KERALAM ETRA VARNASUNDARAM

Collection of Oil Paintings done by Raja Ravi Varma

Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was born in Kilimanoor Palace as the son of Umamba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Bhattathiripad. At the age of seven years he started drawing on the palace walls using charcoal. His uncle Raja Raja Varma noticed the talent of the child and gave preliminary lessons on painting. At the age of 14, Ayilyam Thirunal Maharaja took him to Travancore Palace and he was taught water painting by the palace painter Rama Swamy Naidu. After 3 years Theodor Jenson, a British painter taught him oil painting.Most of Ravi Varma's paintings are based on Hindu epic stories and characters.

Some of the classic paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.

Damayanti Talking to Hamsum about Nalan
The story is a side story of the epic MAHABHARATHAM. Nala is a king belonging to the chandravamsha. He falls in love with damayanti, the daughter of King Bhima of Vidarbha and marries her with the help of the swan hamsam. Jealous evil-doer Kali casts a spell on him, instigates his brother Pushkara to challenge him to a game of dice. Nala loses everything in the game and is sent off to the forest with Damayanti. Unable to protect Damayanti -- who refuses Nala's requests to go to the safety of her father -- he leaves her while she is asleep. Damayanti overcomes a python with the help of a Kattalan -- a forest man -- and later his lust, joins a caravan of traders and reaches Vidarbha. Bitten by the magical serpent Karkkotaka, Nala enters a disguised form, takes up the name Bahuka and joins the King Rtuparna of Kosala as a super charioteer and cook. Damayanti sends Sudeva to Kosala to see if Nala was hiding there. Sudeva lies about a second wedding of Damayanti in Rtuparna's court that takes place the next day. Hopeful of marrying Damayanti Rtuparna speeds off to Vidarbha, but Nala is the only one who can command the horses to reach there on time. Amazed at Bahuka's ability, Rtuparna learns the mantra to control the horses from him and gives him a mantra to control dice in return. Kali is unable to maintain his spell on Nala and is driven out at this point. The wedding story turn out to be unfounded when they reach Vidarbha. Damayanti, however, sends her friend Keshini to spy on Bahuka. She reports Bahuka has all the capabilities only Nala is supposed to have. Damayanti finally approaches Bahuka who accepts her, but not before doubting her innocence. They return to their country, overthrow Pushkara and live happily.

King Santhanu Matsyagandhi Love

Shanthanu meets Sathiyavathi. Shanthanu asks Sathiyavthi’s father Dasrat for his daughter’s hand. Dasrat wants his grandson to be the crown prince. Shanthanu refuses this proposal. Devarat goes to is this Dasrat? and takes an oath that he will be a bachelor and make Sathiyavathi.s son the crown prince. Sathiyavathi names Devarath as Bhisma.Bhisma takes another oath that he will serve anyone who ascends the thrown of Hastinapur Sathiyavathi gives birth to two sons Chitrangan and Vichitraveerya.Chitrangan was crowned as the king. He died in a war. Then Vichitraveerya was crowned as the king.
Lady with Lamp

The Nilavilakku is integral to all the rituals and ceremonies in a Malayalee's (Keralite) life. As dusk creeps in, young girls of the family bring the lighted lamps (nilavilakku) to the verandah of the house. In the flickering light of the nilavilakku she is joined by the children and elders of the family, especially the grandparents, in chanting hymns and evening prayers. Lighting the nilavilakku on any occasion is believed to be auspicious. Huge nilavilakku play an important role at the presentation of various art forms since most of them are performed at night in the light of the traditional lamp.


Lady And Swan














Happiness of Motherhood











Old Royal Lady with granddaughter
















Beautiful lady Make up :

Kerala Lady

Mother & kid

Draupathi Humiliated by Kauravas
Draupadi may be the only celebrated bride among all the classics of the world to have multiple husbands simultaneously. Yes. Five of them!The Wedding .According to the story, even the five husbands could not protect Draupadi's honor when she was humiliated in an open court by Dushasana, the second of the Kauravas by stripping her saree. Draupadi had to pray to Lord Krishna who provided her with a never-ending drape.