I cannot believe how fast 2018 seems to fly by. Wasn’t I in Siem Reap just the other week? Before that I was in Kerala for a retreat style training and then at Bangalore for intensive training on Digital presence. Between all my trips and training sessions, I realised that Valentines Day was approaching. It gave me the push to create a special Valentines day jewelry collection. One whose “Bhaava” that it feeling or mood has been lingering in my mind for a few years now. A collection that explores Love, intimacy, passion, sacrifice, anger – the mixed bag of emotions that love brings along.
Sammoh – a Valentines day special range by Sayuri
So taking a short break from Patinam, here I present Sammoh – a Valentines day special range by Sayuri. The expression of Love brought about by pictures necklaces portraying epic Love stories. The myriad of colours that you feel as you fall in and out of love. Sammoh – Hypnotised by Love by Sayuri just in time for Valentines day. Sammoh is a collection of limited designs – necklaces and earrings with no repeat orders or customisations.
“Falling in love….. Is hard on your knees”
I remember creating a TShirt with this quote and a graphic many years back and it was quite popular then. Yes, falling in love is hard, but staying in love, seems to be harder in reality. For Sammoh, I wanted to explore these two parts of love in terms of picture jewelry. That is when I chanced upon the idea of Eternal Love stories. Stories of fictional, mythological, and historical couples, whose love story has transcended time. Every of them is about love. However, they are all unique. Sometimes, the story of same couple showcases the myriad shades of love. In this post and in the next, I hope to present these stories the way I know best – as jewelry.
Sammoh – Eternal love stories
The first three necklaces are about falling in love. The second two are love stories where issues during separation is the main theme. However, I would be showcasing the joy in their togetherness rather than their separation.
Ram and Sita necklace – the bloom of first love
The scene from Ramayana when Ram and Sita meet for the first time and their eyes lock is quoted as one of the sublime moments of the epic. The famous “Annalum nokinaar, Avalum Nokinaal” from Kamba Ramayanam where Rama walking in the street with this teacher Vishwamitra and brother Lakshman, chances at the beautiful Sita standing in her balcony. The moment they see each other, they fall in love and feel a connection that surpasses space and time.
Epitomising this love at first sight is this beautiful Cambodian silk fabric bead necklace with matching earrings – Sold.
Layla Majnun Necklace – Unrequited Love
An illustrative panel of Layla that I saw at the Islamic Art museum in Malaysia recently (Malaysian travel stories coming up soon) is what triggered this collection. Only then did I realise that the story (by Nizami Ganjavi) was about the childhood love of Qais ibn Al-Mulawah and Layla. Separated by Layla’s father and her then marriage, Qais retreats to the desert and writes poems in Layla’s memory. He becomes crazy in love – Layla’s Majnun, a madman who eventually dies of heartbreak after Layla’s death.
As this story is melancholic right from the start, I created a blue necklace. I have used lattice beadcaps, teardrop shapes and frosted sugar beads, that are inspired by Persia and the desert textures where this story happens. Teh image is imaginative – as these eternal lovers are together only in their heart and soul. Lalya Majnun crystal necklace is for sale.
Arjuna Subhadra necklace – Of Passion & Sacrifice
In my Old post on Purva Raga, I talked about how simply to a characteristics of a person can make you fall in love with them. Here is another story on similar lines from Mahabharata. Arjuna, one of the Pandavas was in love with Krishna’s half sister Subhadra while listening to stories about her beauty. He visits her place disguised as a hermit. Unknown to him Princess Subhadra too, on hearing stories of Arjuna’s valour falls in love with him. While Krishna is willing to support the marriage, the other brother Balarama is against their union. On Krishna’s suggestion they elope to get married but then face the wrath of Draupadi, Arjuna’s first wife. Subhadra first becomes Draupadi’s maid and then her friend to convince her that she does not want to be a Queen but just be Arjuna’s love.
Arjuna, as per Mahabharata, marries 5 times, each time a princess from a different geographical region. Excepting Drapaudi who was the Pandava empress and Subhadra all of them chose to remain as queens of their own kingdoms. Subhadra sacrificed her position for her love. Arjuna Subhadra necklace is for sale.
Rati & Kama Necklace – of desire and relationships
Desire for love is rich, indulgent, earthy, furious, tempting, infuriating, all at the same time. It does not care for labels or societal structure. In the end, the hear wants, what the heart wants!
So How can I create a range on love and forget Kamadeva – the Indian God of Love? Here is one that shows Kama (Manmatha) and his wife Rati together. Rati – Manmatha’s story is fascinating and spans eons where they are torn apart and come together. The book on Kamadeva by Anuja Chandramouli tells an intriguing tale of how Kama reduced to ashes, is reborn as Pradyumna, Krishna’s son to finally reunite with his Rati. Kama’s story also discusses love, attraction, and relationships without confining them in the so called labels of morality and societal structure. This Rati and Kama necklace is hand knotted with pure silk beads in rich colours. Earrings – Jhumka.
Nala & Damayanthi – of Love and loss
The story of Nala – Damayanthi deals with gambling and how it can tear a family apart. How losing ones status, wealth and position an make a man feel so inferior that he not only abandons his wife but her ugliness comes comes when he is bitten by a snake. But before all that, they were a couple very much in love. A love that was messenger by swans and Tested by the Gods. The artist Raja Ravi Verma has created many images from this epic story a few of which I had used in my Chithiram collection. A Necklace from Chitra Katha (Ravi verma Revisited) discussed the “falling in love” part of this story.
Typically Nala Damayathi paintings are in Reds and browns focusing on melancholic or deeper aspects of their stories. I have, however, chosen to portray a slice of the normal life in the company of each other surrounding by prosperity and unaware of the challenges that they are going to face. The Pendant has resin painting with a rhinestone edge. This multi colored necklace is sold
In typical Sayuri style, this collection uses a lot of rich materials like silk, gold edged beads, crystals and resin pendants with inclusions. Those not always seen in the pictures, they all come with matching earrings. These are not ordinary pieces but ode to the classics that you might have read or heard about. They are Fantastic Valentine’s day gift to show your love. Please email me to place your orders.
Stay tuned for the remaining designs in Sammoh – a Valentines day special range by Sayuri. In the meanwhile, do tell me in the comments what do you think of the collection? Please do point me to your favourite love stories, ones that you would want me to include in this range.
Until then, Here’s to those who made me fall in love with them.
I love every moment I spent thinking of you.
You brought me smiles, you brought me tears,
You brought me Love.
And for that, I will forever
Remember you.
With Love,
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