There are a lot of paintings (modern) that can be seen both in the
printed form in many places as well as in some of the web sites, where
Lord shiva is shown black or blue in color and shakti is depicted
in flame like color. But in vEdas, purANas and the tradition ( refer to
shrI rudram and other shlOkas, purANas, and all hymns including
thirumuRais, ardanArIshvara stOtram.h) it is mentioned that the color
of Lord shiva is golden (hiraNya, sindhUra, flame like, ruby like) and
that of shakti is black (shyAmaLa, nIla, megha varNa). All the
mAhEshavara mUrthams explain the color of the Lord. (except for
kirAtar and vIrabhadrar all the forms of Lord shiva are flame like in
color). Both are beautiful colors in their own respect.
(refer to thiruvAchakam which says kuvaLai flower like (black)shakti
and lotus flower like (red tinted) Lord shiva paiN^kuvaLaik kArmalarAR
cheN^kaNmalarp paimpOdhAR). We believe that the colors of the
deities have some significance and most of us believe that these are the
forms shown by the Almighty Itself, though there is nothing wrong in any
color, the Almighty is omnifarious and it is the devotion with which the
art is drawn that is most important. So it will be better if we insist as
much as possible that the portrayal conform with the tradition.
Also there are subtle things like the Lord has a ring in one
year and kuNdala on the other. Such things will make the picture more
realisitic and nice to appreciate. The artists are doing a good job in
making such nice works. Hopefully they will take more efforts to conform
with the scriptural way of depicting gods as they get to know about them.
It is our duty then to take these information to them. To avoid
situations like people getting confused on the actual forms of
the deities we can make a note on the nonconformities when we present
a picture to somebody or in the web sites.
Posted on: 22.11.96
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