Credits:
Music Composition and Rendition - Ajeissh Menon
Make up - Sudarshan
Cinematography - Sudarshan Vig, Praveen Kumar Teegala
Editing - Sudarshan Vig
Space - Saptaparni
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Source Shloka:
विभूषणोद्भासि पिनद्धभोगि वा
गजाजिनालम्बि दुकूलधारि वा ।
कपालि वा स्यादथवेन्दुशेखरं
न विश्वमूर्तेरवधार्यते वपुः ।।
Transcreation
His body may be glowing bright, adorned by shining ornaments, or maybe encircled by snakes.
He may be draped in silken garments or in elephant hide, dripping blood.
He may hold a skull, or bear upon his head, the shining digit of the moon.
The form of one who is the universe itself, is inscrutable and unfathomable!
When we interpret such verses for Abhinaya, it is interesting how different connotations emerge, which may not concur exactly with the literal meaning of the literature, but convey nuances and suggestions hidden within it!
This depiction is a direct result of my training from Swapnasundari Akka in Vilasini Natyam. She has taught us some very unique Hasta groups out of which the different Shiva Hastas are extraordinary. I have incorporated a few of those in this composition.
For better understanding, I am giving below, in poetic form, my interpretation of this Shlokam. I have taken some artistic liberties here and played around with the time frames as well as the analogies!
Poetic interpretation of the Abhinaya -
"What is it you say?
You dare talk ill of him? Of my Lord? There, up there, on the mountain!
His form, you say?
You think he needs a crown atop his head?
Can you not see the thick matted locks, contained in a knot upon his head, holding the essence of the entire cosmos?
You think he needs a necklace of shining gems?
See the blue streak glowing on his neck, the sapphire-like streak, as he consumed poison, my Lord, so that all can have nectar!
You think he needs dangling earrings of gold?
Can you not hear the throbbing crescendo of the 'Om', chanted by thousands of devotees, as it adorns his ears for eternity?
Look! The snakes! Three times coiled around his neck! Keeper of the past, present and future! Watch, as he subdues the serpents of anger, stealth, pride, and passion, binds them around his limbs, and winds the entities of the Trigunās around his Trishūla!
Listen! The sound of dripping blood! He tears open the body of Gajasura and covers his hips with elephant hide, just as he rips out the 'mada', enshrined in our hearts!
He tears, with but a fingernail, the skin of the tiger and drapes it across his broad chest, tearing open deception and 'mātsarya'!
Gaze in wonder, as he begs for alms, holding in his hand, the skull of the very creator, Brahma!
Watch, as he, the timekeeper, cuts the cycles of birth and death, encircling his neck with multiple skulls!
'O' I see my Lord, up there, the shining digit of the moon, perched delicately upon his knot of hair. The gentle moonbeams flow from it with cool effulgence, cooling the earth, caressing it!
When, oh when will the moonlight of his gaze fall upon me, cooling my burning passion for him?
This all-pervading Lord, you speak of his form?!
The lord whose body is the Sky, it's gunā, sound, resonating in his conch and bell.
The lord whose breath is the Wind, sustaining, touching, all forms of life.
The lord who holds Fire in his eye and in his palm, the pure fire of gnyāna, seeing.
The lord, from whose knot flow the eternal Waters of the Ganga, crystal clear 'rasavāhinī'.
The lord who smears himself with the ashes from funeral pyres, fragrant ashes, strewn upon the Earth of mortality.
Is it his 'Form' you speak of?!!
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