For Udayraj, creating sculptures in Gold, lacing them with Diamonds, Ruby, Emerald is an extension of his expression, hence if you look closely, they are all by ancient symbols, Indian Iconography! Yes, the media has used the word “Jewelry”. But then it only limits the viewers’ imagination.
SWAYAMBHUInter Gold, India Dedicated to Mystical Indian symbols
SIDHIDATTA Inter Gold, India Dedicated to God Ganapati
VINAYAKA Hammer Plus, Germany Dedicated to 1st Hindu God Lord Ganesha
KARMA Hammer Plus, Germany Dedicated to Destiny enhancing symbols
PADMA SUTRA ORRA, Antwerp, Belgium Dedicated to Power of YOGA
Reuters, February 9, 2011
Worshipped as the God of success, education, wisdom, knowledge and wealth, the elephant-headed god, will now help children in Sub-saharan Africa get some education. How? Diamond Company, Rosy Blue auctioned a Ganpati, and it is no ordinary image of the Lord. What we are talking about is a 119 carat blue diamond shaped like a Ganpati, mined in South Africa, enclosed in a gold locket and accompanying this will be a painting of the huge pot-bellied God made with semi-precious stones.
The auction was held at the Banqueting Hall of Palace of Westminster at Whitehall, London on 15th November, 2010. Thependant has been dubbed as ‘Vilas Ganpati’ which means ‘charming Ganpati’ and was donated to the Diamond empowerment Fund, which was formed by the international diamond industry, sharing similar interests of spreading education in Africa.
The pendant was designed by an Indian spiritual artist, Udayraj Gadniswho thinks that, this isn’t a work of art but it is a work of worship. Mr. Gadnis was the fortunate one to be selected from 152 international jewelry designers by Rosy Blue to style the diamond.
Also, he painted a beautiful image of Lord Ganesha (Ganpati) while he was sitting on the banks of the Thames. He says it reminded him of the river Ganga, which is considered to be a religious icon and a spiritual centre in India. He calls the painting ‘Indu Vilas Ganpati’, from the Indus Valley, representing the India that is the cradle of spirituality. This painting was painted with gold powder and crushed sapphires and semi-precious stones.
“We are fortunate to have sourced this diamond from South Africa. We are glad that he (Mr. Gadnis) has created a masterpiece,” said Dilip Mehta, chairman of Rosy Blue.
The entire journey of the diamond began when Mr. Dilip Mehta, the owner of Rosy Blue recognized the basic shape of the raw diamond. Mr Gadnis worked on this for 3 years to bring out the latent Ganapati shape. “It’s been 3 billion years in the making, I have just cut away what was not necessary,” he says.
Set in layered gold, inspired by the terraced land terrain near Rishikesh and Hardwar (sacred cities of the country) — the setting represents the earth in which the stone was born. The locket is designed to be worn by an individual — so that the stone itself can touch the heart. “Experience it,” he will tell you, pulling out the piece from a pocket of his flowing dhoti and kurta. “Feel it, most great art is too often stuck in glass cases in museums,” he says.
