Dr. Goutham says " The art of Alangaram of deities (idol decoration) is an ocean by itself and through this website, I am sharing whatever little knowledge I have gained over the years from my father and my great ancestors who have made sincere efforts to promote this divine artform. I am starting this site as a contribution to their efforts and also to bring out the wisdom behind this art to those who are interested."Thereby, a lot of importance was given to decorating these idols both Mulavar and Utsavar with grand clothes and stunning ornaments. These deities were elaborately decorated with silk clothing, flowers and precious gems in various avatars enthralling the devotees as they took a glimpse of the beautiful deities. Over the period of years, this art of decorating the idols developed into a unique artform by itself which is now known as the art of ALANGARAM making. Decorating temple deities is a tradition which is known to be more than 1000 years old and the art of decorating such deities are found in the Chola inscriptions.God is infinite and illimitable.The whole universe consisting of mobile and immobile creaters is contained in a fragment of god and rests on his sankalpa alone, like this only we are doing all these alangaram by his sankalpa.Human life is a valuable treasure; every moment of it is meant to be devoted to the remembrance of God; hence it should not be wasted. Carefully devote every single moment to contemplation on God and to his service not only through the body and speech but through the mind as well.Gods Alangaram is the master key to our success in our life.All the artforms were mere expressions of love for this supreme power that is taking care of us every minute. While this power is infinite and formless, most of us might find it difficult to contemplate upon the supreme. Hence, our ancestors prescribed the way of idol worship so that one could contemplate upon the form to reach the formless.Similarly Alangaram making was developed as one of the artforms where one could contemplate upon the beautiful form of the deity to experience the divinity within.In Srimad Bhagavatham, there is a verse in 3.28.12 which says,"Kastham Bhagavato Dhyayet"This means that by meditating upon the form of Bhagavan, one can experience the divinity and the creative power within.As the alangaram artist Mr. Goutham says "A number of my friends have expressed their doubt by asking if it is possible to see God with our own eyes and chat with him. And I would say, definitely it is possible to see him and chat with him. Although we are all mere expressions of the supreme, through alangarams it is much easier to feel and experience this divinity within. If one is open and willing, one can experience intense devotion and blossoming within just like the blossoming up of a lotus flower"Alangaram is a good feeling .How we think and how we like to see the supreme lord. in that there are three types of relationship between god and bakthan.
Alankara Kriya
