About the Artwork +
This graceful Tholu Bommalata artwork by Sindhe Siva depicts, Matsya, the very first avatar of Vishnu as the mythic fish who is said to have saved the world's earliest scriptures and its lone surviving man from a primordial flood. Rendered through the traditional shadow puppetry of Andhra Pradesh, the piece opens Sindhe Siva's Dashavatara series with an image of gentle, life-preserving divinity.
Tholu Bommalata, the "dance of leather puppets'' is a shadow theatre tradition of the Telugu-speaking Deccan with a history stretching back roughly two thousand years, sustained by generations of itinerant puppeteer families and performed chiefly around episodes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana, the principal source for the stories of Vishnu's ten avatars. Each puppet is cut from goat, deer or buffalo hide, cleaned and treated until translucent, then hand-painted with natural pigments and pierced with fine perforated detailing so that, backlit on the performance screen, the figure glows in vivid, jewel-toned colour. Sindhe Siva carries this craft forward as an eighth-generation puppeteer of the Nimmalakunta lineage in Dharmavaram, Anantapur district, a family recognised with National and State honours for their work.
Matsya is depicted here with a blue-toned complexion on his human upper body, crowned with an elaborately tiered headdress and adorned with layered necklaces, floral earrings and ornamented armlets in the fine gold-toned perforation work typical of the series. Below the waist, the figure transitions seamlessly into the body and tail of a great fish, rendered in warm golden-orange with densely overlapping scale patterning, a finned dorsal ridge, and a broad, striped tail fanning out at the base of the composition. His hands are held open in a calm, gesturing pose that reinforces the avatar's gentle, protective character.
According to the Puranas, Vishnu assumed the form of Matsya to warn the first man, Manu, of an impending deluge that would engulf the world, instructing him to build a great boat and gather the seeds of all living things along with the sacred Vedas. When the flood came, Matsya, grown to an immense size, guided and towed Manu's vessel to safety, preserving both humankind and divine knowledge through the cataclysm. As the earliest of Vishnu's incarnations, Matsya is understood to mark the very beginning of the god's active intervention in the world, establishing the pattern that each subsequent avatar would follow: descent in times of crisis to restore and protect cosmic order.
With its serene expression, luminous scale-work and absence of any weapon, this artwork captures Matsya's essential character as a preserver rather than a warrior. Sindhe Siva's rendering demonstrates how Tholu Bommalata's dense ornamentation and glowing colour can express not only epic conflict but also mythology's quieter narratives of rescue, continuity and the safeguarding of sacred knowledge.
Authentication and Certification +
Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication
certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the
artwork.
View Sample Here
Sizes, Framing and Customisation +
The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.
Customisation
Most artworks can be customised in terms of colours, size and elements to fit your requirements.
For custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at
wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in
more detail.
Framing Services
No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.
Shipping and Taxes +
We ship worldwide. All artworks are handmade and couriered securely in transit safe packaging sutaible for the artwork.
Domestic Orders
All prices are inclusive of GST and applicable Indian taxes.
- We offer free shipping on orders above ₹1999 for all artworks, except Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri.
- A flat shipping rate of ₹499 applies to orders below ₹1999.
Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri
Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.
International Orders
- A flat shipping charge of ₹4,000 applies to international artwork orders.
- Customs duties, taxes, or import charges in the buyer’s country are not included and must be borne by the buyer.
- Shipping rates for Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri artworks will be calculated based on weight.
Additonal Shipping Charges
Extra charges may be applicable for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:
- If the article requires additional packaging (such as a wooden crate) to ensure safe shipping due to its delicate nature.
- Custom-framed artworks.
- Artworks where shorter side exceeds 36 inches or Decor items with any side over 35 inches.
- If you request express shipping. Contact support to check availability.
- The order contains more than two different product types.
You can proceed with your purchase, and our team will contact you to confirm any applicable additional shipping charges before processing your order. Alternatively, reach out to us on
WhatsApp
or email, and we'll assist you in completing your purchase with the final pricing.
Delivery Timelines and Returns +
Returns and Replacements
We offer replacements or repairs if your artwork arrives damaged or has a quality issue. As each artwork is handcrafted, we do not accept returns or refunds for orders received in the expected condition.
Delivery Timeline
This artwork will be Made to Order and will take
1-2 weeks
to be made and shipped.
Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and
ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.
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.