Visions of the Divine: Artwork Inspired by Hindu Mythology

"Visions of the Divine," allowed me to focus and elevate my artwork, painting style, and techniques to new levels. Inspired by the mythological stories I heard as a child and my deep interest in the sciences, including physics and astronomy, and in an attempt in trying to answer the most allusive, yet fundamental question of all, "why are we here and what is the meaning of life," I began visualizing ways to illustrate what I imagined.

This collection of artworks was developed with heavy research in Hindu iconography, oral, and written mythologies. Although the images in the book span over 40 years, I dedicated over 5 years, between 2020-2025 to develop a cohesive story and connect the artworks.

"Visions of the Divine," is an art book and is not intended as a religious book in anyway. I have only portrayed a small fraction of the numerous mythical stories and figures. This collection focuses on the primary feminine and masculine deities of the Hindu Pantheon. Covering such a vast subject would indeed require volumes and dedicated libraries to begin to address the enduring mythology. "Visions of the Divine," represents my personal interpretation.

In the process of creating artwork and research, I learned that Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as a "way of life" or a "family of religions," as opposed to a single, organized religion.

Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity, known as "Brahman," but still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple paths to reaching their supreme being or supreme soul. Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).

Hinduism is also described by some to be monotheistic, where all deities are believed to be forms of Brahman, the same energy, or the same supreme soul. One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is "atman," or the belief in a soul. This philosophy holds that living creatures have a soul, and they are all part of the supreme soul. The goal is to achieve "moksha," or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul. One fundamental principle of Hinduism is the idea that people's actions and thoughts directly determine their current life and future lives.

The aspect that Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that emphasizes good conduct and morality, and they are all part of the supreme soul really appealed to me. Also, the concept of karma or the universal law of cause and effect aligns with scientific thought and perspectives in my interpretation.

Like scientific theory, Hinduism references immense timescales, the universe, and planetary systems that fit better with modern science than other world faiths. Some of the accounts of creation in Hindu sacred texts seem to describe a gradual evolution of life from simplicity to complexity, and the Hindu idea of recurrent creation and destruction of the universe can be compared to theories of 'big bangs' and 'big crunches. Contemporary scientists might query the empirical evidence for the existence of a supreme life force, universal energy, reincarnation, karma, moksha, and other basic elements of Hindu mythology, but the rich diversity of the stories provide much scope for flexible interpretations that can reconcile the claims of science and religion.

I have used my artwork in my unique creative style for "Visions of the Divine" to express the different forms of energy by illustrating the deities that embody those attributes. I am hopeful that this work will surely impact observers and readers' minds, and they will seek to learn more about Hindu iconography and the mythology behind it.