In Hinduism, lotuses are deeply associated with the divine God Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. These revered deities are often depicted seated on a throne of lotus flowers or holding delicate lotuses in their hands. The lotus, in Hindu culture, symbolizes spiritual enlightenment, beauty, fertility, purity, prosperity, and eternity.
Embracing the Blossoms of Life: The "Motherhood" Series by Ragini Upadhyayay
The “Motherhood” series, created by the esteemed artist Ragini Upadhyayay, draws profound inspiration from her personal experience of pregnancy in the year 1995. This heartfelt collection is dedicated to the loving memory of her beloved daughter, Shivata. For Ragini, motherhood is the most exquisite gift bestowed by God, a sentiment deeply reflected in her art.
During her pregnancy, Ragini experienced an unparalleled connection between her own body and her unborn child. She describes this period as one of the most special moments of her life, a time when she felt a profound and direct bond with the new life growing within her. The physical changes in her body became symbolic representations of this connection.
The Pure Bond: A Mother's Connection to Her Child
The connection between a mother and her unborn child is profoundly pure, transcending physical existence and verbal communication. This bond is rooted in the deep emotional and intuitive link that forms as the mother’s body nurtures and sustains the new life growing within her.
According to Ragini’s experience, Ragini felt each part of body become like a blossomed lotus in different colors and moods. The connection between her baby’s tiny form and her uterus, vagina, and vulva was not just physical but deeply emotional, evoking immense feelings of love and protection. Despite the absence of spoken language, the communication between Ragini and her unborn child was profound and intuitive. It was a dialogue of hearts, where every beat and flutter communicated a shared existence and mutual understanding. This silent conversation between mother and child created an unbreakable bond, one that was pure and untainted by the complexities of the outside world.
Incomparable Sorrow: A Mother's Heartache of Losing Her Child
The love and affection that a mother has for her child, both before and after birth, is immeasurable. This profound bond begins when the child is just a fetus, manifesting not only emotionally but also physically through the umbilical cord. After birth, a mother dedicates herself to providing all the necessary care and affection, her body adapting to meet her child’s needs. This nurturing creates a deep-rooted affection and love. Tragically, if a mother has to witness the loss of her child, that boundless love transforms into profound grief. Ragini lost her daughter Shivata in Holland in 2016 at the age of 20 to meningitis. This tragic event concluded the Motherhood Series and marked the beginning of Ashes Series.
BREAST IN HEAVEN (2019) Acrylic
Ragini's Perspective: Motherhood
“Motherhood is the most wonderful gift from God. I experienced a strong bond with my unborn child. The breast become as delicate and gentle as a lotus during pregnancy. Each component of the body becomes a flowering lotus with a range of feeling and colors. The baby’s link to the mother’s uterus, vagina and vulva produces an overwhelming softness and love-filled experience.
BREAST IN HEAVEN | 30 * 40 inch | Acrylic | 2019, meanwhile depicts breasts in the form of lotus petals symbolizing a strong connection between a mother and her child which is sacred and full of love. The two pink and beige lotus flowers, where the umbilical cord that connects the baby with wings, illustrates an unbreakable bond between mother and child and establishes how deeply selfless a mother’s love is.
