HISTORY:
Hey Readers, I am back again with
some interesting and cool stuffs regarding Madhubani Paintings. So, to start
with today’s topic is ‘History’. OK! Come on! Now please don’t give such
expressions. I know for some of you there history is just next to HELL, a
nightmare to be precise, with all those dates haunting you around. Phew!!!!
Sounds spooky right? But trust me I won’t bore you.
History as we know mainly consists
of dates and records but, in the case of Madhubani Paintings there are no
actual records. Different people have different theories. According to one of
the local mythology, the origin of Madhubni Paintings can be traced to the time
of the Ramayana. It is said that King Janaka of Nepal had ordered his kingdom
to decorate the whole kingdom with these beautiful and elaborate wall paintings
for the wedding of his beautiful daughter Sita to Lord Rama and thus emerged
this new art form. There are even stories which tell that even the ladies of
King Janaka’s household used to paint on walls. It is said’ that when Laksmana went
to the forest along with Rama and Sita, his consort Urmila painted his image on
the wall and worshipped it daily. However, how far these legends are true we
have no idea.
While the other theory suggests
that the original inspiration for Madhubani art emerged from women’s craving
for religiousness and an intense desire to be one with God. With the belief
that painting can somehow help them to achieve that desire, women began to paint
pictures of Gods and Goddesses with an interpretation so divine that captured
the heart of many.
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| Madhubani Painting of Lord Krishna and Radha |
Apart from this one can even find
similarities between these symbolic representations with the designs of the
Harappan potteries and motifs on punch marked coins. Whatever may be the truth,
one thing can be truly said that it is a very very ancient art form.
Now, some of you might be thinking
that how it is possible that Madhubani art does not have any exact period of
its origin and growth, right? So the answer is unlike the Mughal, Kangra or
other Rajasthani style paintings, Madhubani Paintings, bears a sole product of
the rich imagination of the local ladies reflecting their daily rituals and
freshness. Since time immemorial these paintings have been booming upon the
walls of mud-huts and floors of houses on ceremonial occasions and vanishing
over night after the completion of the ceremony. The best part is the mother teaches
the art to her daughter who in turn teaches it to her female offspring. For
generations, the skill has been passed on from mother to daughter. No models or
specimens are kept, it’s all natural. When only a small child, a girl learns
these communal house paintings, and the patterns are early impressed upon her mind.
By the time she is ready to marry, she learns them by heart and takes this art
form with her to her husband’s house, where she would use her own imagination
and perhaps introduce new elements too. With the coming of the next generation
the older generation willfully wipes itself out, as a result these paintings
always remain fresh and brand new and thus the cycle goes on and on endlessly,
just like the ever- flowing water of the Ganga. Therefore, it’s quite difficult
to determine the exact period of its origin and growth.
Hope you guys liked it. Stay tuned
to more about Madhubani Paintings in my upcoming posts.
Reference:
Internet:
Books:
Madhubani Painting - Upendra Thakur
