Propeller

Sunday, February 21, 2010

swasti chakra

 
making of a kalam(pattern)
Hindus in Kerala use kalam(patterns made out of natural powders like rice, turmeric, leaves etc.) for attracting devine powers while making big poojas(offerings). Here, the swasthi is being prepared.  It is interesting to watch the ingenuity which they use in making of these patterns.  They don't use scale or other devices which the modern world use to make these patterns.  Instead they use a portion of the palm leaf in a special manner for this purpose.

 
 view of the almost pattern which is almost complete

4 comments:

RUDHI Rüscher said...

Greetings from Austria! Have been three times in India, together 13 unforgettable Months in 1978, 80, 82... I know the *12(?)jyothirlingams - is your name connected with this holy places in India?

Cynthia DiBlasi - Fine Art said...

Just beautiful. It looks like the symbol for Vajrayogini in Buddhist practice, which I know is somewhat similar to Hindu. The natural ingredients. . . is it regarded as a food offering? I'm so fascinated by this!

Also, thank you for your kind words on my blog. :)

jyothisethu said...

thank you rudhi and cynthia for the comments...
cynthia, although it is made out or things that are edible it is not offered as a food offering...

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

It is beautiful.