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.
