Namaskar to all

[Guest guest]

Hey great to hear that there is a page of for Parvati!

 

I decided to work on some artwork to sell and help me fund my trip to India

in November. This is a Kali Ma image I just finished.

 

The design has a simple look to it and that was intended since I am going to

reproduce it as a Screen Printed image.

 

Everything will look better screen printed and it won't quite have the gaudy

look it has now. The colours will be done with acrylic ink on canvas material

and will be much more lifelike and vibrant than the birght Photoshop colours

here.

 

I thought I would send it in anyway so you could check it out if you are

interested.

 

As far as Shakta music goes.......................well, I would recommend

listening to both Hindustani (north) and Carnatic (south) classical Indian

music and learning about the theory of the Raags which are work like

invocations and the beautiful and insanely complicated rhythmic system.

 

For a quick fix and something that hits your guts check out some of the

Indian regional folk music and devotional Bhajans as well although you may

have to swim through some junk to find what you like.

 

I highly recommend the music of the Bauls of Bengal. The Bauls are amazing

mystical musicians who dedicate themselves wholely to tthe persuit of divine

union throught their music and sadhana.

 

THey have teachings encoded in the songs they sing which they transmit

through dance and the musical art. Some of it is very beautiful and I would

recommend starting with Purna Chandra Das Baul-his name means that he is a

slave to the full moon!

 

The Bauls have a beautiful role in society. They sing to people about the

freedom from Caste and society and encourage connection to the God within

which they call the Maner Manush.

 

They may not quite be "Shakta" but once you listen and enter the elevated

state that the music can put you in-well you don't need to speak or

understand Bangla to figure it out!

 

Here are some links for that.

 

http://www.sufibaulfolkmusic.com/index.htm

 

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~fmg3u/bauls.html

 

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~achatt1/baul.html

 

They really are free and joyous spirits. I kinda wish I was going to Bengal

to styudy with them instad of Pune, but I guess that will have to wait until

next time!

 

I already know some Hindi, Tabla, Harmonium and a little Mridang. By going to

Pune I will study Hindi full time along with Tabla and Dhrupad. What can I

do?? I suppose I have to finish one thing at a time-I hate that!!!

 

Take Care

 

William