Interesting article on deity alankaram

[Guest guest]

Dear Sriman Mohan,

 

There is one more person in Triplicane, don't remember his name. He is also of

Maharashtrian origin and into same kind of profession. I have utilized his

services for the kainkaryams of Sri NVLN Ramanujacharya swami of AP.

 

adiyen ramanuja dasan

Vishnu

 

 

Mohan <mohan0128

 

Cc: co-sv <CO-SV (AT) googl (DOT) com>; svtempleExec

Friday, 28 March, 2008 1:46:30 PM

Interesting article on deity alankaram

 

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2008/03/28/stories/2008032851090600.htm

 

Couturier of the gods

 

PUSHPA CHARI

 

B. Uday Shankar has designed clothes for deities in India, U.S. and

Europe. It is both his passion and profession.

 

 

Exquisite embroidery: An array of dazzling attires made out of velvet.

 

In the microcosmic world of living tradition reflected in the Hindu

temple culture with its elaborate rituals, incantation and aesthetics,

he plays the role of the couturier of the gods. On a background of

rich velvet, he embroiders, stitches on pre cious stones, pearls and

zari to create an elaborate, dazzling attire.

 

The beautifully embellished 'veshtis' (upper garments), 'kreedams',

saris and blouses are designed for and worn by the temple deities in

Tamil Nadu and elsewhere on special occasions as prescribed by the

'agama' shastras.

 

 

Principle of alankara

 

Designed for both 'sthirabara', 'achala' or 'moolavar' icons and

'utsava' or 'chala' murtis when they go out in processions on

elaborately bedecked 'raths' or 'thers', they embody the principles of

'alankara.'

 

For B. Uday Shankar who has created and designed clothes for deities

all over India, U.S. and Europe, it is a sublime experience, as he is

carrying forward a family tradition which goes back atleast five

generations.

 

Uday Shankar's ancestors came to Thanjavur from a remote part of

Maharashtra during the rule of the Maratha kings and brought with them

the craft of 'zardosi' embroidery of the Mughals and a special way

with pearls. Using these techniques, his forefathers made both durbar

dresses for royalty and special attire for temple deities.

 

Today Uday's is perhaps the only family in Tamil Nadu doing hand

embroidery with zari, pearls and semi-precious gems on velvet for

temple deities.

 

His whole family work at the craft. Says Uday, " I have made

elaborately designed costumes for Venkateshwara, Vishnu and all his

avatars with their consorts, … in the U.S… " He mentions particularly

the dress he made for Lord Krishna at the temple in Nanjangod village,

Karnataka. This dress is a work of art with gold work on red velvet

and a dense scattering of tiny motifs, almost like a delicate piece of

jewellery.

 

Many of his creations are rich yet muted, such as dresses spun out of

antique gold, while many zari embroidered cloth pieces carry a North

Indian, almost Islamic flavour.

 

 

Creative designs

 

Heavy embossed zari embroidery on velvet, inlaid with semi-precious

stones, cutwork and exquisite pearl embroidery are Uday's forte. The

motifs are generally 'manga harams', creepers, lotus, saligramam and

so on, which can be placed in any creative manner, though existing

designs are normally followed with few innovations.

 

'Kreedams,' such as 'vairamudi kreedam,' are made for 'garuda sevai'

and 'Thanjavur pagai' worn by the deity on the 8th day of the

procession. All the work is done by hand. The Shankar family also do

the decorations for `thers' or temple raths and the `palaks' or

palkis. Colourful 'tombais' with cutwork patterning is another

speciality of Uday Shankar's.

 

He also designs 'chhatris' for the gods which are totally covered with

rich zari embroidery and cutwork motifs.

 

And finally, there are velvet cloths featuring zari embroidered motifs

which are used to screen the sanctum sanctorum.

 

Today this accountant turned craftsperson has diversified into making

banners and backdrops for religious, corporate and cultural functions,

music and dance sabhas, apart from creating dresses for traditional

toys.

 

But clothing the gods continues to be both his passion and profession

and he hopes his children will follow in his footsteps.

 

 

 

 

 

© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

 

---

 

-----------------

 

 

srirangarAja charaNAmbhuja rAja hamsam

srimad parAnkusa padhAmbhuja brungarAjam|

sri bhattanAtha parakAla mukhAbhja mitram

srivatsachihnna saranam yathirAjameedE||

 

I pay homage to Sri Ramanuja, the swan who has chosen the Lotus Feet of Sri

Ranganatha as his refuge;

who is collecting the pollen and nectar from the flower-like feet of Parankusa

(NammAzhwAr);

who brightens like the sun the faces of Bhattanatha (PeriAzhwAr) and Parakala

(Thirumangai AzhwAr), and

who is the refuge of Kuresa!