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Based on Hindu mythology and specially inspired by Jagannath and Vaishnava sect, Orissa Pattachitra is an ancient folk art form of rural Orissa that has been in existence for many centuries.
The Nabagunjara is basically an extraordinary imaginative portrayal of the supreme life-force that combines the three significant categories of “beings” (gunjara): (a) the animals/birds; (b) the human; (c) the divine or god-like being.
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Navagunjara is a creature composed of nine different animals
(i) the head of a rooster; (ii) throat that of a peacock bird; (iii) the body as the hunch of a bull; (iv) waist of a lion; (v) hand of a human/ divine being; (vi) one leg that of a tiger; (vii) one leg and hoof of a horse/deer; (viii) one leg of an elephant; (ix) the tail is made of a snake.
The History
Arjuna during vanavasa or exile views Yudhisthira in his intimate moments with Draupadi. For repentance, Arjuna travels to Manibhadra mountains and lives in the mountain doing penance for his sin, until Kṛṣṇa appears in front of him in this chimeric form of the Nabagunjara. The Navagunjara-Arjuna scene is sculpted at the northern side of the Jagannath Temple, Puri.
Patta : Traditionally, the Cloth on which painting is done is prepared by pasting layers of cloths with the help of glue made from tamarind seeds. The Surface is mixed with rice powder to make the cloth stiff and finally polished with stone. At present Tussar silk is also used as canvas.
Colours : Natural colours extracted from flowers, leaves, fruits, roots.
Style
The motifs used in the paintings symbolizes the different dance possess of Gotipua and Odissi, the lines are bold and clean and angular and sharp.
Themes
Incidents in Krishna life, vishnu avatar, kamasutra, epic tales of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Adorn your home with this marvelous Orissa Pattachitra Painting, which also makes an excellent and very unique gift for weddings and any other such occasions.
