Birth: Death (Janma: Marana)
Birth: Death uses the unique shape of a damaru (two-headed drum) to visualize the eternal cycle of existence. The instrument sits at the heart of the canvas, split into two distinct realms: a vibrant red top representing life, and a deep black base representing death. Connecting these worlds is a slender middle section painted in three hues—black for the past, gold for the future, and red for the present. Within that red centre, a white Sri-Vatsa serves as a focal point, reminding us that the present moment is the only reality we truly possess.
The symbolism is woven into the very strings of the drum. A black cord descends from the top, signifying that the process of dying begins the instant, we are born. Conversely, a red cord reaches up from the darkness, showing that every end is the seed of a new beginning. Flanked by the twin markers of sunrise and sunset, the painting illustrates that life and death are not separate events but a continuous change of form. The white boat of abstinence alone can help cross this turbulent worldly ocean.
The essence of the painting lies in its portrayal of ‘simultaneous transition.’ It suggests that we do not die in a single moment; rather, we are in a constant state of becoming and ceasing.
It leaves us with a powerful thought: if life and death are just ‘changes of form,’ what would happen if we stopped fearing the end and started focusing on the present? How might your perspective shift if you saw every ending as a necessary prelude to a new beginning?