Overview
God first created man in his
image, and now, men create Gods in their mould! Discover this time-worn tale
unravels itself in the happenings of an archetypal Indian village – sunburned
and sleepy. At the village potter’s workspace, watching him surrounded by dolls
of all sizes, in various stages of the making and you will recall many such
visits across the expanses of rural India. Yet each one has its own narrative
to share. It could be related to the native clay… the water… the very sunlight,
which impacts the making…giving it a slight twist to what you would find
elsewhere.
Why you will love it
- Discover the special narratives of pottery-making that are individual to the Madurai experience
- Learn why are earthen horses, made by the velars (members of the potter community) are offered to the deity Ayyanars here?
- Savour the magical moments when humble clay transforms into the divine under the skilled hands of the artisan
What you will experience
Join us on
a visit to Tamil potters’ village, and watch mud go from the mundane to the
sublime. As you enter the village precincts the first to welcome you appears to
be a host of clay dolls that range from all sizes, and in various stages of
making. This is when it comes home to you that this village plays host to the
deities– even if it is in the form, lovingly, crafted by their own hands from
the village soil.
In the
artisan’s workspace watch magic created by a simple villager, who by plying his
ancient craft becomes a creator; someone, who can, just by the studied movement
of his hands, transform basic clay into a work of art – be it deity or a horse.
Marvel at the dexterity of those hands as they gently pack hundreds of dolls
into a fire to bake them; immerse yourself in the rich nuances of their skilful
application of the paint brushes to bring a blush to an earthen cheek.
At the local Ayyanar temple, we discover
the colourful terracotta horses, a unique
tradition in these parts. These terracotta horses themselves are imbued with
deep symbolism. Why you may ask are earthen
horses offered to Gods here? Herein lies an interesting story. Intrinsic to the Tamil village pantheon, Ayyanar is
also referred to as a ‘viran’ or a brave one, a warrior who rides horses,
brandishes a trident and fights demons and protects the villagers. Most
Tamil villages have an Ayyanar shrine. Dotted all across the Tamil landscape
you will discover these small statues of terracotta horses as well as more than
life-sized, colourfully painted cement horses, often with warriors straddling
them, as they as they are revered as the guardians of the villages. Votive
offering of terracotta horses for good rainfall and a good harvest is quite the
norm in rural areas here.
Stock up
your memory bank with stories that run the gamut of history, mythology,
tradition, and fantasy, unravelled for you by the villagers, the priests and
the craftsmen …