Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 22: Kartikeya with His Wives

by Raja Ravi Varma

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Raja Ravi Varma's 'Kartikeya with His Wives' depicts Kartikeya, the Hindu god of victory and war. In legends, Kartikeya fights evil and is a source of good. In the painting, he and his wives ride a glorious peacock, which steps on a hooded cobra slithering below. Each of Kartikeya's wives holds a flower. Kartikeya has six heads, allowing him to see enemies approaching from every direction during war. Kartikeya holds various weapons in his twelve hands, including a scimitar. Kartikeya also has twelve feet, although it is not shown in the painting. Legend explains why Kartikeya has six heads and a dozen hands and feet. Kartikeya's mother had six babies and hugged them so hard, the bodies merged, leaving the heads, hands, and feet separate.

Vocabulary

Kartikeya: The six-headed Hindu god of victory and war.
Hindu: A follower of Hinduism, a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia.
Peacock: A male bird with very long tail feathers that have eyelike markings and that can be erected and expanded like a fan.
Cobra: A highly venomous snake native to Africa and Asia that spreads the skin of its neck into a hood when disturbed.
Scimitar: A short sword with a curved blade that broadens toward the point.
Dozen: A group or set of twelve.
Headdress: An ornamental covering or band for the head, especially one worn on ceremonial occasions.

Concepts

1. Raja Ravi Varma was born in 1848 in Kilimanoor Palace, located in the Kingdom of Travancore in present-day India. Varma was born into the aristocracy and was given the title of 'Raja' by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. See his picture below.

2. See the ancient entrance to Kilimanoor Palace below.

3. Find India, Varma's country of birth, on the map of South Central Asia below.

4. At age seven, Varma drew on the palace walls with charcoal. His uncle saw his potential and gave him painting lessons.
5. Varma studied art at the JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. He learned oil painting techniques from a Dutch artist.
6. Varma is known as the 'Father of Modern Indian Art.' He is considered one of the greatest painters in Indian history, painting Indian deities and mythologies using European techniques.
7. Varma died in 1906 at the age of 56.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Kartikeya
• One Body with Six Heads
• One Body with a Dozen Hands
• Scimitar
• Feathers with Eye Markings
• Snake Hood
• Two Flowers
• Two Saris
• Eight Headdresses

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 35 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the setting of the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The setting is outdoors on green grass in front of a body of water.

1 / 5

Question 2

Who are the human and animal characters in the painting?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The human and animal characters are Kartikeya, Kartikeya's wives, the peacock, and the snake.

2 / 5

Question 3

How many hands a feet does Kartikeya have?

3 / 5

Answer 3

Kartikeya has a dozen hands and a dozen feet.

3 / 5

Question 4

Why does Kartikeya have a dozen hands and a dozen feet?

4 / 5

Answer 4

Kartikeya's mother had six babies and hugged them so hard, the bodies merged, leaving the heads, hands, and feet separate.

4 / 5

Question 5

How does having six heads give Kartikeya an advantage in war?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Kartikeya's six heads enable him to see in all directions. His adversaries cannot sneak up on him.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is outdoors on green grass in front of a body of water.
2. Who are the human and animal characters in the painting? The human and animal characters are Kartikeya, Kartikeya's wives, the peacock, and the snake.
3. How many hands a feet does Kartikeya have? Kartikeya has a dozen hands and a dozen feet.
4. Why does Kartikeya have a dozen hands and a dozen feet? Kartikeya's mother had six babies and hugged them so hard, the bodies merged, leaving the heads, hands, and feet separate.
5. How does having six heads give Kartikeya an advantage in war? Kartikeya's six heads enable him to see in all directions. His adversaries cannot sneak up on him.

References

'Raja Ravi Varma.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Kilimanoor Palace Image (CC BY-SA 3.0).' Magnus Manske. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Kartikeya.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Scimitar.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'10 lesser known facts about the warrior Kartikeya, Lord Ganesha’s brother.' Reshareit. Reshareit.com. n.p.