Antique Rail adukku/ Kaasi Pathiram from Tamilnadu

Antique Rail adukku/ Kaasi Pathiram

Antique Rail adukku/ Kaasi Pathiram/ Adukku Pathiram set, this is the original rail adukku, because 99% of so called rail adukkus we see mushrooming suddenly in todays market is faked up worse replica which is no where near to the original in concept or usablity.. Originally Rail adukkus were made as a complete all in one set of cooking vessels which are made to fit in a larger outer jacket vessel with a lid and which has twin eared holders to facilitate being carried around, most importantly at a nominal weight, which was much needed for a large joint family’s pilgrimage and travel cook, hold, reheat and serving needs, since vacation/pilgrimage travel in those days were mostly through the Rail/Trains and the vessel set which was made for that purpose took its name - Rail + Adukku = Rail Adukku, And since most pilgrimage undertaken those days were to Kaasi the vessel was also called as 'Kaasi Pathiram', Mostly these were made of highest quality golden brass which was sturdy and at the same time light in weight not to add extra burden to travel luggage, they were100% handmade with the trademark ring loop holders riveted on peepal leaf harness, held in conjunction with the thick circular ring made of golden bronze, the dome shaped lid serves as a plate to hold cut veggies and other mis-en-place, also serves as a kadai to fry that’s the reason for its shape, also it helps accommodate the Plates, the interiors were tin lined, Mostly the set Includes large basin, cooking adukku vessels, Vari adukku, siru alakku, thavalai Sombu, Tumblers (for Milk + coffee set + baby + demi tasse), davara, Plates, lids, sippal large, uruli pathiram, madurai kunda, The Rail Adukku was manufactured in sizes of small, medium, large and extra large whose contents ranged from total of 12 to 24 vessels with weight ranging from 8 to 14 Kilograms maximum. 

One of the most common question i encounter is "How the spoon stand was used in those days??" Its quiet easy to get this confusion due to two reasons

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One of the most common question i encounter is "How the spoon stand was used in those days??" Its quiet easy to get this confusion due to two reasons
1. We all are much accustomed seeing  spoon stand hung flat on walls, all homes have at least one, as it is the most popular decor wall accent or to the most it may be seen on coffee table serving as an underliner accent to the brass decor pieces
2. We all now live in high ceiling terrace homes so we never get a hint how they were used
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Now the truth
In those days all homes were tile roofed, which calls for wooden slanting beam supports which hang at an angle reachable by hand, there lies the secret, these spoon stands are hung using strong threads or metal wires from those roof support beams adjacent to the kitchen stove at a reachable height, all the spoons, ladles and churners are inserted from both sides of the spoon stand, which is a hygienic way to dry them and keep them clean from pests which hover around the kitchen..So when a spoon is needed the lady slides it out uses  it, a genius yet simpe solution to store spoons...
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Swipe to see the unusual square spoon stand
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How to clean Antique Brass, Bronze and Copper vessels..??!! .

How to clean Antique Brass, Bronze and Copper vessels..??!! 

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Brass, Copper and Bronze react to the atmospheric air & get tarnished due to oxidation, which is quiet common, but the level & speed of oxidation varies depending upon the climate, air quality and moisture prevailing in the area, Tarnishing happens in stages making the article acquire different shades of colour in course of time and makes the metal unidentifiable at one point which needs cleaning, Tarnish can be easily removed by using common ingredients available in our kitchen like tamarind or lemon.

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Method 1: Using Tamarind 

Step 1. Soak brass, copper & bronze articles in a tub of water to which a lemon ball size if tamarind is dissolved in (For 10 litres of water dissolve 1 large lemon size ball of tamarind) let the articles soak for 3 to 4 hours depending upon the stain build

Step 2. Wash it using normal scoring powder, the articles will shine like new

Step 3. Pat dry them using a cloth, since the residue water leaves marks if not wiped dry

Step 4. Sun dry for 4 hours which is the key in bringing out the shine) .

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Method 2 Using Lemon: 

Step 1. Soak brass, copper & bronze articles in a tub of water to which squeeze lemons (For 15 litres of water dissolve 5 large lemons) let the articles soak for 5 to 6 hours depending upon the stain build.,

Repeat Steps 2, 3 & 4 as before..

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Benefits of brass

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Benefits of Brass..!!!

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Brass is most commonly used house hold vessels for ages, even now one can see brass vessels being used in day to day lives in our villages, temples & small towns.

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It is due to the benefits one accrue using the brass vessels as they are 100% food safe, anti bacterial & anti allergic..

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Our elders always say, that in their days the food had more flavour, water was tasty, On further study it was found that the extra flavour was contributed by the brass vessels, Yes the brass infused  aroma & contibuted flavours to the food, Sadly which todays non reactive neutral cooking vessels made of steel & aluminium misses out, Infact the brass vessel is the invisible chef contributing that additional flavour to the cooked foods, It is now found out in scientific research that, Water stored & consumed from a brass vessel gives strength & immunity, In addition, it also helps pacify Pitta content which causes burning sensations inside our body, brass prevents abdominal infections, intestinal ailments to a great extent & improves the skin health., Along with the zinc present in the brass utensils keeps the mind awake & helps purify blood., Which our ancestors knew very well & that being the reason for using brass taps for drinking water pipes, when potable drinking water flowed through brass taps they acquired the benefits, while today water treatment method's removes the much needed minerals & contributes none, and also it was a fact that germs cant survive in brass medium (Which was the other main reason why door handles & locks handled by many were made of brass), .

Another example for brass infusing flavour to foods is the filter Coffee, when made in a traditional brass filter tastes out of the world, same applies to brass idly pots, brass puttu kudam, brass kadai, brass uruli, brass tumblers etc..

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In those days every home entrance had a giant brass gangal filled with water,  anyone visiting the home are asked to wash their hands & feet before entering, through this way the anti bacterial brass water acted as a germ cleanser, now they are gone & diseases entered homes..

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Antique brass secrets, buying guide - tips & tricks explained

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Antique brass - Secrets
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Cooking in brass vessels offer great health benefits, to accrue them one has to select the right vessel, or else would end up with food spoilage, food turning rancid, food poisoning & metal poisoning.
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As many buyers (& sellers) are unaware of the differences in the metallurgy of antique brass, The shocking truth is that all brass vessels sold are not food safe & not suitable for cooking..Lets get in to the details..
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Antique brass is classified in to 3 types based on their composition & quality -
1.Raja
2.Tama &
3.Sattva...
Raja Brass is not suitable for cooking or storing but used in decor accents, while Tama is suitable for many foods but forbidden for few, while the best is 'Satva brass'
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Back in those days they used different formulas for making different brass wares suitable for
1. Cooking foods
2. Cooking & Holding foods
3. Cook, Reheating & Serve foods
4. Dry food storers
5. Wet food storers
6. Non reactive storers
5. Decor & utility ware
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In passage of time the art is lost. Now all brass are sold as cookware
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(Recently i got shocked to see an online ad of an antique brass urination bed pan being listed as a Prasad pot😂 & another listing of a Kerala black magic brass bowl being listed as rare antique & in other listing a vessel exclusively meant for funeral ritual (To hold Ash of deceased listed as Pooja article)., This was the reason i forced myself to make this awarness post...
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Antique brass buying - Tips & Tricks explained
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While buying antique brass utmost care should be taken..
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1. Never buy polished antique brass vessels (Exception being Unused dowry collection) but nowadays i see mostly chemical polished, used brass being faked as unused dowry collection, which will invite diseases & not health, buy antiques in their original finish with patina, say no to polished ones, (polishing is mostly done to repair, hide defects in highly abused antique making them look new and shiny), brass is a metal which retains additives & takes long time to cleanse the chemicals & micro metal debris that stays in crevices of vessels during machine polishing, the vessel may look brand new but foods cooked in those are unpalatable loaded with toxins, in olden days when they buy new brass vessels they use to season it for 58 days with various herbal concoctions and then anoint them with castor oil to get rid of the metal toxins, but are we doing it now for these polished brass?.,
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2. How to select: Before buying antique brass ask the elders (The generation who actually used them in daily life), do a research (Google helps most of the time), get expert advice, check for colour, weight, resonance (Sound arising when metal is struck in a way the longer the sound higher the quality - Ask for a video), check make method (Best being - Moulded, hammered, embossed), sealing (Riviting, zig zag hammering, welding), tin coating., one can always tell out the quality of brass by combination of the above
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3. Buyer's should not blindly believe seller, but do check, ask history, origin, story & if all checks right then buy them, as many online sellers simply copy & paste the description from others so beware, as they have no idea what they sell 😉., just a few questions will reveal the truth

4. Buy regional antiques from the regional sellers who source them directly, for eg- if you want an Uruli, buy it from a seller from the state of origin - Kerala, if you want Red Sanders marapachi buy from Andhra seller, If you want Bhuta mask buy from a Karnataka seller - this way you can be sure you get to know the real use, history, origin, cultural significance & above all at the right price..

5. Trust your intuition- its a fact that "Antiques finds its owner & chooses its home" and it should not be like "I bought an antique", so never buy impulsively or yield to persuations by seller, it should happen spontaneous & you should feel the connect..

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Dasari's of South India

Castes and tribes of South India

Dasari's

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Dasari's are the mendicants of Vaishnava orientation they dont belong to a particular caste and the story how they end up as Dasari is quiet surprising...

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The family head, one being devoid of an offspring, vowes if he be blessed with children would devote one of his child to the service of his god. He subsequently gets many sons, one of whom he names 'Dasan' (Servant of God) dedicating him entirely to God. A Dasan is forfeited all claim to participate in his father's estate & subsequently his offspring are therefore all beggars. They usually wander about singing hymns playing a leather instrument called tappai.  All Dasaris are Vaishnavites & admission to the community is obtained by being branded (Mudra affixation) by a Vaishnavite guru. They live by begging from door to door, the profession is almost hereditary in some families. The five insignia of a Dasari are the conch shell, which he blows to announce his arrival; the gong which he strikes as he goes his rounds; the tall iron lamp which he keeps lighted as he begs; the brass or copper vessel affixed with Vaishnavite symbols, suspended from his shoulder, in which he receives alms; & the small metal image of Hanumān, which he hangs round his neck. Of these, the iron lamp is at once the most conspicuous and the most indispensable. It is said to represent Lord Venkateshvara. Dasaris also subsist by doing pooja's at ceremonial and festival occasions.

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Source: Excerpts taken from the "Castes and tribes of southern India" 

by Edgar Thurston, & K Rangachari

Publication date 1909 Publisher Madras : Government Press

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A typical south Indian home in the 50s Before the festival of lights Diwali

A typical south Indian home in the 50s Before the festival of lights Diwali; 

As the Madisar Clad Granny & Mom duo prepare Delicacies for Diwali over the traditional kumpty stove, the kids watch with awe waiting to savour the delicacies, whereas the unmarried young grandaughter watches the making learning the trade from granny, the new dresses bought for Diwali are laid on table & the head of the house combing his hair in the adjacent room set to go out, the sweet being made today in the iron kadai is Somaas with Kara sev and murukku for savoury..The prepared savouries are kept in brass vessels to help them aerate the heat thereby preventing development of moisture..

King Mahabali and Dwarf Vamana

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King Mahabali and Dwarf Vamana

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Mahabali was a very great and generous King who ruled present days Kerala, He never said no to any one. To test it Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a dwarf priest named Vamana, visits his palace asking for a piece of land. The generous King said, he could have as much land as he wanted. The Brahmin said that he just wanted land measured by his three steps. The King is surprised by the strange request and agrees. A courtier of the King, sensed some impending danger & warned the king. But King Mahabali stood by his words asking Vamana to go ahead.  Vamana assumes humongous form, so that With his first step the whole earth was covered and with his second step he measured the whole of the skies. Then he asked King Mahabali where is the space for him to keep his third step.

The King realised that his third step will destroy the earth and its beings, So with folded hands the King bowed before Vamana and asked him to place his last step on his head, so that he could keep the promise. Vamana placed his foot on the head of the King and pushed him to Patala logha. There Lord Vishnu then manifested before the King and blessed him. King Mahabali was pleased to see his lord. The King was so much attached with his country and people that he requested to be allowed to visit Kerala at least once in a year. Lord Vishnu was moved by the Kings nobility & granted his wish. It is the very day of the visit of King Mahabali to his Country - Kerala, Onam festival is celebrated to commemorate the kings return by decorating their homes by floral patterns called as Pookalam and prepare Onam Sadhya a sumptuous feast fit for the king, so that when the king comes to his kingdom everywhere there is joy and celebration so that the king is happy to see his kingdom is prosperous the way he left it and He blesses his subjects with abundance and returns back to Padal Logha...

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Damayanthi's Lamentations .

Damayanthi's Lamentations .

Damayanthi to Hamsa: "Immensely fascinated by hearing the virtues of the acclaimed king Nala, I am meditating arduously on his unknown form, Deep stricken by the sharp arrows projected from the Kama Devas sugarcane bow, heaving deep sighs, I have become wan and distraught, This anguish, waxing day by day, I haven't revealed even to my friends,  Do not delay, dear swan, but go at once to the King Nala and tell him everything about my love for him, seeking an appropriate time for us to unite as one"

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The great poet Kalidasa was the first one to bring in the theme of a Non human charecter as a messenger between two seperated lovers in Megadoota ( Mega - Cloud + Doota - Messenger) which is none other than the Swan Hamsa, this concept later become a popular theme in poetry, where using even inanimate objects like natural elements like breeze, rain, leaf were used to transmit, convey and portray love messages. The swan messenger is one such example and a classic representation., which was later visualised and immortalised by Raja Ravi Varma portray the beautiful Damayanthi and the bird exchange confidences .

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Raja Ravi varma has exactly pinned down the image as per description in the stories as Damayanthi was the most unparalleled beauty in History and the portrayal was so beautiful that Damayanthi was the most highly reproduced work of art which decorates innumerable house walls in India

Seperation : Celestial Nymph Urvasi and Earth Bound King Pururava

Seperation : Celestial Nymph Urvasi and Earth Bound King Pururava

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An Emotional Drama by Poet Kalidasa and Art by the Painter Prince Raja Ravi Varma .

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The Story line:

Urvasi was one among the most beautiful Celestial nymphs of Lord Indra, owing to a curse bestowed upon her, she was deemed to pass certain period on Earth, in human form forgetting her past, while in her sojourn on earth, She became the favourite mistress of King Pururava of Pratisthana country.  When the prescribed period of her humiliation was over, she gains back the senses of her original self & suddenly rises up into the air and soon disappears into the skies.. When she began to go away from her earthly protector, King Pururava, in vain attempts to detain her and drag her down..

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For her its just an another day as she happily see him off, but on the other hand for Him - She was "Everything" and He Loved her so truly that he wasnt able bear her leaving him, a broke man he takes it so keen to his heart her leaving and trembles in pain holding his chest with one hand and her robe in the other trying in vain to stop her and hold her close to his heart...Shown here is the emotional cocktail...

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"Bagiratha Prayathan" : The Descent of the Ganges to the Earth by the great efforts of Bagiratha

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"Bagiratha Prayathan" : The Descent of the Ganges to the Earth by the great efforts of Bagiratha

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Bhagiratha the King turned sage is credited in bringing the Holy river Ganga to earth, he did this to get his ancestors freed from the curse & gain a place in the Pitru Loka. It was due to the continued efforts of Bhagiratha which made river Ganga to decend down to earth.. He performed severe penance towards Ganga, Pleased Ganga presented herself before Bhagiratha asking for his wish, Bhagiratha told her about the fate of his ancestors & that they can attain Pitru Loka just by her touch..On agreeing to his desire, she said that she would be descending to earth with terrific speed so that it would reach the nether world the Patala loka., wasting all his efforts & then It was found that only Lord Siva could control the speed of descending Ganga, so he decided to request the Lord to help him..Bhagiratha again performed severe penance towards Lord Siva which is famously known as "Bagiratha Prayathana"..Pleased by his will the Lord appeared before Bhagiratha who requested the Lord to receive the speeding Goddess Ganga in his matted locks & release her slowly.

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Lord Siva stood firm with raised chest, two hands firmly supported on his hip and other two hands on the back with his ‘Trisul’ held horizontally..Ganga descended down thundering with great force on Shiva's head & disappeared in the matted locks of the Lord to reappear through a branch of his matted hair with gentle flow...Rest is history

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Vadapatra saye : The Lord who sleeps on the banyan tree leaf..

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Vadapatra saye :

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Vadapatra saye : The Lord who sleeps on the banyan tree leaf..

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The Lord who sleeps on the banyan tree leaf..

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During the Maha Pralayam - The Universal Deluge, Lord Vishnu takes the form of a small baby afloat on a tender banyan leaf over the cosmic waters, swallowing the universe along with its beings for safe keeping, to release them safely after the Pralayam to continue the life forms and its creative cycle

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Krishna's Mischief

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When Shri Krishna was a kid, he habitually used to eat soil. One day, his mother Yashodha caught him red handed concealing soil in his mouth, so she tied his hands in silk robe and asked whether he was eating soil. but Shri Krishna lied that he wasn't eating soil. To find out the truth, she asked Krishna to open his mouth., When he opened mouth, Yashodha was startled to find the whole universe inside, which made her go unconscious...

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Seen here is beautiful depiction by Raja Ravi Varma and the Subjects in the picture are Krishna, Yashodha  and Balarama..

Gopuls Cartoons depicting life in days of yore

A typical South Indian family home in 60's..The father leaves to his office carrying the files from which page markers protrude out, dressed in formal suit with a pen & Spectacle frame in his coat pocket, but still in traditional hairdo, pierced ears with Kadukan (ear hoop stud) & Religious mark of viboothi on forehead along with a Topi in his hand, A jasmine flower tucked in ear lobe, He carries water in a bottle hung in a home knit bottle sling, his wife in traditional madisar saree prepares the betel paan as his younger son feeds it to dad, while his elder daughter witnesses the scenario with much delight..

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The wall has photos of kiddos displayed in an old home made frame, the wooden chime clock tells the time of the day, on to the right hangs the deceased elders photo, a round yellow light tungsten bulb hangs vertical overhead whose light rays are focussed down using ceramic decor shade, the betel box with its contents lay open in a collapsible wooden chair, the bits of betel debris on the floor, on the wall a collapsible cloth hanger houses an old umbrella which doubles as a walking stick, and a versatile cloth bag which holds paper documents, even the coir floor mat displays its hospitality by the words 'Welcome' on it...

Good Old days we all long for....

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Classic masterpiece art of Mr Gopulu for Ananda Vikatan Tamil Weekly Magazine

Gajendra Moksha or Gaja Mukthi

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Gajendra Moksha or Gaja Mukthi

The Liberation of Gajendra the elephant king is a mythical legend stated in the 8th chapter of the Bhagavata Puraṇa. This story was narrated by Sri Suka to Emperor Parikshit  In this episode, Gajaendra the elephant comes to quench his thirst along with its herd to a lake, where it gets trapped by the crocodile living in the waters, however it tried in vain Gajendhra was unable to free himself from the clutches prays to Lord Vishnu with a lotus from the pond as an offering, moved by the cries Lord descends down to earth and kills the crocodile and protect Gajendra and helps him achieve moksha, or salvation..

Churning the cosmic ocean..

We all know the famous story of gods & demons standing opposite sides churn the milky ocean using Mountain as a churner, the snake as a rope and pivoting the hill in place over Kurma's back for a grip., in order to obtain the Amrita, to regain back their lost powers, but what we are unaware is that on churning the milky cosmic ocean - fourteen wonderful treasures that became the prototypes for their earthly & heavenly counterparts were brought up from the depths, the order in which they energed are as follows

1. Chandra, the moon,

2. Parijata the wish fulfiling tree 

3. Airavata, Indra’s white elephant,

4. Surabhu, the cow of plenty

5. Sura, the goddess of wine, who became Varuni, the wife of Varuna

6. Alaghala Visha the poision spit by the snake drank by Shiva

7. Rambha the Apsaras (celestial dancer)

8. Uccaihshravas - The celestial horse

9. Goddess Lakshmi 

10. Panchajanya, Vishnu’s conch

11. Dhanus the mighty bow

12. Kaustuba a jewel made of Various gems

13. Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who rose up out of the waters carrying in his hands the supreme treasure, the amrita.

14. Amrita .

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Mohini

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Mohini and Bhasmasura

Bhasmasura a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, He undertakes a harsh penance. Lord Shiva, pleased by his will promises to grant his wish. Bhasmasura asks the power that anyone whose head is touched with his hand should burn into Ashes (Bhasma - Ash and Asura - Demon)

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With his newly acquired power Bhasmasura unleashes it against the world. Even he wanted to try it on Lord Shiva the granter of the power, So everyone prayed to Lord Vishnu to help. Vishnu takes the form of Mohini a damsel with divine beauty & meets Bhasmasura. Mohini was of unparalleled  beauty that Bhasmasura immediately fell head over heel in love with Mohini.

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Bhasmasura asks her hand in marriage,  Mohini tells him that she would only marry a person who would match her dance steps exactly, Bhasmasura agreed and they start dancing during which suddenly, Mohini, strikes a pose with her hand atop her own head. As Bhasmasura imitated her without thinking of his boon, he was tricked into touching his own head & ac Bhasmasura immediately burnt up and turned into ashes, due to the power he had recently gained..Lord Shiva watches the scene hiding behind a nearby tree..

Usha's Dream

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Usha's Dream:

Usha was the beautiful daughter of King Banasura (Asura king), one night she had a dream, in which She met a very handsome young man, whom she had never seen before., in morning she was in tears, her friend Chitralekha asked the reason and she narrated the dream and as she could not find who he was, Chitralekha said to usha "Dont worry I had learnt the art of painting from Sage Naradha and i will paint all the Gods & kings on the face of earth  and every human being reputed to be handsome and you can tell me which one you saw in dream"

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Chitralekha began to paint Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Charanas, Pannangas, Daityas, Vidyadharas, Yakshas, Saints, Sages., etc For every one Usha shook her head and said: "Not he, My lord was much more handsome than this". And so it went on. .

Chitralekha now began to paint the kings on earth. House after House was rejected by the princess. When she came to the house of the Yadhava's, Usha said: "Wait there is some resemblance to My lord. Who is this?" .

It was Vasudeva.. Chitralekha then painted Balarama and Krishna. The resemblance was more pronounced, according to Usha, specially when Krishna was painted. Chitralekha finally painted the picture of Aniruddha & from the blush on the face of Usha, she knew that this was the man. .

She smiled at Usha & said: "Now that I know who has stolen your heart, I will steal him & bring him to you." .

Night had fallen. Chitralekha well versed in advanced Yoga levitation flew in the air, reached Dwarakha, entered the palace found Aniruddha sleeping alone on a cot. She lifted him bodily & brought him to Shonitapura & left him by the side of Usha

Shantanu and Ganga

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King Shantanu and Ganga..

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King Shantanu fell in love with Ganga & proposed her. She agreed on a condition that he would not question her acts., she gave birth to a son, she drowned the child in river. Shantanu could not ask the reason due to his promise, One after other, 7 sons were born to them all were drowned by Ganga. When Ganga was about to drown the eighth son, King Shantanu confronted her. Finally, Ganga explained about a curse given to her, that her children were cursed to be born on earth and drowned, except the 8th child who will live a long life but to never have a wife or children, he would be virtuous, conversant with all the holy scriptures, obedient son to his father.  She added that she will take him to the heavens & send him back at right moment. With these words she disappeared along with the child, while  grief struck Shantanu tried to stop her in vain, tormented with the thought of spending the rest of his life without her...That Child was none other than the great Bhishma..

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Raja Ravi varma Painting

Krishna's Love

Krishna's Love

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Krishna said "Everyone says that I am complete bliss, full of raga's. All the world derives pleasure from Me. Is there anyone who can give Me pleasure? One who has a hundred times more qualities than Me could give pleasure to My mind. One who is more qualified than Me is impossible to find in the material world. But in Radha alone, I feel the presence of one who can give Me pleasure. Although my beauty defeats the beauty of ten million Cupid's, although it is unequalled & unsurpassed, and although it gives pleasure to the three worlds, seeing Radha, gives pleasure to My eyes. The vibration of My transcendental flute attracts the three worlds, but My ears are enchanted by the sweet words of Radha. And although My touch is cooler than ten million moons, I am refreshed by the touch of Radha. Thus, although I am the source of happiness for the entire world, the beauty and attributes of Radha are My life and soul" .

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