Indian mythology loves troublemakers and mischief-mongers.
We can see this from the innumerable stories revolving around the Gandharvas.
But very few know them as the musicians and artists they also are.
There is a story in Indian mythology that goes something like this:
The Gandharvas were male demigods, known for their penchant for mischief and creating strife between the gods. They practically lived to create unrest.
One day, a Gandharva, named Vishvavasu, was in charge of looking after the Soma created by the gods, and on seeing the buzz around it, his curiosity peaked. So, he grabbed the pitcher and hid it deep in the heart of the Gandharva's abode.
This infuriated all the gods, but they needed a solution that would work for both parties, so they turned to the goddess Saraswati for help.
Saraswati disguised herself as a young maiden and set off to confront the Gandharvas with a unique weapon veena.
Upon reaching their abode, she found a peaceful spot in a beautiful garden and started playing with her veena. Melodious notes filled the air and the gandharvas were stunned.
They were drawn to the place as if in a trance, and soon, all the Gandharvas surrounded her while she continued playing.
Suddenly the music stopped and to the Gandharvas, it felt like all the beauty had been sucked out of space. Vishvavasu looked in distress at the beautiful girl and said,
“Why did you stop? “, "Give us this music”. “Only if you give back the soma plant to the devas,” said the goddess, Saraswati.
The Gandharvas then, ashamed of their actions, returned the soma plant and learned how to play music from Saraswati. In time they became celestial musicians whose melodies had more power to rouse the mind than any intoxicant.
This story doesn’t just tell us about the origin of the Gandharvas as musicians and dancers.
It gives us a glimpse into our biases as humans. For centuries, music, dance, and art of any kind have been seen as a bastion of the pure and the good. But this story shows us that art has no definition and no boundaries. It just is.
The bronze sculpture of a gandharva, from the house of G-art, is an ode to this.
This elegantly crafted and intricate bronze statute beautifully captures the two sides of Gandharva's personality.
The expression mirrors the mischief that Gandharvas are known for, while the seamless form is a testament to their unmatched talent as musicians and dancers.
So, if you have been looking for an investment that moves away from the run-of-mill art pieces you see out there, this is a statue that you have to bring home.