord Brahma, while he was asleep and performed huge atrocities. To retrieve the Vedas from the under of the ocean, using its two tusks. It then killed Hiranyaksha and retrieved the Vedas from the asura and brought it back to the safe custody of the Lord Brahma.

Here, the same incarnation of Lord Vishnu in form of a Varaha has been exhibited. This incarnation of Varaha is one of the most significant incarnation out of the twelve incarnation of Vishnu.

It shows that goodess always emerges victorious from all the bad and ugly.

Story Of Tri Dev

“Tri Dev”

This painting named “Tri Dev” is related to Hinduism. By the time of the Guptas, the religious beliefs and practices had much changed from those of the Vedic time. Its most important aspects were the idea of the trinity of Gods, with Brahma- the Creator, Vishnu- the Preserver and Siva- the Destroyer. Most of the Hindus became devotees of Vishnu or Siva. It is important to remember that while we call this mythology, we are talking about a religion that is very much alive and active. In worship, Brahma is considered no longer active, and therefore does not have a large following. Shiva and Vishnu have competing temples, and their worship is spread throughout the land. The idea of devotion or bhakti to God also originated around this time and the cult of Krishna, who was identified with Vishnu, started developing.

In this painting on the one hand Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesha have been painted and on the other hand the creator has been shown in the center, who having created the world, left it, is now in the peaceful pasture. On the one hand, the protector has been shown who has been protecting the creation and He is now happy to observe whatever good in this world has been going on. Only due to this cause a slight happiness on his face has been shown.

On the other hand, in a wrathful pasture, the Annihilator (Destroyer) has been shown. Shiva represents destruction. This immediately makes us think of bad, angry, vengeful Gods! But Shiva is unpredictable and ambivalent in his position. He will destroy if it brings balance to the earth. Here Shiva, Who is anger having seen all sorts of evils going on in this world.

They also represent the three elements Earth, Water and Fire and the stages of Birth, Life and Death.

*************************************

"Balram"

(Oil on Canvas)

Artist: Kanchan Bagari

Bal Ram

From the Kumbhaswami temple, this painting has been done, from among the statues there. It is the finest example of sculpture, and revive the memory of the Khajuraho.

The ruined face is itself narrating its sad tale.