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The Lord’s incarnations |
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Scriptures state that it is difficult to
aim for salvation when caught in the cycle of Samsara as it
is not easy to realise the ephemeral nature of human life.
It is only through spiritual insight that one can learn to
transcend worldly attractions. Sacred texts such as the
Bhagavata Purana that are replete with episodes and
narratives highlighting the glories of the Lord’s
incarnations, serve to instil devotion. Devotion is a unique
bond between the Jivatma and the Supreme Being and this is
the spring board from which one can expect to attain
salvation. For devotion to take root, one needs to be fully
aware of the infinite greatness of the Lord, and to enable
this, He makes Himself accessible to His devotees during
these incarnations.
Saints, seers, sages and common people felt towards the Lord
during Krishna Avatar when He was born among the common folk
and led the simple life of a cowherd in Nandagopa’s
household. The hymns of Azhwars and Andal communicate rich
experiences of the Lord to augment one’s awareness of Him,
allowing one to relish and savour this divine experience
known as devotion. Andal envied the conch for its close
association with the Lord. She imagined herself as a Gopi in
Ayarpadi and sang the Tiruppavai hymns that celebrate the
custom of taking up the “Pavai Nombu” in the month of
Marghazhi. Andal makes it clear that the relationship
between the Lord and the Jivatma is permanent and one has to
seek His feet to get liberated from the cycle of birth. The
Lord is ever eager to grant the wishes of His devotees and a
wise devotee like Andal or the Gopis sought Him instead of
other wishes that might be only ephemeral. The unique
privilege of Yasodha’s motherhood joys with child Krishna
becomes the subject of Periazhwar’s hymns to inspire
devotion.
One aspect of devotion is to have steady, uninterrupted
longing for the Lord. The Gopis exemplified this in clear
terms in their exceptional yearning for the Lord. They were
so filled with thoughts of Lord Krishna that they attained
the highest goal purely through this passionate love for
Him. |
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Gandhi, environment inspire young artists
at Art Summit |
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Mahatma Gandhi continues to be the muse
for many young contemporary artists even as works by S N
Souza, S H Raza, Jamini Roy and other masters draw in the
crowds.
At the just concluded three-day India Art Summit, Gandhi and
the environment were two themes that were found repeated, by
the younger artists.
A giant spinning wheel by Smriti Arora at the entrance of
the Art Summit held at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi
reminded visitors about Gandhi and his strong promotion of
the spinning wheel he used as an expression of self-dependance.
Arora, a Delhi-based artist says Gandhi’s Charkha became a
natural inspiration to put her ideas into a creation.
“Gandhiji’s charkha was an inspiration to millions of people
to become self reliant. But in my spinning wheel, I have
tied tyres which signify how Gandhi’s principles are being
encroached by constant urbanization and villages no longer
figure in our conscience,” says Arora.
Another sculpture by Arora which had attracted crowds was
about women road builders of India, who come from different
parts of the country to support their family by working on
roads in very difficult conditions.
Like Arora, Vivek Sharma, another artist who found space at
the exhibition says he draws his inspiration from Gandhi.
His painting titled ‘Spirit of liberation’ is an expression
of his idea of freedom. ( Media Watch) |
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