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Gauracandra

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I think two of my favorite paintings are first the painting of Visnu on the cover of Sri Isopanisad by Jadurani (which I heard Srila Prabhupada didn't like), and second, one of Krsna with cows (it was painted by Murlidhara and is often shown by Siddhaswarupananda). The first I like because of its realism. Everything is very finely rendered, and there is a magnificense to the look of Visnu. It looks very real and you can accept that God must be so beautiful. The second I like for its simplicity and subtlety. It is very soft and simple. In case you don't know which one this is it is the one where the cow to me always looks like a deer (that might help).

 

I've seen some of Jadurani's more recent paintings, and I must say I like her old style better. But every artist needs to challenge themselves and express their own mood. Her current paintings have a much more cartoonish look, and less realistic approach. Its interesting, and very colorful, but I like her earlier paintings more. I also really like Bharadvaj's paintings. I've noticed in his paintings he has a very interesting style of painting silky fabrics. I can't really describe it, but it is a stand out effect and really adds a spark to all of his paintings.

 

So what are your favorites (paintings and artists)?

 

Gauracandra

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That painting of Vishnu happens to be for sale by some devoteeright now. I saw his message somewhere else.

 

One thing that is strange about the picture is that Vishnu is in the water. The description from the scripture is that half of the universe is filled with water, and he is lying on the water on ananta sesha. Just a mixup I suppose. Nevertheless, it is a nice painting.

 

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<IMG SRC=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clare.ross5/mahavisnu.jpg>

(caption below picture)"From the Vedas, the reservoir of infallible knowledge, we learn of the real source of creation-Lord Krsna. His partial expansion, Maha Visnu, lies on the Causal Ocean and with his breathing innumerable universes come out from his skin pores. When he breathes in, all the material universes enter into Him again, and are thus destroyed.

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I can't think what the first cover of Sri Isopanisad was. Can you jar my memory a little?

Gosh, I have so many favorites I may have to put them on one by one, over time. One I love is the one Premananda prabhu's guru painted of Radha and Krsna. There is a link to it from one of his posts.

I also love the Murlidhar one as well as the original Indian one of Gopal sitting on the rock with the deer-looking cow in the dark tones.

The original ISKCON Janardhan one, similar to Jadurani's Sri Iso one, I also love. I think the original used to hang in SF temple.

Another is the original Rasalila one by Devahuti prabhu. It is primitive and charming and Srila Prabhupada loved it.

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I read that Srila Prabhupada didn't like Jadurani painting the Lord with hair too long. It is in one of the conversations books.

 

Doesn't Kesava means "the one with the soft,beautiful hair?"

 

I do love that painting and was one of the first posters that I bought like a bhaktin. Now somebody gave it again to me and is hanging in my bedroom.

 

The other paintings that I like are the ones when Krsna is opening His mouth for mother Yasoda, when He is eating in the forest with the cowherd boys, the Damodara picture, the one that I heard that Srila Prabhupada said that was the most real Krsna just looking like a 16 years old with a very soft body, without bulky muscles and of course Radha-Krsna in the swing that we use for Jhulan Yatra, I may go on and on and on.

 

Srila Prabhupada said that were the "windows to the spiritual world"

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Yep Ghari, thats the picture of Visnu on Sri Isopanisad that I love. I have heard that story Atma tells of why Srila Prabhupada didn't like the picture. Another one I've heard is that he didn't like the angle with Visnu "looking down" upon His devotees. Apparently he (according to this story) thought it was perhaps too intimidating. Its one of those "Prabhupada said" sort of scenarios. I don't know which is correct.

 

And Clare has posted a beautiful Visnu painting as well. I love those ones with all the universes emanating out of His pores. It makes you wonder the vast expanse of creation, and realize just how small we are.

 

Gauracandra

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Yashoda,

 

If the picture you want to include is on a website, all you have to do is type the following:

 

[ IMG]http:\\www.thewebsitethepictureison.com\picture.jpg[/img ]

 

Except don't have a space where I put them (before and after the IMG), I did that just so it wouldn't "activate" so to speak.

 

Gauracandra

 

[This message has been edited by Gauracandra (edited 01-09-2002).]

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It appears it may well be Vishnu and Keshava on the Sri Isopanisad:

Madhya 9.13

rAma! rAghava! rAma! rAghava! rAma! rAghava! pAhi mAm

kRSNa! kezava! kRSNa! kezava! kRSNa! kezava! rakSa mAm

 

rAma--O RAma; rAghava--O descendant of Raghu; pAhi--please protect; mAm--me; kRSNa--O KRSNa; kezava--O killer of KezI; rakSa--protect; mAm--me.

 

"‘O Lord RAmacandra, descendant of MahArAja Raghu, kindly protect me! O Lord KRSNa, killer of the KezI demon, kindly protect me!'"

SB 10.1.69p

As for Kezava, ka means BrahmA, and Iza means Lord Siva. The Personality of Godhead captivates both Lord BrahmA and Lord MahAdeva, or Siva, by His transcendental qualities. Therefore He is called Kezava. This opinion is given by SanAtana GosvAmI in his VaiSNava-toSaNI commentary.

From The Teachings of Lord Caitanya

There are innumerable four-handed manifestations in different planets and different places, and they are manifested in DvArakA and MathurA eternally. From the four principal four-handed forms (VAsudeva, SaGkarSaNa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha) there are manifest the principal twenty-four forms called vaibhava-vilAsa, and they are named differently according to the placement of different symbols (conch, mace, lotus and disc) in their hands. The four principal manifestations of KRSNa are found in each planet in the spiritual sky, and these planets are called NArAyaNaloka or VaikuNThaloka. In the VaikuNThaloka He is manifested in the four-handed form of NArAyaNa. From each NArAyaNa the forms of VAsudeva, SaGkarSaNa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha are manifested. Thus NArAyaNa is the center, and the four forms of VAsudeva, SaGkarSaNa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha surround the NArAyaNa form. Each of these four forms again expand into three, and these all have different names, beginning with Kezava. These forms are twelve in all, and they are known by different names according to the placement of symbols in their hands.

As far as the VAsudeva form is concerned, the three expansions manifested from Him are Kezava, NArAyaNa and MAdhava. The three forms of SaGkarSaNa are known as Govinda, ViSNu and SrI MadhusUdana. (It should be noted, however, that this Govinda form is not the same Govinda form that is manifested in VRndAvana as the son of Nanda MahArAja.) Similarly, Pradyumna is also divided into three forms known as Trivikrama, VAmana and SrIdhara; and the three forms of Aniruddha are known as HRSIkeza, PadmanAbha and DAmodara.

CC Madhya 20.223-239:

"According to the SiddhArtha-saMhitA there are twenty-four forms of Lord ViSNu. First I shall describe, according to the opinion of that book, the location of the weapons, beginning with the disc.

 

PURPORT

The twenty-four forms are (1) VAsudeva, (2) SaGkarSaNa, (3) Pradyumna, (4) Aniruddha, (5) Kezava, (6) NArAyaNa, (7) MAdhava, (8) Govinda, (9) ViSNu, (10) MadhusUdana, (11) Trivikrama, (12) VAmana, (13) SrIdhara, (14) HRSIkeza, (15) PadmanAbha, (16) DAmodara, (17) PuruSottama, (18) Acyuta, (19) NRsiMha, (20) JanArdana, (21) Hari, (22) KRSNa, (23) AdhokSaja and (24) Upendra.

 

"In His lower right hand, Lord VAsudeva holds a club, in the upper right hand a conchshell, in the upper left hand a disc and in the lower left hand a lotus flower. In His lower right hand, SaGkarSaNa holds a club, in His upper right hand a conchshell, in His upper left hand a lotus flower and in His lower left hand a disc.

 

"Pradyumna holds the disc, conch, club and lotus. Aniruddha holds the disc, club, conch and lotus.

 

"Thus in the spiritual sky the expansions, headed by VAsudeva, hold weapons in Their own respective order. I am repeating the opinion of the SiddhArtha-saMhitA in describing Them.

 

"Lord Kezava holds the lotus, conch, disc and club. Lord NArAyaNa holds the conch, lotus, club and disc.

"Lord MAdhava holds the club, disc, conch and lotus. Lord Govinda holds the disc, club, lotus and conch.

 

"Lord ViSNu holds the club, lotus, conch and disc. Lord MadhusUdana holds the disc, conch, lotus and club.

 

"Lord Trivikrama holds the lotus, club, disc and conch. Lord VAmana holds the conch, disc, club and lotus.

 

"Lord SrIdhara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch. Lord HRSIkeza holds the club, disc, lotus and conch.

 

"Lord PadmanAbha holds the conch, lotus, disc and club. Lord DAmodara holds the lotus, disc, club and conch."Lord PuruSottama holds the disc, lotus, conch and club. Lord Acyuta holds the club, lotus, disc and conch.

 

"Lord NRsiMha holds the disc, lotus, club and conch. Lord JanArdana holds the lotus, disc, conch and club.

 

"SrI Hari holds the conch, disc, lotus and club. Lord SrI KRSNa holds the conch, club, lotus and disc.

 

"Lord AdhokSaja holds the lotus, club, conch and disc. Lord Upendra holds the conch, club, disc and lotus.

 

"According to the HayazIrSa-paJcarAtra, there are sixteen personalities. I shall now describe that opinion of how They hold the weapons.

 

PURPORT

The sixteen personalities are as follows: (1) VAsudeva, (2) SaGkarSaNa, (3) Pradyumna, (4) Aniruddha, (5) Kezava, (6) NArAyaNa, (7) MAdhava, (8) Govinda, (9) ViSNu, (10) MadhusUdana, (11) Trivikrama, (12) VAmana, (13) SrIdhara, (14) HRSIkeza, (15) PadmanAbha and (16) DAmodara.

 

"Kezava is described differently as holding the lotus, conch, club and disc, and MAdhava is described as holding the disc, club, conch and lotus in His hands.

 

"According to the HayazIrSa PaJcarAtra, NArAyaNa and others are also presented differently as holding the weapons in different hands.

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Krsna Book 37

Killing the KezI Demon and VyomAsura

 

After being instructed by KaMsa, the demon KezI assumed the form of a terrible horse. He entered the area of VRndAvana with the speed of the mind, his great mane flying and his hooves digging up the earth. He began to whinny and terrify the whole forest. KRSNa saw that the demon was terrifying all the residents of VRndAvana with his whinnying and his tail wheeling in the sky like a big cloud. KRSNa could understand that the horse was challenging Him to fight. The Lord accepted his challenge and stood before the KezI demon, calling him to fight. The horse then ran toward KRSNa, making a horrible sound like a roaring lion, his jaws spread wide open as if to swallow the whole sky. KezI rushed toward the Lord with great speed and tried to trample Him with his legs, which were strong, forceful and as hard as stone. KRSNa, however, immediately caught hold of his legs and thus baffled him. Being somewhat angry, KRSNa began to whirl the horse around. After a few rounds, He contemptuously threw him a hundred yards away, just as GaruDa throws a big snake. Thrown by KRSNa, the horse immediately passed out, but after a little while he regained consciousness and with great anger and force again rushed toward KRSNa with his mouth open. As soon as KezI reached Him, KRSNa pushed His left arm within the horse's mouth, and it looked as though a big snake had entered a hole in the field. The horse felt great pain because the arm of KRSNa felt to him like a hot iron rod. Immediately his teeth fell out. KRSNa's arm within the mouth of the horse at once began to inflate, and KezI's throat choked up. As the great horse suffocated, perspiration appeared on his body, and he threw his legs hither and thither. As his last breath came, his eyeballs bulged in their sockets and he passed stool and urine simultaneously. Thus the vital force of his life expired. When the horse was dead, his mouth became loose, and KRSNa could extract His hand without difficulty. He did not feel any surprise that the KezI demon was killed so easily, but the demigods in the sky were amazed, and out of their great appreciation they offered KRSNa greetings by showering flowers.

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So I finally found the book, and found out how I got the impression about Lord Kesava:

From the pages just inside Sri Isopanisad:

 

THE COVER: Beauty, mystery, and unlimited power unite in the form of the Lord, the Isa in Isopanisad. Here He is depicted as Sri Kesava, one of the Visnu expansions of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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Originally posted by Bhakta Don Muntean:

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

 

One more pic--I changed it some--what does everyone think?

Is that "Srila Puripada" on the mat?

 

I like the old Brijbasi prints, especially Gopal Krishna and Murali-manohara. They captured my mind in 1969 and '70, when I first joined the movement. I also like much of B. G. Sharma's work, as well as Indra Sharma's. There's really a lot of good work by artists form ISKCON and beyond.

 

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All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

 

Dear Stone:

 

>>>Is that "Srila Puripada" on the mat?

 

Reply:

 

Forgive me Stone, I am not sure what you mean; who is "Puripada"? I think the only person I heard called that was Kirtanananda?

 

I had "Mc Demons" incessant adverts in mind when I changed the picture--yet this might speak to that dude [G.G.] who was the first McDemon--and then he was 'saved' by Lord Krishna--now we are not sure "what" he is....

 

>>>I like the old Brijbasi prints, especially Gopal Krishna and Murali-manohara. They captured my mind in 1969 and '70, when I first joined the movement. I also like much of B. G. Sharma's work, as well as Indra Sharma's. There's really a lot of good work by artists form ISKCON and beyond.

 

Reply:

 

Yes, I like that traditional style as well, we have some pictures by T.K. Sharma that are very well done.

 

What did you think of the Lord Narahari Re-painting?

 

Your Servant,

 

Bhakta don

 

 

[This message has been edited by Bhakta Don Muntean (edited 01-10-2002).]

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Haribol Don,

 

I rather like your rendition of Lord Nrsimhadeva. As for Stonehearted's Puripada comment, I believe he is referring to a devotee who has a center in Buffalo, N.Y. (I think). I can't recall his exact name (I think it is Italian), but many years ago he was the official Ronald McDonald for McDonald's. He is also a well known biographer of George Harrison.

 

Gauracandra

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Originally posted by Gauracandra:

Haribol Don,

 

I rather like your rendition of Lord Nrsimhadeva. As for Stonehearted's Puripada comment, I believe he is referring to a devotee who has a center in Buffalo, N.Y. (I think). I can't recall his exact name (I think it is Italian), but many years ago he was the official Ronald McDonald for McDonald's. He is also a well known biographer of George Harrison.

 

Gauracandra

Dear Gauracandra and ghari:

 

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

 

Thank you for you kind comments!

 

I did have the inspiration of the Lord to do the Narahari--the project took months to complete--in all there is nearly 10 Mega-bytes of 'Paint' which make up that 'file'.

 

The McDemon Pic was less time, I was thinking of the guy called "Geoffrey Guilliano" his initiated name was "Juganatha Dasa".

 

The guy is off the wall in a serious way--his claims of attaining 'Prema' are a riot.

 

I did the re-painting of the Killing of Kangsa thinking of GG's Cheating of Prabhupada and Exploiting Sriman George Harrison.

 

Of course I was also drawing heavy on a comparison of the Lord's Fame as a Demon Killer--this McDeath Corp is one of the Biggest Demons on the Planet--a demon only God can 'check'.

 

We see hundreds and millions on a collective basis--forced by billion dollar budgets--Images of this corperation's icon demon clown every day--it is so sick--I am not an artist and I did in a way calculate the changes to the Picture--it was easier than painting one of Krishna myself--something I cannot do--putting it on the internet was only to help people see a wonderfully painted form of Lord Krishna take-out this demon--in what looks like a public arena.

 

It is hoped that the artist is not offened!

 

Your Servant,

 

Bhakta don

 

 

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Actually, I was only teasing with the "Puripada" question. Now I find that was your intention.

 

Yes, Giuliano is also known as Jagannath das, and has styled himself a self-realized guru and calls himself Puripada. He has a reputation as a shameless self-promoter. I have met him personally.

 

I prefer not to comment further on his character. It's better if this thread remains focused on devotees' favorite paintings.

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