Panch Kanya -The Five Virgins -a mural by Sasi Edavarad-Dhyanasankalpam-a timeline

'Panch Kanya' -The Five Virgins -
-a 120 sq ft size mural on wall in acrylic  by Sasi Edavarad-Dhyanasankalpam-a timeline:

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/a-mural-on-mythological-heroines-to-inspire-contemporary-women/article5464637.ece

Panch Kanya-'the Five Virgins" by Sasi Edavarad

A mural on mythological heroines to inspire contemporary women

Though displaced for a while from their original abode, murals are back where they should be, thanks to Dhyanasankalpam, a Kozhikode-based open studio for murals. Dhyanasankalpam is on a mission to reclaim public places for mural art and their fourth community-based mural project ‘Panchkanya’ was dedicated to the public at the Thrissala Bhagavathy temple at Mankavu in Kozhikode on Sunday.

The team led by artist Sasi Edavarad created a 120-sq ft traditional mural using acrylic on the wall adjacent to a small pond near the entrance to the temple, featuring the five iconic heroines of the Indian mythology.

Ahalya, Tara, and Mandodari from Ramayana and Draupati and Kunti from Mahabharata are the ‘Panchkanya.’

They are venerated as ideal women and chaste wives in one view. However, it is ironic to note that all of them had associations with more than one man and had broken many traditions. The names of these women are believed to dispel sin when recited.

The five women had much more in common. All of them did not have mothers to take care of them though all of them are mothers themselves. Their motherhood is not emphasised (except for Kunti) in their tales.

Battling society

Also, they all had prominent losses in their lives — parents, husbands, or children. Each of them suffers tragedy and is used by men. But they kept battling with life and society till the end.

Mr. Edavarad told The Hindu that the painting was chosen as an inspiration for the contemporary woman who could find solace, succour, and guidance from the lives of these five heroines.

He expected that the painting would lead to some pondering on the whole ‘virginity fetish’ and the need to fight against the injustices on women in India.

The artist was accompanied by seven of his students — Anila Manalil, Shajna, Sreekanth, Dina Kumari, Rahul T.R., Arathi Sivan, and Prabhath in this project. It took the team four months to complete the work, Mr. Edavarad said.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/a-mural-on-mythological-heroines-to-inspire-contemporary-women/article5464637.ece

Panchkanya-a mural by Sasi Edavarad Dhyanasankalpam