I share this short narrative only to verbalize the ideas that inspired this piece. The idea of art is to create the same bhava in the observer. Art makes you experience a bhava while language rationalizes it. Hence, language is, by its very nature, reductive. And if one is not careful, it can sometimes act against the very bhava that the art attempts to create. I pray that adding this description will only enhance the experience of the art:

वागर्थाविव संपृक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये ।

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ॥

COMMENTARY
In the Yudha Kanda of Ramayana, Valmiki describes the relentless battle between Rama and Ravana. After watching many unfruitful attempts, Maatali, the charioteer, asks Rama: “why are continuing with this as though you are unaware of how to kill him?” In asking so, Maatali reminds Rama of his capability and asks him to use “astram paitamaham” the astra of Brahma on Ravana to kill him.

It is perhaps a reminder that we all possess the brahma astra within us. And perhaps, Valmiki inspires us to invoke the advice of our own “Maatali” to use the astra and quell the asuric forces of ahamkara!

One cannot help remember the famous chariot analogy from Katha Upanishad that Yama tells Nachiketa:

“आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि (know the Atma as the passenger)

शरीरं रथमेव तु (body as the chariot)

बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि (intelligence as the charioteer)

मनः प्रग्रहमेव च (mind as the reins)

इन्द्रियाणि हयानाहुर्विषयांस्तेषु गोचरान्‌।

आत्मेन्द्रियमनोयुक्तं भोक्तेत्याहुर्मनीषिणः ॥

…5 senses as the 5 horses and the sense objects are the paths on which they move. And the wise believe that attached to the mind and senses, the self is the bhokta.”

Our budhdhi is our Maatali where it asks the same question to the self.

In celebration of this Vijaya Dashami, this is an offering at the feet of Shri Rama. This is also a visual ode to Rishi Valmiki, who immortalized this itihasa to inspire generations across millennia!