Today we welcomed Shri Krishna and Arjuna at our Home.
Before I write about today, I want to write about how journey of arrival started.
On 4th December, 2020 I finished reading Bhagvad Gita. It has been enlightening experience and journey. After I finished reading I started filling some void from next day. That feeling of missing something was like a feeling you usually have after you finish watching a series on Netflix and now you don't know what to do !
But this time it was a different experience. My reading sessions of Bhagvad Gita were more like witnessing the greatest conversation ever in the history of mankind and listening to Shri Krishna himself guiding me. I'll call him my life coach ! I think yes that's the perfect way I can describe my relationship with him. He started coaching me at the right moment when it was most needed.
So, as I finished reading Bhagvad Gita, I knew I'm not done here and I want to read it again and again and again. But more importantly I wanted something different. I wanted to keep talking to him and keep myself connected to him. Him - my life coach , Shri Krishna.
So on 5th December I started looking for a frame of Shri Krishna and Arjuna. I wanted to put that on a wall inside our house, as a constant reminder of Bhagvad Geeta or a way, a channel for me to talk to him and seek his advice or sometimes just share everything I have on my mind. In Bhagvad Gita he constantly says that there is an Aatma , that's you and Parmatma that's him who resides inside you. This part brought me a closer to him because now I knew I can talk to him whenever and wherever I want. So if I need advice he is my Guru, who shows me right direction and if I need to open my mind and talk he is my friend. A friend in need is a friend indeed. This came to my mind after reading last shloka of 18th chapter.
Ved Vyasa says in Bhagvad Gita Chapter 18 verse 78 ( last verse)
यत्र योगेश्वर: कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धार: ।
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ।।७८।।
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama
Translation :
Wherever there is Bhagavan Shri Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, and wherever there is Arjuna, The wielder of the Gandiva bow, goodness, victory, glory and unfailing righteousness are there, such is my conviction.
So after I browsed regular e-commerce sites and tried Google around I couldn't find what I exactly wanted. If you ask me what was I looking for, I don't know exactly what was I looking for.
One thing I was clear that I don't want a small frame and I don't want it with only one of the shlokas from Bhagvad Gita. That picture of Shri Krishna and Arjuna is not about just one shloka but complete Gita Saar. The ultimate guide for mankind to bring true happiness.
As my search continued I started going through any sites where I could found that picture randomly and finally stumbled upon a frame with the phone number of artist. I immediately tried to call him. He didn't respond but then I was hopeful that I can request him for the frame the way I'm looking for so I messaged him on whatsApp and he revered back in some time.
As our conversation proceeded I learnt that it's a handmade painting his father has made and he still has original painting. He mentioned its dimensions as 5x4 feet. It put me in a dual mindset. Whether to go for original or should I go for a print with a smaller size. Maybe 4X3 feet. I mentioned this confusion to Aakanksha and she was of the firm opinion that I shall consider purchasing original one. I expressed my desire of purchasing original painting to Anand Tank, son of Virendra Tank who is original artist of the painting. He was happy to sell original painting, one of the best masterpiece his father has ever made as he described to me earlier. Now next part was negotiation of price. I certainly understand that it's difficult to value this true masterpiece but I also had to look at my pockets. Honestly speaking when it's part of his plan, he takes care of everything. Mr Anand quoted it's price as ₹ 1,50,000 /-. I took a pause but I made my mind to go for it. But I also knew being a Gujrati from Rajkot, Gujarat, he will definitely quote higher price. So my first question was whether he will be ready to negotiate. After negotiations we settled for ₹ 1,20,000/ over whatsApp conversation. After finalising the amount I called him and he mentioned that his father who made this great masterpiece is sitting near him. Immediately I expressed to share my gratitude towards him. As he started speaking, I felt extremely overwhelmed. He expressed his desire to come down all the way to Bangalore from Rajkot and handover this painting to me personally. After all it was about his sentiments towards his art, a true masterpiece he had created. I immediately responded my affirmative response and sponsored his flight tickets from Ahemdabad to Bangalore and made complete payment of ₹ 1,32,000/- in a day.
Finally the day came, 11th December, 2020. I reached at Bangalore airport to receive Mr Virendra Tank. An aged man with lean physique, modern outfits - flowery shirt and jeans, leather shoes, glasses with thick black frame in his shirt's pocket, long grey hair walked out of arrival gate holding a long pipe properly packed form both ends. I knew it's him. I waved at him smiling behind my mask. As Covid noms, I greeted him by doing Namaste. I saw his hands shaking and offered help to carry that pipe in which he had packed his masterpiece very safely. We walked for a little and I offered him to be my guest and allow me to take him for a lunch.
Our conversation started over a Mysore Masala Dosa, a typical south Indian dish. I had few questions for him out of curiosity and he started answering them in nostalgia.
He was in 9th when he started his journey with fine arts and did his 5 + 1 years of diploma and course of art teacher from Ahemdabad and before that he has one of the finest masters from Rajkot as his master in his childhood days. His skills groomed under his guidance and by encouragement of very supportive father.
One day his master wanted to throw way some of the paintings he was not interested in. Shri Krishna and Arjuna's print caught Me Virendra's eye and he took that print for himself as per his master's instruction to pick anything he wants if he is interested.
After few years because of his continuous dedication towards work he was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis and doctor strictly instructed him to not work and rest as much as he could. But it wasn't a feasible option for a true passionate artist and financial situation wasn't really good. So he continued his work even though he was suffering through so much discomfort and after 3 years of cervical spondylosis he picked up this print of Shri Krishna and Arjuna and started work on his masterpiece. It took around 6 to 61/2 months for him to complete this work. Sometimes he used to work until morning 04:00 am and sleep next to his art in making. He finally completed it on 21st July 2011.
9 years passed to this event and this masterpiece was still waiting on stretcher. One fine day Mr Virendra Tank asked Shri Krishna looking at the painting, when will he find a client for his masterpiece. Like it was waiting all these years for me to contact him and request him to sell me. Both of us were delighted exchanging our thoughts over a lunch. I couldn't stop noticing tattoo of ॐ on his hand like mine. So I asked him if he believes in him and what were his thoughts while making this painting. He smiled and told me the depth of knowledge he got through Osho and his books about Bhagwan Shri Krishna. I was pleased to know that it's not just a piece of art but the belief with which he built it. Now I could probably understood some part of his plan. Why I felt overwhelming.
Before leaving he mentioned that he has 75 such paintings he made to express his inner thoughts, emotions and feelings. And he is still waiting to sell them. I wished him that all his paintings will be sold soon. This is just the beginning or Shri Ganesha of something big. I promised him that I will try to help him spreading his work to more people and we departed saying Goodbye !
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