About the Artwork +
This sacred Gond painting by Saroj Venkat Shyam presents a sacred visual homage to Pardhan Gond mythology, centering upon the revered Saja tree intimately intertwined with the sacred Baana musical instrument. Through a brilliant fusion of music, divine presence and vibrant flora, the artwork captures the living heart of tribal storytelling and spiritual tradition.
Gond art is a traditional Indian tribal art form practiced by the Gond community of Madhya Pradesh, acting as cultural memory and often depicting local deities, folklore, forests and animals that the community lived alongside. It is deeply connected to nature, with animals, trees, birds, rivers symbolising balance and coexistence.
In the Pardhan Gond community, the Saja tree holds supreme sacred importance as the earthly abode of Bada Dev (Fada Pen), the paramount deity of the Gond pantheon. According to tribal lore, the first Baana, a traditional three-stringed bowed instrument, was crafted to play music that would awaken and honor Bada Dev residing within the Saja tree. Pardhan bards traveled between villages playing the Baana under the Saja tree to recite oral genealogies, epics and sacred songs.
Dominating the central vertical axis of the composition is the grand Baana, its long shaft rendered in warm, segmented bands of mustard yellow, orange and terracotta red. At its top, traditional tuning pegs cross the neck, while its lower base expands into a large, flared resonator box detailed with lines of dark red and earthy brown. Resting near the base on the lower left are two ornate curved bows embellished with decorative rings, while a traditional woven basket and a small ritual vessel are placed to the right.
Directly behind the instrument, the trunk of the sacred Saja tree executes a sweeping circular loop painted in alternating diagonal stripes of vibrant cobalt and sky blue. From this ring, the tree branches out horizontally across the middle, bearing delicate, monochrome foliage rendered in fine line-hatching, interspersed with small golden fruit buds.
The monochrome of the Saja branches creates a striking visual counterpoint to the bold blue trunk and the warm orange neck of the Baana. Surrounding the sacred centre, the entire canvas is filled with a dense field of green leaves and red flowers with bright yellow centers. The rich background creates an enveloping atmosphere of forest abundance and sacred warmth.
Through this masterwork, Saroj Venkat Shyam seamlessly translates the oral and spiritual soul of the Pardhan Gond heritage into a radiant visual meditation on music, nature and divine presence. The artist's signature motif is the 'Naag', inspired by the form of a snake, which she calls 'Naagvanshi Shyam'. This distinctive pattern forms the foundation of her unique style.
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Delivery Timelines and Returns +
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Delivery Timeline
This artwork will be Made to Order and will take
2-3 weeks
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All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.
Colour Disclaimer+
All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.