Silapathikaram by Illango Adigalar is a classic epic in Tamil covering the three great south Indian empires of Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas. I picked out a few of my favorite verses from this epic and tried to compose them into paintings.
This painting is depiction of the verse 'Vadavaraiyai matthaakki vasukiyai naanaakki'. made famous by M.S. Subbalakshmi who sang this song frequently in her concerts. The song is sung in the epic by a group of girls who dance together for entertaining Kannagi when Kovalan goes to sell the anklet. This narrates the churning of the ocean episode and extols the virtues of Lord Krishna.The painting contains Vasuki, the serpent whose head is held by asuras and the tail by the devas while churning the ocean, the seven dancing girls in Silapathikkaram representing the saptha swaras, the climax in the epic where the two anklets are broken, one scattering pearls and the other rubies.
A link to the song : http://gaana.com/song/vadavarayai-m-s-subbulakshmi
Another part of the same poem
A description of Madhavi
Preaching of Buddha in Silapathikaram
A description of Madhavi
