About my paintings - Belief and optimism [2]

About the paintings - Proaction [foresight], Belief [ optimism] and Patience [fortitude]

Belief and optimism - based on Sant Kabir Ke Dohe

Moot Emotion & thoughts: 

* caring and patience

• Being proactive and ambitious with balancing realistic expectations

• Doing things in a timely manner - just like farmers have to sow during the right season and then wait and reap at the right time

•  Do your best and wait for the results. 

• Nature will take its course

1a

Kaal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So ab

Pal Mein Pralay Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kab

..

Hindi meaning:

काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब ।

पल में परलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगा कब ॥

..

भावार्थ: कबीर दास जी कहते हैं, कि कभी भी किसी भी काम को कल पर मत छोड़ो, जो कल करना है उसे आज करो और जो आज करना है उसे अभी करो । क्या पता कहीं अगले ही पल में प्रलय आ जाये और जीवन का अंत हो जाए, तब तो आपके सभी काम अपूर्ण ही रह जायेंगे अर्थात अपने किसी भी काम को समय के भरोसे नहीं टालना चाहिए क्योंकि आने वाले समय में क्या हो जाए, यह कोई नहीं जानता ।

..

Literal translation:

- whatever you plan to do tomorrow, do it today

• whatever you plan to do today, do it right now

• Situations can change any minute

• How will you ever make up for lost time?

Ib

मन के हारे हार है 

मन के जीते जीत ।

कहे कबीर हरि पाइए 

मन ही की परतीत ।

..

Hindi meaning:

मन के हारने से हार होती है, मन के जीतने से जीत होती है (मनोबल सदैव ऊँचा रखना चाहिए)। मन के गहन विश्वास से ही परमात्मा की प्राप्ति होती है।

इस दोहे का सार:

• आत्मविश्वास और सकारात्मक सोच जीवन में सफलता की कुंजी है।

• मनोबल को सदैव ऊंचा रखना चाहिए।

• आत्म-विश्वास से ही परमात्मा की प्राप्ति होती है।

…

Literal translation:

• If you believe you will lose, you will

• If you believe you will win, you will

• Kabir says you can even attain GOD

• If you truly believe it

1c

Dheere Dheere Re Mana, Dheere Sub Kutch Hoye

Mali Seenche So Ghara, Ritu Aaye Phal Hoye

..

धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय ।

माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ऋतु आए फल होय ॥

..

Hindi meaning:

हे मन ! धीरे-धीरे सब कुछ हो जाएगा। माली सैंकड़ों घड़े पानी पेड़ में देता है परंतु फल तो ऋतु के आने पर ही लगता है। अर्थात धैर्य रखने से और सही समय आने पर ही काम पूरे होते हैं।

..

Literal translation:

- Oh mind of mine, please slow down

• things will happen slowly

• The Gardner can water plants a hundred times

• The fruits will grow only in the right season

-----------------

Artist Thoughts:

This set of 3 Still Life paintings quote the life lessons given to us by Sant Kabir the poet saint. 

The essence of the three Dohas is that woman /man should do her/his work to the best of their abilities. They should accomplish their tasks with diligence, consistency and without procrastination. 

There is no point in expecting results quickly.

The good work that has been put in will bear fruit at the right time. Patience and self belief are key to achieving goals. This aspect is represented by the OWL, which is known for its quiet patient nature.

The moot point that he makes is that we need to keep reminding ourselves to stay grounded.

Here Penn-Naari tries to absorb the teachings with diligence. Penn-Naari - 'Penn"means 'Girl' in Tamil and 'Naari' means 'Lady' in Hindi.

The table cloth is a beautiful Kantha embroidery on a handwoven raw silk saree. The 6 yards would have taken many hours of intense labour to create. The artisan would have been able to see the final look of his creation only after working diligently on every inch of the  6 yards.

I got to know of the works of Sant Kabir as a teenager while studying for the Government Hindi Rashtrabhasha exams. Somehow, over the years they have stayed with me. What were just words back then, seem to make so much sense to me now.

Fun Fact: the doll shapes are inspired by the bobbing wooden golu dolls from south India.