From Rasa to Tapa | Narrative Exhibition Design Project

rasa tapa shiva Dr. Dev Dutt Pattaink hindu mythology

From Rasa To Tapa

This Exhibition is based on the Hindu mythology about Rasa(life cycle) & Tapa(Inner fire). This exhibition is about the concept of life cycle and Inner fire according to Hindu mythology. This is decoded by Dr. Dev Dutt Pattaink (author) in his book myth=mythiya .

Narrative

The narrative is about maintenance of natural laws by Devas(hindu gods) so they are worshipped by people. Asuras( Demons) wants the position of Devas. To achieve this they becomes Tapaswin(Ascetics). They subvert natural laws and Devas becomes wary of Asuras. To disturb Asuras from acheiving the potential of subverting natural laws. They sends Apsara (water-nymphs) to stop Asuras from becoming Tapaswin. Apsaras causes their seed to travel downwards by evoking sexual desires in them.

But these disturbances doesnt work on Shiva. He is the ultimate Tapaswin. He has burned his desire.

These whole concept has been decoded through beautiful stories of Hindu myth. The exhibition is all about it. It is devided into four zones. Each zone will be showcasing illustrations made by the author. These Zones are

Zone 1 (The Jungle)
Zone 2 (Dry Jungle)
Zone 3 (Desire)
Zone 4 (Kailasha)

Final Visualisations of the Exhibition

Zone 1 ( jungle, about life Cycle)

The Jungle is a metaphor for life process maintained by Devas. They are worshipped by humans in the form of air, water, sun. The Jungle is just to represents Devas and their work.

This zone will showcase the illustrations made by the author about the particular stories following his idea of life , Rasa and Devas.

Zone 2 ( Dry Jungle, about subversion of natural laws through Tapa)

Dry Jungle represents the opposite of the zone 1( the Jungle). Asuras (Demons) and Ascetics achieves the natural law breaking powers and hence they subverts natural laws. They wants to be worshipped by humans. so they challenge and fights with Devas. The zone will tell the stories of Devas and Asuras fights, Asuras power gaining stories and the stories of the subversion of natural laws through Tapa( Upward flow of semen).

Zone3 ( Desire, about Sexual Desire through Rasa)

This zone represents the Devas wary of Tapaswin & Asuras (Demons) and Ascetics achieves the natural law breaking powers and hence they subverts natural laws. To stop Ascetics from doing Tapa Devas sends Water nymphs to stop. These waternymphs(Apsaras) evokes sexual desire and hence downward flow of semen happens. This zone contains stories of Ahalaya, Indra and Menka.

Zone 4 ( Kailasha, About Shiva )

This Zone will only talk about Siva the ultimate Tapaswin. He has burned his desire and lives in mount kailasha. He is ultimate Purusha and he does not care about right or wrong. He is above all. These all concepts are from Hindu myths and this zone will be taking all of these.