Our homes undergo a remarkable transformation with the inclusion of traditional Indian art. Throughout history, dating back to cave dwellers and their cave paintings, art has played a significant role in homes, deeply embedded in local culture and traditions. India, in particular, boasts a rich heritage of such art forms, once utilized for home decoration. Within the sacred spaces of Hindu home temples or mandirs, traditional Indian art can truly captivate and heighten the sense of devotion to our cherished deities. It is only natural that we turn to art as a powerful tool for evoking emotions and fostering devotional communication in our mandirs.
Here are some Indian art forms that can be used to decorate home temples and invoking a spirit of devotion towards the divine!
1. Mysore Paintings
Raja Rajeswari, Lakshmi and Saraswati - Mysore Painting by Dr. J Dundaraja: View Here
Mysore painting is a significant style of traditional South Indian painting that developed in and around the Karnataka town of Mysore and was supported by the Mysore kings. These paintings are renowned for their grace, subdued hues, and meticulousness. The themes for most of these paintings are Hindu gods and goddesses like Goddess Rajarajeshwari, Dashavathara, Kodandarama, Chamundeshwari, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Shiv-Parvathi, and scenes from Hindu mythology. These Mysore paintings are a wonderful addition to home temples as they represent the rich artistic and cultural heritage of this country.
2. Gond Art
Mahakaali - Gond Painting by Venkat Shyam: View Here
Gond art is the famous art of the Gond tribal community of central India, which not only includes painting but also includes folk dances, songs, and performances. The themes and motifs of Gond painting are drawn from local flora and fauna, deities, and urban culture. These paintings depict folktales and Gond mythology, so they are more than just decorations; they are also immediate expressions of their religious sentiments and devotions. They frequently portray the Mahua Tree as the Tree of Life, as well as myths, legends, and elements of Gond culture. Hindu deities like Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha, etc. are also included, as are regional deities like Phulvari Devi and Jalharin Devi. These paintings are a wonderful addition to one's home mandirs due to their engaging narratives and vibrant color schemes that evoke religious sentiment and devotion to God.
3. Phad Paintings
Phad painting, or Phad art form, is an Indian folk painting art form practiced mainly in the state of Rajasthan in India. This type of artwork is a type of religious scroll painting. It got its name from the long piece of cloth or scroll it is painted on. We call this long piece of scroll a Phad. Phad paintings are revered, and scrolls that have accumulated a great A great deal of wear and tear is purified by ritual immersion in Pushkar Lake. These Phads most popularly portray and depict the tales of the local gods or folk deities of Rajasthan, Pabuji (a folk deity) and Devnarayan (a folk deity; an incarnation of Vishnu). These Phads were used as mobile temples for the local and Hindu folk deities. It is compelling to incorporate these into the home temple space because the artworks are handcrafted with vibrant color combinations in which each color has a specific religious and cultural connotation. The Phad paintings' storytelling quality is sure to acquaint devotees with their respective deities.
Dashavatar - Phad painting by Kalyan Joshi : View Here
4. Madhubani Paintings
Madhubani art, also known as Mithila art, is a traditional Indian art form noted for its use of local plants for colors, cow dung to treat the paper, and bamboo sticks that serve as brushes, not to mention the beauty and simplicity of the paintings themselves. These serve as a metaphor for India's rich culture, ancient mythology, and spirit of life, which inspire hope even in the darkest of times. Most paintings have love and fertility as their central themes, which seems to be the ideal addition to a home. The art contains representations of all Hindu pantheon gods as well as rural regional customs. The vibrant colors used in the paintings are governed by the five basic elements of life: earth, water, fire, sky, and air, depicting the interconnection between nature and the lives of men. The Madhubani paintings are a wonderful addition to home mandirs to evoke the devotional spirit in homes because they encompass everything about the spirit of life and devotion.
Sacred Stroke - A Devotional Madhubani Painting by Ambika Devi: View Here
5. Tanjore Paintings
Thanjavur painting, also known as Tanjore painting, is a traditional art form from southern India that honours the area's rich artistic tradition. It is named after the Tamil Nadu town of Thanjavur. Tanjore paintings are known for their extravagant depictions of deities using vibrant colors and gaudy embellishments, especially gold foil. These paintings' dazzling color scheme features intense tones of red, blue, and green. Bal Krishna and Lord Rama, as well as other gods, goddesses, saints, and figures from Hindu mythology, are frequent themes in Tanjore paintings. They are the ideal addition to home temple spaces because of their flawless representation of the deities.
Radha-Krishna Tanjore Painting by Sanjay Tandekar: View Here
6. Sanjhi Art
Sanjhi is an age-old form of paper stenciling that is still practiced today in Mathura and Vrindavan. The word Sanjhi, which also means evening or dusk and is more of an expression of the devotional love that was revealed in the temples, is the ideal addition to domestic temples. It is believed to have started during the reign of Lord Krishna, when Radha used to use flowers and leaves to make beautiful patterns as decorations for Krishna. Each piece of Sanjhi art is visually stunning, with a harmonious combination of colors and intricate ornamental patterns that give it its own place in home temples or home mandirs.
Krishna's War - Sanjhi Artwork By Ashutosh Verma: View Here
7. Pichhwai Paintings
Pichwai painting is a traditional Indian art form that originated in the Indian state of Rajasthan. These paintings, which depict Lord Krishna's life and tales, are famous for their minute details and vibrant colors. Accordingly, these paintings were initially made to serve as the background for Lord Shirnathji. He is a manifestation of Lord Krishna as a child. Pichwai paintings are made to grace temple walls and serve as backdrops for religious occasions and celebrations. They usually feature scenes from Lord Krishna’s life. These paintings usually depict Lord Krishna's childhood, Raas Leela, Govardhan Puja, and Radha Krishna. Since Pichwai paintings are produced in such a spirit of fervent devotion to Shrinathji, they are sure to bring prosperity, harmony, and happiness to the place where they are kept and act as a medium for believers and locals to engage in meditation and establish a connection with the divine.
Kamal Talai Cow Plate - Pichwai Painting by Dinesh Soni: View Here
8. Pattachitra Paintings
Pattachitra is essentially a term for painting on fabric. This artistic style is renowned for its minute details as well as the mythological stories and folktales that are embedded within it. These artworks, which are based on Hindu mythology, were especially influenced by the Jagannath and Vaishnava sects. The five main colors of white, black, red, blue, and yellow—also known as Pancha-Tatwa—have significance in the main painting of Lord Jagannath. The main subject of Pattachitra paintings is the local deity Lord Jagannath, who is depicted in a totemic form alongside his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra. Various “Veshas” or “Beshas” of Lord Jagannath, temple activities, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu based on 12th-century Hindu poet Jayadev's "Gita Govinda," Kama Kujara Navagunjara, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and individual paintings of gods and goddesses are also painted. It would seem obvious to incorporate a religious traditional art form like Pattachitra into a home temple because it will undoubtedly enhance the space's devotional atmosphere unlike anything else.
Lord Jagannath Pattachitra Art by Purusottam Swain: View Here
The space of your home mandirs as well as the entire house is improved by the traditional art paintings in your home temples. With the energies produced by these traditional paintings and your devotion to the divine, prosperity, harmony, and happiness are likely to pay a visit to your home.
