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Ganesha takes on new avatar: The Asian Age
Bangalore, Aug 23: Come Ganesh Chaturthi, and Bangaloreans will be treated to a new interpretation of one of the most popular Hindu gods next week.
Bangalore, Aug 23: Come Ganesh Chaturthi, and Bangaloreans will be treated to a new interpretation of one of the most popular Hindu gods next week.
This has fired the imagination of Mr Rajeev Bhat, a city biotechnologist and a self-taught artist. He has interpreted Lord Ganesha in his paintings using human genes and chromosome images.
He has scientifically presented the protein synthesis of an organism on his canvas, which symbolically takes the form of the outline of Lord Ganesha’s trunk. And according to him, the two are interlinked.
"Just as Ganesha is the Omkara, or the base for everything, genes are responsible for particular characteristics of a person. While chanting the Omkara during meditation, you achieve one-mindedness. Once you develop control over the mind it reflects in your personality, which becomes evident in behaviour and is also related scientifically to your genes. I think this is the first time that such a painting has been created in Bangalore," Mr Bhat, managing trustee and founder of the Riddhi Art Gallery told The Asian Age.
Interestingly, the gallery is entirely devoted to Ganesha paintings and artefacts. A former student of Ramakrishna Ashram, the biotechnologist has devoted his spare time to Lord Ganesha, whom he has great faith in. It all started for him when he approached one of the swamijis of the ashram and expressed his desire to contribute in some way to the spiritual world. "I was then introduced to Mr Thayagarajan, a retired Army officer and Ganesha collector, who gave me 10 Ganeshas as a gift. I was fascinated by them and that’s how I started my own," he reveals.
After a stint in Hindustan Lever, Mr Bhat is now a biotech consultant, though the Riddhi Gallery and his passion for the elephant god is his top priority.
Appropriately, the 21-day exhibition titled "Myths and Science" will be inaugurated on August 29 by Shree Chandreshanandji from the Sri Ramakrishna Vivekananda Sadhana Kendra.
There are paintings that depict the navagrahas, presenting the positions of the nine planets. It is a belief that the movement of the planetary positions could lead to difficulties in one’s lifetime. "Since Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, I have brought in the Ganesha motif along with the navagrahas, to suggest that he can ward off problems by worshipping him," he explains.
The gallery, located in the first floor of his heritage home at Shankarpuram, displays 5,000 types of Ganeshas in terracotta, brass and other such material. There are also idols sourced from Tamil Nadu, where some of the best in the country are made. The latest attraction is a series of oil paintings of Ganeshas with zodiac signs.
Somewhere along the line, it has been a learning experience, something of a revelation. Like the 32 forms of Ganeshas he created based on the Mudgala Purana, using fungal-proof arecanut leaf. It was his Sanskrit knowledge that enabled him to study the sacred texts. Though the Ganesha pursuit began only three years ago, Mr Bhat is totally absorbed in it. "What began as a collection evolved into a gallery, besides enriching me philosophically. In fact, in the northeast corner of my home, Lord Ganesha has taken a natural form on the wall," claims the 30-year-old.
When he set out, he first conceptualised the Drishti Ganesha in a laminated form. It was a lucky beginning, He has sold over 40,000 such creations, and the money earned has led him on. "As such, Drishti Ganesha doesn’t find mention in any Shastras. But its characteristics are based on Sri Atharvasheersha Ganapathi Upanishat. Through a self-study, I incorporated pancha bhootas or five elements and called it the Shubha Drushti Ganesha," explains Mr Bhat.
Plans are on to extend the gallery to become a full-fledged centre. At the Riddhi Foundation for Indian Performing Arts he hopes to teach the physically challenged to make eco-friendly crafts, and also to generate employment for them through these means.
This has fired the imagination of Mr Rajeev Bhat, a city biotechnologist and a self-taught artist. He has interpreted Lord Ganesha in his paintings using human genes and chromosome images.
He has scientifically presented the protein synthesis of an organism on his canvas, which symbolically takes the form of the outline of Lord Ganesha’s trunk. And according to him, the two are interlinked.
"Just as Ganesha is the Omkara, or the base for everything, genes are responsible for particular characteristics of a person. While chanting the Omkara during meditation, you achieve one-mindedness. Once you develop control over the mind it reflects in your personality, which becomes evident in behaviour and is also related scientifically to your genes. I think this is the first time that such a painting has been created in Bangalore," Mr Bhat, managing trustee and founder of the Riddhi Art Gallery told The Asian Age.
Interestingly, the gallery is entirely devoted to Ganesha paintings and artefacts. A former student of Ramakrishna Ashram, the biotechnologist has devoted his spare time to Lord Ganesha, whom he has great faith in. It all started for him when he approached one of the swamijis of the ashram and expressed his desire to contribute in some way to the spiritual world. "I was then introduced to Mr Thayagarajan, a retired Army officer and Ganesha collector, who gave me 10 Ganeshas as a gift. I was fascinated by them and that’s how I started my own," he reveals.
After a stint in Hindustan Lever, Mr Bhat is now a biotech consultant, though the Riddhi Gallery and his passion for the elephant god is his top priority.
Appropriately, the 21-day exhibition titled "Myths and Science" will be inaugurated on August 29 by Shree Chandreshanandji from the Sri Ramakrishna Vivekananda Sadhana Kendra.
There are paintings that depict the navagrahas, presenting the positions of the nine planets. It is a belief that the movement of the planetary positions could lead to difficulties in one’s lifetime. "Since Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, I have brought in the Ganesha motif along with the navagrahas, to suggest that he can ward off problems by worshipping him," he explains.
The gallery, located in the first floor of his heritage home at Shankarpuram, displays 5,000 types of Ganeshas in terracotta, brass and other such material. There are also idols sourced from Tamil Nadu, where some of the best in the country are made. The latest attraction is a series of oil paintings of Ganeshas with zodiac signs.
Somewhere along the line, it has been a learning experience, something of a revelation. Like the 32 forms of Ganeshas he created based on the Mudgala Purana, using fungal-proof arecanut leaf. It was his Sanskrit knowledge that enabled him to study the sacred texts. Though the Ganesha pursuit began only three years ago, Mr Bhat is totally absorbed in it. "What began as a collection evolved into a gallery, besides enriching me philosophically. In fact, in the northeast corner of my home, Lord Ganesha has taken a natural form on the wall," claims the 30-year-old.
When he set out, he first conceptualised the Drishti Ganesha in a laminated form. It was a lucky beginning, He has sold over 40,000 such creations, and the money earned has led him on. "As such, Drishti Ganesha doesn’t find mention in any Shastras. But its characteristics are based on Sri Atharvasheersha Ganapathi Upanishat. Through a self-study, I incorporated pancha bhootas or five elements and called it the Shubha Drushti Ganesha," explains Mr Bhat.
Plans are on to extend the gallery to become a full-fledged centre. At the Riddhi Foundation for Indian Performing Arts he hopes to teach the physically challenged to make eco-friendly crafts, and also to generate employment for them through these means.