universal ring

In a dreamlike world of harmonious nature, Hindu deity Krishna merges with representations of green land and blue water, depicted wearing a bird feather crown and holding a flute. To his side, a swirling and bifurcating tree ascends to the heavens, laden with the songbirds of divinity. A series of eyes line the trunk of the tree, watching the faithful as they perform their eternal duties. Among the most revered and celebrated of the Hindu deities, Krishna plays a central role in the lives of followers of Hinduism. Bharti Dayal paints 'Divine Eye of Krishna' in the traditional Madhubani style, popularized in 1967 following the great famine of the Mithila region, utilizing outlined two-dimensional shapes painted in solid, vegetable dye hues to create a fantastical aesthetic without the distraction of perspective.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace, the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

The artist explains that this peace painting is inspired by the notion of Krishna as the god of compassion, tenderness and love, who teaches about life, love, happiness, dharma, liberation, devotion, yoga, meditation and truth.

The kadamba tree is inextricably linked to the Hindu god Krishna's iconography, exquisitely depicted in this folk painting by Indian artist Bharti Dayal.

This stunning work of art is created in classic Madhubani style by applying acrylic paint and vegetable dyes on handmade paper. "Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace -- the quest of all beings," the artist adds.

Marveling at a garden of flowers and peacocks, Hindu Goddess Radha and Supreme God Krishna leave a trail of love and compassion emblematic of their eternal bond. Inseparable since their love began, Radha and Kirshna exist within each other, making their existence mutually inclusive. Their pure consciousness in the garden scene demonstrates their inner peace, symbolized by each flower, swirl and bird. Krishna's leftward-facing peacock feather crown alludes to the presence of two peacocks who mirror their respective deities, with one looking right and the other left. Each vine of the garden spirals into its own unique shape, providing foliage and a home for colorful flowers and little birds. Kirshna becomes one with this garden, mingling with the spiral vines, seemingly floating across the scene. Bharti Dayal paints 'Eternal Love of Radha Krishna' in a two-dimensional contemporary style to concentrate on narrating one of Hinduism's greatest love stories for a modern audience.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace; the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

Regarded as the celestial overlord of deliverance through destruction, Shiva dances to the sound of his damru drum while his wife, Parvati, watches. She holds their son, Ganesha, in her lap. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of the Hindu pantheon, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is both destroyer and restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger. As he dances the tandav, he represents the process of creation, maintenance and dissolution of the material universe. Indian artist Devendra Kumar Jha depicts the scene in a meticulously hand-drawn Madhubani painting. Originating in northern Bihar, Madhubani painting was once used to decorate the floors and walls of homes. Life in harmony with nature is a popular theme for this art style.

As each painting is an individual creation, each is unique.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace – the quest of all beings," the artist explains, adding, “To achieve a state of inner peace is an inspiration for all. Through meditation, Lord Buddha attained inner peace, which inspired him to work for world peace. The end of greed, hatred and delusion is the state of Nirvana, which describes the Buddhist path and spiritual goal to mark the soteriological release from rebirth in the world.”

In this World Peace Project painting by Bharti, within a gray realm of absence, Buddha is depicted as a meditating silhouette adorned with a sacred lotus flower and turquoise. The lack of interruptions in the background highlights the sole importance of one's self in achieving nirvana, because worldly objects cloud the mind.

Bharti Dayal created this painting to celebrate the path of Nirvana in the quest for peace.

Love and kindness swirl with the prevailing winds of graceful Radha, the Hindu Mother Goddess and consort of God Krishna. Prominently standing out from the turquoise-blue sky and floral backdrop, Radha blissfully celebrates her role as chief consort of the Gopies together her closest friends, the Ashtasakhis. Reinterpreting the iconic Madhubani style of painting endemic to the region of Bihar, Indian artist Bharti Dayal paints 'Radha with Gopies' to consciously tell the story of her culture's origins, assigning each detail its own intellectual meaning. Internationally recognized for her resurrection of the Madhubani style which had previously suffered poor quality and a lack of originality, Dayal works to perpetuate classic themes beyond the scope of mere folk art while avoiding the mundane nature of contemporary recreations.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace; the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

Amid the green refuge of Chirtrakoot, Rama and Sita live in tranquility and equilibrium, free from the vices of the kingdom they chose to leave behind. United in their life of exile, they gaze into the Mandakini River below, abounding with flowers, fish and birds. Immediately to the left of Sita, two songbirds mimic the relationship of the deities. Appearing without shadows or perspective, this Madhubani painting achieves a perception of space through the scale of the distant fish and distribution of assets, namely the flowers in the high background, suggesting a steep landscape, backed up by a dividing line to the left of Sita, that hints towards rolling hills over the riverbank.

Indian artist Bharti Dayal triumphs in her depiction of both Hindu deities, capturing the essence of the Goddess of beauty and the embodiment of dharma with her arrangement of flowing shapes and naturally occurring colors. Dedicated to modernizing one of the most iconic painting styles of India, Dayal creates this painting drawing on experience gained throughout her portfolio numbering in the thousands.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace; the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

Ganesha, God of wisdom and the most widely revered of the Hindu assemblage, casts aside all other aspects of the Earth to devote himself to mindfulness in the garden of peacocks. As a master of the mind, Ganesha encourages others in their pursuits of learning and advanced studies, aiding in focus and intellect with his ubiquitous presence which draws all minds to the center. Depicted in his commonly-accepted four-armed form, wearing a floral crown and patterned textiles, Ganesha appears levitating while seated, seemingly superimposed over the peacocks of the background. Bharti Dayal creates 'Ganesha - The Beginning' to honor the deity's role as the giver of new beginnings and to tell the authentic story of India's vivid experience with Hinduism, painting handmade paper with vegetable-derived colors.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace; the quest of all beings," Dayal says.