Fw: Sai Nativity Scene

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram Brothers and Sisters

 

I am forwarding this e-mail on behalf of Sai Sister Gueza as she had

some difficulties in sending this e-mail directly to the group. It's

about creating a "SAI Nativity Scene" on our beloved Swami's life. I am

sure this would be very useful for balavikas teachers/students and for

exhibitions. (As the group mail box has a limitation on the size, photos

are compressed and thus a bit distorted in colours, APOLOGIES for that.)

 

Sai Ram

 

Shivathmika

 

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Sai Ram

In 1296, St Francis of Assissi made the first nativity scene in a cave

with some statues and a live ox and donkey, and since then the nativity

scene has spread all over the world. Today wherever there are Christians

you can find a nativity scene during Christmas. The smallest complete

nativity scene I have seen was a 50cm x 50cm (complete = that includes

scenery as well as figures, not only figures on a table, etc). The

largest occupied all of a large dining room, from which all the

furniture had been removed, and was so carefully made it even had things

like a tiny river (with a pump and running water), a working water

wheel, etc.

Just like all religions have taken aspects of other religions that

predated them, so I have wanted to create a 'Sai Nativity scene' based

on the Christian nativity scene, but with Baby Sai on the cobra, etc

(sorry, the photos are not that good). . My 'finished' scene is just a

prototype, and I'm sure all of you can do much better! As I was sure I

would not be able to find the figures I wanted, I started searching for

alternatives and in the library found a book on how to create doll head,

hands and feet with the new polyester resins. I used Super Sculpey but

there are others, like the German Fimo, etc which I haven't tried. (In

Sydney, you can purchase this or other materials at Barney's, King

Street, Newtown, tel. 02-9557.9056).

Attached are basic instructions on how to make a nativity scene, and

also some more elaborate ones for making the dolls. The first doll took

me a long time to make, but now I can make 2 or 3 dolls in just as many

afternoons; however, since I could barely sew a button when I started I

am sure a more accomplished person can make the dolls much faster than I

can (it takes me more than 1 hour to make a 'body suit' that would take

somebody else around 15 minutes). If you do not want or are not able to

make the dolls, you can still make the nativity scene and here are other

options for obtaining the figurines:

- If there is a local craftsperson (woodcarver, potter, etc) in your

area, you can have him or her make some figurines for you according to

your specifications, whether carved in wood, modeled in clay, etc. (This

is a great way to create employment or provide a source of income in

technology-poor areas);

- Find some suitable commercially-produced dolls and paint and clothe

them appropriately;

- You can make the head, hands and feet yourself and have somebody else

do the sewing part for you, or make the doll clothing;

- You can make the head, hands and feet on wire or wooden supports and

put the clothing directly on this, without having to go through the work

of making a body and stuffing it;

- Make the figures with salt dough, cardboard, cork, paper or any other

material that appeals to you.

- Anything else you can think of.

A nativity scene brings peace. It also brings bhakti (devotion),

especially at the moment you paint the eyes on a figure or hold a

completed doll in your hands for the first time. Cradling Baby Sai in

your hand creates an overwhelming feeling that cannot be put into words.

In the future, maybe if I improve at this craft I would like to copy

many of the features in the beautiful photographs of Puttaparthi and the

Chivaratri that were posted to this group by Chris a couple of months

ago, or add other things, like a bullock cart (Swami's father was a

store merchant), an eagle (which symbolizes divinity),the village

temple, etc.

Happy craftmaking! I am not one to cry easily, but I am sure to shed a

tear or two if I see at least one more 'Nativity scene' posted to this

group on Swami's birthday, because I would have succeeded in going from

'I' to 'we' with this project.

Sai Ram

Gueza

 

P.S. If you are serious about making the dolls but cannot afford them

due to currency exchange rate, etc, please send me your name and

address. I have a small amount of Super Sculpey to share with some of

you. Hopefully there is still time for you to receive it by mail and

make the figures, and hopefully I will be able to send some to all who

need some.

 

P.P.S. Here are some links to nativity scenes made at homes in several

countries; you can also run a search with the words 'pesebre',

'presepio', 'manger scene', 'nativity scene', belen, etc.

http://www.terra.es/personal/7sietes/belenes/belen36.htm

http://www.terra.es/personal/7sietes/belenes.htm

,

 

 

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