My Sketches

Some of my sketches are placed in this blog. Before I just present it to the viewers for their valuable comments, I should definitely share the story behind the sketches. As a right, viewers should know what is in the picture.The first sketch, says about the story of Lord Muruga explaining about the meaning of Pranava to Lord Shiva. The story is here - Once, Lord Muruga asked the meaning of the Pranava Mantra to Brahma when Lord Brahma disrespeted Lord Muruga when He visited Mount Kailash. Lord Muruga wanted to teach a lesson to Lord Brahma and hence He asked Lord Brahma how He created the world and the answer in return was using vedic scriptures. When Brahma uttered the Vedic scriptures, he said "OM" to begin with, as the first word. Lord Muruga asked the explanation of the Pranava Mantra "OM" which Lord Brahma failed to explain. As a result, Lord Muruga took over the responsibility of creating the world after putting Lord Brahma to imprisonment. The Devas, then pleased Lord Vishnu, Who was helpless, and finally surrendered themselves to Lord Shiva, who came for rescue. When Lord Shiva approached Lord Muruga for the release of Lord Brahma, Lord Muruga refused to release Him as Lord Brahma did not know about the meaning of Pranava Mantra. When Lord Shiva questioned Lord Muruga on the meaning of Pranava Mantra, Lord Muruga was ready to explain the meaning, provided Lord Shiva behaves as a student where Lord Muruga becomes the Master. Lord Shiva bent down his knees, and closed his mouth with his one hand as a way of respecting the Teacher, and listened to the meaning of Pranava Mantra from Lord Muruga. Thus, Lord Muruga became the Swaminatha Swami. The meaning of the name could be interpreted as "The teacher of the Higher" or "The Teacher of Lord Shiva". The sketch depicts this history, and there is a temple dedicated to Swaminatha Swami in Tamil Nadu called "Swami Malai". One of the specialties of the temple is that, the temple has sixty steps and each step is named after sixty Tamil Years. The main deity is 6ft tall and the temple is one among the "Arupadai veedu, meaning one among the six holy abodes of Lord Muruga in Tamil Nadu.

The above is a complete line drawing which was tried with a normal pencil. The image was taken from a book which was given by my friend Vasugi for reference upon seeing my sketching. I owe her a lot because most of the sketching on this page are from the book that she gave during my college days. In fact, I thought I am very poor in pencil sketching. It was only after she said that I tried out a few sketches from the book for which I am very grateful to her.

The above one is a sketching of His Highness Sringeri Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Swamigal, the disciple of Sri Sri Abhinava Vidya Theertha Swamigal and the current Sankaracharya of the Sringeri Sharadha Peetam. He is decorating the Peetam since 1989 following the Samadhi of His Highness Sri Sri Abhinava Vidya Teertha Swamigal.

Ok. Do you all think I sketch only divine pictures?. :D, He he that needs a lot of patience, dedication and a feel of divinity inside. Here goes one of my painting for my mother. The image is not of my own imagination, and it was from a site and I got it from google images. I do not own any copyright for the image, but only for the lines, written by me.

 And one of my favourite - Jesus Christ.

Again the below one is from the book that I borrowed from my friend. Thanks friend :)

 Below one is a try in OHP sheet and glass colours. The black lines were drawn with the help of CD markers and coloured backside, so that there would be a good finishing to the picture.

Of course, so many of them would have recognized who He is. Yes. He is the great Saint Sri Sri Raghavendra Swami, whose Primary Brindavanam is in Manthralayam. He was born in Tamil Nadu to Kannada Brahmin parents. His birth name was Venkatanatha. Most of His days were passed in Sri Mutt, where he emerged as a great scholar. He initially had a family, and later he moved to Sri Mutt, where he took Sanyasa. He travelled throughout India preaching Dvaita philosphy. During his Samadhi, He attained Samadhi in Manthralayam, which is the Moola Brindavana of Rayaru, assuring that he would live in this world for seven hundred years, out of which almost three hundred years are over.

Again a pencil sketching from the book.

 A very old painting using water colours. I think it is ten years old now.

 This is a very old picture (almost 15 yrs old) and I remember painting this on the day before my Revision examination. Some of my left over sketch pens and Camel colour pencils.

Again, from the book.

 The below picture is painted on OHP Sheet, and coloured using pearl acrylic and glass colours. The picture is that of a Vaishnavite Saint, Sri Madhvacharya also called Ananda teertha and played a great role in the Hindu Bhakti Movement. He is believed to be the third incarnation of Vayu( First being Hanuman and then Bhima - people would remember the story where Hanuman met Bhima in Mahabharata where Hanuman said Bhima as "His brother"). He was a strict follower of Dvaita Philosophy, and a promoter of the same.

One of the very famous moments in Ramanyana, where Lord Rama hugs Hanuman. In Ramayana, it is told that Lord Rama hugs some people while greeting, but it is only Hanuman whom he hugs seeing His love for Lord Rama.

A simple brown stick pen was used to draw this sketch. This picture is that of a Holy Saint, the Then Kanchi Kamakoti Peethathipathi and who lived for 100 years, where people describe him as Lord Shiva in Kaliyug. Jagadguru Sri Chandra Sekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal, was the 68th Jagadguru in the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, referred by people as Maha Periyaval or Paramacharyal. He was given Sanyasasraman at an early age of thirteen, and was named Chandrasekarendra Saraswati. His knowledge on every subject would make people dumbstruck when they hear to His teachings. He was indeed a well of knowledge, which would not dry at any time. In fact, Acharya, stopped a custom that was followed in the Mutt - he started using Khadi clothes instead of silk clothes. His preachings included following the Dharmic path and following the family values of oneself. He was a follower of Advaita.

Again, the same pic as the first, coloured in OHP sheet.

Most of my paintings would be found inspired by Artist Padmavasan, disciple of The Great Artist Silpi.