THE VISHWA ROOPA

Perhaps the most dramatic scene described in the epic poem of 'Mahabharata" is the revelation of lord Krishna in all his true splendor and glory. On the battle field of Kurukshetra, the powerful warrior Arjun is overcome with grief and doubt about the impending disaster of a war with his own kin. At this point his charioteer, Lord Krishna reveals to Arjun the wisdom of the Vedas in a song divine known as the 'Geeta'. To destroy Arjun's doubt regarding the authority of his words, the Lord shows him His true form.

Vishwa Roopa or Universal Image is the representation of the Lord as the Sun, Moon, Sky, Earth, Water, Space, all the deities in the Hindu pantheon, such as Ganesh, Hanuman, Laxmi, Saraswati, all the ten incarnations of Vishnu and everything living and non-living. The grand form tells us to regard everything in this universe as the representation of the Lord.

The painting is lined with embosses gold symbols of Shankha (Conch), Chakra (the wheel as a deadly weapon) and the Tilakam (red and white mark on the forehead). The details in the battle ground behind, the embossed gold design on the chariot, the miniature paintings of various deities on the Lord's hands, the weapons, all add up to make the painting a living one. The gold used is 18 carat and most colors are natural flower and vegetable dyes.