About us
Gods and Interiors is the result of a spiritual insight that happened to Manisha Khanna, a designer whose family has been in the designing of textiles over the last 50 years.
She was inspired by Lord Ganesha in her dreams to evolve creations using idols, mantras, shlokas and yantras. What started as a hobby and gift for friends to bring prosperity and happiness in their homes, became a vision to reach out to all who seek spiritual solace and who believe in God as an integral part of their lives. In other words these creations are an attempt to bring God within our homes and interiors, and not just confined to temples or Mandirs.
This enterprise was named Ridhdhi Ethnic Arts & Elegant Interiors, where Ridhdhi is the beloved of Lord Ganesha, and which also means perfection, success, prosperity and wealth.
These creations have a profound effect on the atmosphere and the environments of the interiors as they evoke RASA in Indian philosophy. Rasa is a strong sentiment or aesthetic experience that gives rise to BHAVA, which means a specific mental state or mood. As described by Rene Daulmal in his book "Rasa", Bhava is "A moment of consciousness provoked by the medium of art and colored by particular pathos." The mental perceptions and feelings we have are said to be the reins that govern our physical lives. Altogether there are nine Rasas, which cover the whole spectrum of human emotions, ranging from fear and excitement.
The Rasa that are deemed highly suitable for interiors are known as Sahanta, Shingara and Hasya - the peaceful, the pleasing and the comic. Ridhdhi's creations are in the Sahanta Rasa, which is peaceful and meditative and recommended for use at home.
Much can be written about the Mantras used in the creations of Ridhdhi, for example, many different kinds of Mantra as a humble attempt to guide and help people with their development in spiritual life through the practice of Mantra.
The goal of all Mantra yoga is revelation, union with the Divine. We are now said to live in the Kali Yuga, the Iron Age, the last of the four yugas, the evil age. Evil forces and immorality will prevail it is said, and this certainly seems to be so. At this time, Mantra Yoga, the use of the LordÕs name, in our creations is supposed to be the best help for the development of the individual. There is a saying, Kali Yuga Keval Namah Adhara, which mean, ÒIn the Kali Yuga the holy name is the boat to cross the ocean of maya (illusion).Ó
Tradition says that the Mantras were given to us by the rishis, the great seers, holy ones and teachers who lived in times past. They, in turn, are said to have picked up the Mantras, or tuned into them, on the etheric level. The Mantras were created from the subtle vibrations of many millions of people who have cried out in their distress across the centuries. the Mantras are, so to speak, the essence of all those cries, but they are more than that; they are the answers to those cries.
Ridhdhi attempts to bring out the best results of Mantras and Rasas, of course with the help of the Almighty. God in Hinduism has different forms used by Ridhdhi. A brief about each of these Gods is enumerated herewith.
Durga
One of the wives
of Shiva. She is the goddess of retribution and justice. She is both
beautiful and fierce, and usually appears with her weapons and riding upon
a tiger or a lion.
Ganesha
The god of good fortune. He takes away
obstacles and brings success. This is the elephant-headed son of Shiva and
Parvati. He is sometimes called Ganapati.
Kali
A goddess who is
one of the wives of Shiva. She represents the wild, destructive character.
She is often linked to death, wearing a necklace of human skulls, a skirt
of human limbs, and with blood dripping from her weapons. At times, she
can even overcome her husband.
Krishna
A god who is one
of the avatars of Vishnu. He plays a key role in the Mahabharata. In the
Mahabharata appears the Bhagavad Gita which is a theological discourse he
gives while waiting to go into battle and describes the basics of karma
yoga , jnana yoga , and bhakti yoga .
Lakshmi
The goddess of prosperity. She
and her consort Vishnu are discussed further in the discussion of the
Cosmos.
Om
The most famous mantra, used as a
meditational device in many forms of yoga. This sound is believed to be an
aspect of the creation of the cosmos.
Parvati
One of Shiva's wives. She represents
erotic and sensual love, the love of courtship and wooing. She is the
mother of Ganesha .
Rama
A popular hero god
who is an avatar of Vishnu. His wife is Sita.
Shiva
One of the two main
gods of Hinduism. He is associated with a number of goddesses, the main
four are Parvati, Umma, Durga, and Kali.
Sita
The wife of Rama. Often seen as
the epitome of faithfulness. In the Ramayana, she is captured by a the
king of the demons, Ravanna, and her husband must rescue her.
Saraswati
Saraswati is
the female counterpart of Vishnu. She is the mother Goddess and the
Goddess of learning, Knowledge and wisdom. She rides a swan or peacock and
carries items such as an arrow, a bell, a book, a bow or conch.
Vishnu
One of two main
gods in Hinduism. He is usually worshiped in the form of one of his
avatars, Krishna and Rama.
