— Paintings by Huta with passages from Savitri and explanations by the Mother
Publisher: The Havyavahana Trust, Puducherry

ISBN: 81-87372-08-7
Binding: Soft Cover
Pages: 180
Price: Rs 300

— Paintings by Huta with passages from Savitri and explanations by the Mother
Publisher: The Havyavahana Trust, Puducherry

ISBN: 81-87372-09-5
Binding: Soft Cover
Pages: 74
Price: Rs 250

Beginning in 1968 the Mother would read out passages from Savitri, go into a deep contemplation, and then give her comments and explanations, which were tape-recorded and later transcribed by Huta. The Mother named the work About Savitri. In 1972 Huta offered to the Mother copies of About Savitri, Part One (now out of print), consisting of Book One Canto One. The Mother's message for the book was: "Savitri – The supreme revelation of Sri Aurobindo's vision." Part Two of About Savitri consisting of Book One Canto Two was published in 2000 (also now out of print).

We present here Parts Three and Four of About Savitri, consisting of Book One Canto Three and part of Book One Canto Four, with the Mother's explanations on the passages, and including altogether 59 paintings by Huta inspired and approved by the Mother.

The Mother had vigorously clapped Huta’s hands between Hers, while meditating with her in Her interview room in the Playground in the early 1950s, to infuse in them a New Consciousness which would express “the beauties and wonders of the higher worlds”, as she would later explain to Huta.

The Mother was an iconoclast in every domain of life, specially so in painting, her familiar and intimate domain. “I want you to do something new. You must try to do the Future Painting in the New Light,” she had enthused Huta. “Never let people’s ideas influence your mind and impose their advice about the Future Painting. Do not try to adopt the technique either of modern art or of old classical art.…”

And She later revealed: “I have seen the beauties and wonders of the higher worlds. Now I think of expressing them in painting by various colours – blues, golds, pinks and whites – with certain vibrations of Light – all in harmony forming the New World.

“I wish to bring down upon earth this New World. Since I have no time physically, I will paint through you.…”

Huta’s books About Savitri: with some paintings (Volumes III and IV), as titled by The Mother and containing paintings by Huta and commentaries by The Mother based on Book I, Cantos III and IV of Savitri, expound The Mother’s vision, both revelatory and revolutionary, of the Future Painting. All our traditional and inveterate conceptions of Art have to be totally obliterated when we take up these books. A cursory glimpse at the paintings will refuse to reveal anything either. “If you want to enjoy these ‘meditations’,” The Mother said in one of Her messages on Savitri, “you must put aside all conventional notions about art and painting.

“Concentrate silently your vision behind the apparent form of the picture and you will reach the meaning.”

Turning the pages of these books, the mind falls silent and the contemplation of the paintings on ”The Yoga of the King: The Yoga of the Soul’s Release” from Book I, Canto III (Volume III), and “The Secret Knowledge” from Book I, Canto IV (Volume IV), quieten the heart with glimpses of a distant world gradually revealing its secret beauty.

In Volume III, recalcitrant Matter, touched by the promise of Light, is painted in deep reds and green and black in plates 5, 7, 25 and 33, in a way that is not oppressively negative and depressing, as traditionally depicted, but hints at the possible fulfillment of the Supreme’s assurance to Matter. Paradoxically, darkness depicted here is rather fascinating.

Nuances of blue and pink lend a soothing dream quality, depicting the more positive experiences; so do vibrant yellows and golds, an assuring touch. The first descent of an Avatar (plate 8), the human body receiving the Superhuman Consciousness (plate 10), the sense of joy of the New Consciousness touching the world in whirling joyous rings of yellow (plate 14) , and the Divine Presence entering into Matter along with the subsequent paintings (from plate 28 on), all showing the inevitable divinisation of Matter in flowing gold and red, end in a cadence of joy and a sense of liberation.

On April 1st 1969 The Mother gave this message: “Since the beginning of this year a New Consciousness is at work upon earth to prepare men for a New Creation, the Superman. For this creation to be possible the substance that constitutes man’s body must undergo a big change, it must become more receptive to the Consciousness and more plastic under its working.…” In Volume IV we see how The Mother helped Huta depict the working of this New Consciousness. In Her comment with plate 2 She noted that “…for centuries none took care to give to the body the right Consciousness, but now this Consciousness has come down upon earth and is working to give to the body that same experience as many have got already in the mind…. The time has come when this marvellous change can be effected…”

“Coming from the highest world, Savitri knew intuitively what should and would be the possibilities of the beings who will live upon earth.” In plate 11 The Divine Mother in Her eternal solicitude stoops to bless the earth lying prostrate in an immobility of surrender. The suggestive fingers of The Mother in white and pink strokes penetrating into Matter and blessing it portray a theme as old as creation. The restraint and dignity in the use of soft pinks and subdued yellows suffuse the painting with the touch of benign tenderness.

Plate 10 depicts a passage from Savitri where the earth, reminiscent of her glorious past, yearns for that “one needed truth (that) eludes her grasp”.

A vision meets her of supernal Powers
…
Then is she moved to all that she is not
And stretches arms to what was never hers.

In an evocative gesture, the earth, suggested in bright vermilion and green conic forms, raises her mute invocation to the supernal Powers. A certain rhythmic gaiety pervades the painting in the juxtaposition of vermilion and green and yellow as if in anticipation of the fulfillment of her ardent prayer.

He (man) is ignorant of the meaning of his life,
He is ignorant of his high and splendid fate.

But sometimes,

… a revealing Force sweeps blazing in;
…
And Nature trembles with the power, the flame.

Plate 3 pictures the quivering flames, blazing in brilliant red and yellow and green, which seem to storm the earth, lying insignificant, impotent, and shake it out of its somnolence.

Yet at other times when our being shuts out the clamour of our senses,

In moments when the inner lamps are lit
And the life’s cherished guests are left outside,
…
A ray of the timeless Glory stoops awhile
To commune with our seized illumined clay
And leaves its huge white stamp upon our lives.

The unflickering white flame in the inner recesses of our heart, spreading its calm radiance in soft violets and pinks to the nether regions of our being, soothes us with a quietude and calmness (plate 4).

In Her comments with plate 15 The Mother talks about the invisible forces that arrange events on earth: “Only those who can communicate with the Powers and what they intend to do can prepare not only themselves but those around them to deal with the forthcoming events.”

Only the Immortals on their deathless heights
…
Can see the Idea, the Might that change Time’s course,
Come maned with light from undiscovered worlds,
…
The galloping hooves of the unforeseen event,
…
As lightning leaps, as thunder sweeps, they pass
And leave their mark on the trampled breast of Life.

The quick swirling strokes have almost an audio-visual effect. As one gazes long at the swiftness of the strokes, one can almost hear and see the pacing of the hooves as they dig deep and leave their imprint on the trampled breast of Life.

Throughout this canto which depicts the working of the New Consciousness on Matter, the colours of the paintings seem rather loud and pronounced, to punctuate perhaps the powerful pressing over the earth of this New Consciousness, specially in plates 3, 6, 7, and 18. The colours are startlingly bold and dynamic in their application.

“In its superficial appearance this world is chaotic and haphazard,” says The Mother in Her comments with Plate 12.

The events that shape the appearance of our lives
…
Are an outcome of suppressed realities
…
They are born from the spirit’s sun of hidden powers
Digging a tunnel through emergency.

An obstinate and resistant Matter, shown in dark oppressive colours, is penetrated by the emanating white rays of the sun, which are rather sketchy and incomplete.

“The true world is ready behind the apparent confused and chaotic world that we know,” The Mother emphasises.

Above the world the world-creators stand,
…
These heed not to the deceiving outward play,
They turn not to the moment’s busy tramp,
…
Amid the wrestle of force, the trampling feet,
…
They watch the Bliss for which earth’s heart has cried…

Behind the chaotic screen of a colourful melee of strokes, vehement in its clamour of confusion, the peeping of a semi-hidden world lends a promise of hope, as the light green touches in the foreground suggest (plate 16).

And eventually,

In Matter shall be lit the spirit’s glow,
In body and body kindled the sacred birth;
…
Our will a force of the Eternal’s power,
And thought the rays of a spiritual sun.

The direct penetration of the spiritual sun, indicated by the central ray entering the illuminated Matter, and painted in golden yellow, destroys all the scepticism of a negating and resistant Matter (plate 17). “This is the magnificent promise”, The Mother says, “that cheers you up in whatever difficulties come on the way.

“It is these happy words that put certitude in the soul, in the mind, in the will, and then everything becomes easy.”

These books are indeed “meditations”. In one of Her messages to Huta referring to Book I, Canto I, The Mother said, “Savitri, this prophetic vision of the world’s history, including the announcement of the earth’s future. – Who can ever dare to put it in pictures?

“Yet, The Mother and Huta have tried it, this way.

“We simply meditate together on the lines chosen, and when the image becomes clear, I describe it with the help of few strokes, then Huta goes to her studio and brushes the painting.

“It is in a meditative mood that these ‘meditations’ must be looked at to find the feeling they contain behind their appearance.”

Priti Ghosh