Sruthi Art Studios

The beauty in the ‘Descent of Ganga’ are the twists and turns in her tumultuous story similar to her journey flowing down from the Himalayas entering into India.

This oil painting captures her final steps onto Earth, signified by the arch as her entry point. The mountains, the background from whence she descends and finally the turbulent force of the river Ganges as she takes her steps forward.

For centuries in India, mythological stories have aided in sustaining a reverence for nature. Flowing through the most densely populated regions on it’s full length journey of 1560 miles, it has blessed the area with the most fertile soil for agriculture. Emerging from the Himalayas, combined with waters of various rivers it creates the largest river delta as it empties into the Bay of Bengal.

The spiritual and traditional cultural significance of bathing in the rivers of the Ganges has brought significant environmental and socio-economic impact to the area. The lighting of the fire for Aarti along the river represents a form of respect to the power and energy that has been a longstanding force of nature, nourishing and providing life.

One of the most impressive artistic impression to this myth is the ancient monolithic rock relief which describes the legendary penance of the King Bagiratha who avails the power of Lord Siva to contain the prowess of the river Ganga as she descends from heavens to Earth. This archeological marvel in Mahabalipuram, Chennai is a showcase of architectural stonework and design. Also known as Arjuna’s Penance, this wonder along the Coromandal Coastline of India is a testament to human endeavor and aesthetics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_of_the_Ganges_(Mahabalipuram)