Sketchbook

Sikh History Sketches

Guru Tegh Bahadur, Tyag Mal, Hind di Chadar, Sikh Gurus, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Guru Tegh Bahadur ji

Guru Tegh bahadur ji

Hind di chadar Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was previously known as Tyag Mal. However upon displaying martial prowess on the battlefield, came to be known as Tegh Bahadur, at young age. Later he resigned to small house in Bakala, where he meditated until he was discovered by Makhan Shah, and took the Gurgaddi after Guru Hari krishan ji.


Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Nanak Young, Sikh Gurus, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Young Guru Nanak Dev ji

Young Guru Nanak Dev ji

Gurus always said everyone follows faith blindly without understanding. So they tried to instill understanding in everyone. To the Gurus, hindus, muslims, christians, now sikhs, everybody was the same, they are all ignorant of God. That’s how the prophets also saw the people. Jesus said on the cross, “forgive them, Father, for they don’t know”. To the Gurus, no religion was a hurdle. It was ignorance of God that was the hurdle. That’s why the Gurus always focused on ignorance rather than religion.


Guru Harkrishan, Guru Hari Krishan, Guru Har krishan, son of Guru Har rai ji by Bhagat Singh, Sikh Gurus, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Guru Hari Krishan ji

Guru Hari Krishan ji

In 1661, Guru Hari Krishan ji received the gurgaddi from his father Guru Hari Rai ji, after his passing.
Guru Hari Krishan ji came to be known as the Bal Guru, child guru. At the age of 8 he passed away due to smallpox. Gurudwara Bala Sahib stands on the location of his cremation.

In this sketch, he is wearing the classic 17th century Dumalla, along with kalgi, chola and mala. On his cheeks, flows curls of hair. This is a typical depiction of Guru Hari Krishan ji and even young Guru Gobind Singh ji that is seen in the paintings of their times.


Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Arjun, Guru Arjun Dev, Bhai Gurdas, Bhai Gur Das, Adi Granth, Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh Gurus, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Guru Arjun Dev ji with Bhai Gurdas ji

Guru Arjun Dev ji with Bhai Gur Das ji

In this sketch Guru Arjun Dev ji, with his scribe Bhai Gur Das ji, compiles the poems and teachings of various Indian mystics.
After the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh ji’s sons, Guru Sahib having no heir to the Gurgaddi passed the torch back to the granth that was compiled by his great grandfather, Guru Arjun Dev ji. From that moment on, this compilation of teachings came to be known as the Guru Granth Sahib.


Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Nanak, Bhai Mardana, sikh gurus, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Guru Nanak Dev ji – Flow with the Hukam

Guru Nanak Dev ji – Flow with the Hukam

Guru Nanak Dev ji with Bhai Mardana ji and local villagers. In the spirit of my old painting of Guru Nanak Dev ji – Shabad Vichar

How can one realize the truth that all is impermanent?
By staying with the current of the eternal present moment one can recognize things for what they truly are.

What is the eternal present moment?
The eternal present moment cannot be stated, you can only be with it. But know that it is in the present moment in which things take form, in which living beings come to life, in which greatness is obtained, in which one becomes high or low, in which pleasure and pain is received. Everything is happening inside this eternal moment, there is nothing outside of it.


Baba Deep Singh, Sikh Warriors, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Baba Deep Singh ji

Baba Deep Singh ji

Baba Deep Singh ji sacrificed his life Hari Mandir Sahib, along with about 500 men he had gathered to defend the temple from Afghani invaders.


Other Faith Sketches

Shri Ram Chandra ji blesses Hanuman ji Chaturbhuj, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Shri Ram Blesses Hanuman
Lord Ram, Shri Ram Chandra ji, Chaturbhuj, Vishnu, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches, Bhagat Singh Bedi
Shri Ram Chandra ji – Chaturbhuj

Shri Ram Chandra ji Blesses Hanuman ji

Even though he has no form or feature, Shri Ram is portrayed as the Chaturbhuj, four-armed Lord. He is seen holding a chakra and a mace. The chakra represents the wisdom and vision (su-darshan) that Ram is everywhere. The mace represents his rule over the universe, that everything happens by his command. In this sketch, he is blessing Hanuman ji and the stones and boulders, which were used to build a bridge to Lanka, Ravan’s kingdom.


Ganesha, Ganesh, Ganapati, elephant head god, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Ganesh ji

Ganesh ji

In Ganapatya religion, the supreme God is seen as the remover of obstacles, the prime mover. He is portrayed with the head of an elephant since elephants are big, powerful beasts, able to move large objects, and transport them.


Narasimha, Narsingh, Hiranyakashipu, Prahalada, man-lion god, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Narasimha Liberates Bhagat Prahalada

Narasimha Liberates Bhagat Prahalada

Ahankar (Ahan – I, Kar- Continous), the constant sense of self that sees itself as separate from everyone else, can neither be destroyed inside nor outside nor upside nor downside nor by man nor by animal nor by projectile nor by weapon nor by day nor by night. Ahankar can only be destroyed by Hari himself. In this sketch, the supreme being, Shri Hari takes the form of a Man-Lion to kill Harnakash, who is the respresentation of Ahankar, and liberates his devotee Prahlaad, who surrenders his self to him.


Narasimha, Narasingh, narayan, thousand eyes, forms, formless, man-lion god, Vishnu, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Narsingh Narayan Sehas Murti

Narsingh Narayan

In Vaishnav religions, it is said that the supreme god, Narayan, who vibrates in the heart of all beings, assumed the form of a man-lion to destroy Hiranyakashup in order to save his devotee Prahlaad.

You have thousands of eyes and thousands of forms, however you are also without form as you are the source of all forms. You are the great giver, the source of sustenance of all beings.


Mahakal, Shri Kaal, Mahadev, Mahesh, Shiva, Shri Kharag, Lord Shiv, Sada Shiv, Shiv ji, Lord Shiva, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Mahakal

Mahakal

In Shaiv religions, Mahakal is the personification of supreme formless god, as the ultimate death. He is also known as Shri Kaal (meaning death) and Shri Kharag (meaning double-edged, straight sword).

The dumroo beats – dug dug dug dug – along with loud gongs, in his presence. A necklace of severed bloody heads glorifies his neck. The lustrous crescent moon in his top knot shines bright. His frighteningly large teeth drip with blood and his long red tongue vibrates as he roars a thunderous roar.

He is usually portrayed with four arms. However since I am not using any erasers for these sketches, I’ll probably transform that 5th arm into something else.


Ganesh, Ganapati, Ganesha, Lord Ganesh, Elephant God, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Ganesh ji

Ganesh ji

Here’s a quick sketch of Ganpati, which means – Ganesh, the father of all devotees. Unlike my previous sketches, I wanted to see what Ganesh ji would look like with a “topknot and beard”.

In the Ganapatya religions, the supreme God is seen as the remover of obstacles, the prime mover. He is portrayed with the head of an elephant with a trunk and tusks. Since elephants are big, powerful beasts, able to move large objects, and transport them, the elephant became a symbol, a representation for the characteristics of the Supreme Being and his qualities.


Krishan, Krishna, Krsna, Kanhaiya, Vasudev, Vishnu, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Krishan ji Playing Flute

Krishan ji Playing Flute

In Vaishnav religions, the One Krishna is the God of Gods, he is the spirit inside of us. Our inner Atma is Shri Krishna and enlightenment comes from recognizing this secret, to see Krishna inside.


Krishan, Krishna, Krsna, Kanhaiya, Vasudev, Vishnu, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches Bhagat Singh Bedi
Krishan ji

Krishan ji Playing Flute

I wanted to improve upon the previous sketch and draw Krishan ji again.


Lord Ram, Shri Ram Chandra ji, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches, Bhagat Singh Bedi
Lord Ram

Lord Ram – Unshorn Hair

Nau Nidh Khatri asks, “Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the helper of poor, tell me, why have you kept Kesh, unshorn hair?”

Hearing this Guru Ji said, “You have studied many Shastra, many religious texts. You have spent your life listening and reciting the Shastra, yet you have not come to realize the answer”

Guru ji continued, “Adorning Kesh, long hair, is to keep this Dharam, this tradition alive, which was started by Sanak, Sanatan, Sanandan, Sanatkumar, and others. In the land of Bharat dwells a great country, here keeping Kesh, hair unshorn, is an important part of our Dharma.”


Hanuman ji Portrait, Monkey God, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches, Bhagat Singh Bedi
Hanuman ji Portrait

Hanuman ji Portrait

A page from my 2012 sketchbook. My father said that it was the most pleasing (pyari) drawing he’d ever seen of Hanuman ji. Last year, a couple months after my dad passed away, I started a painting from this sketch.

“You possess the essence of Ram; you always remain the servant of the Raghu King! Those who sing your praises obtain Ram; their suffering is eliminated in each birth! In the end, they enter the kingdom of Ram; and wherever they take birth they are known as the devotees of Hari!”

Ram rasayan tumhre pasa; sada raho Raghupati ke dasa. Tumhre bhajan Ram ko pavai; janm janm ke dukh bisravai. Ant kaal Raghupatipur jaie; jahan janm Hari bhakt kahaie.

Hanuman Chalisa, by Bhagat Tulsidas ji. Translation by Bhagat Singh.


Hanuman ji Meditating, Monkey God, hanuman Langur, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches, Bhagat Singh Bedi
Hanuman Ji Meditating

Hanuman Ji Meditating

This painting of Hanuman ji, from 2013, was inspired by the species of Indian monkeys named after him, known as ‘Hanuman Langur’.

Black skin gets a lot of bad rep in India, even though one of God’s epithets is “dark-skinned one”. So even though most people associate the image of Hanuman ji with ‘Rhesus Monkeys’, I thought it would be interesting to see Hanuman ji with the facial characteristics of the ‘Hanuman Langur’, with black-skin and white fur.


Hanuman ji, Hominid, Early Man, Monkey God, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches, Bhagat Singh Bedi
Hominid Hanuman ji

Hominid Hanuman ji

This is a recent sketch I did of Hanuman ji. This earthy version was inspired by early human species which are known as hominids (in Latin). This is why Hanuman ji is holding a wooden club in this sketch.

I imagined – what if Ram Chandra ji had encountered early hominids in the forests, who he then made an alliances with? What if hanuman ji was one of the last remaining early humans in India? if so what would he look like?


Furious Hanuman ji, Monkey God, Warrior, Hindu Gods, Sikhi, Art, Punjab, Drawings, Sketches, Bhagat Singh Bedi
Furious Hanuman ji

Furious Hanuman ji

Hanuman was furious! When surrounded by warriors, he planted his feet firmly on the ground, and defeated all of them! That is why he was known as Hanuman!

ਹਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਹਨੂ ਕਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਕੋਪਾ ॥ ਬਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਬੀਰਾਨ ਮੋ ਪਾਵ ਰੋਪਾ ॥ ਸਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਸੂਰੰ ਹਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਹਾਰੇ ॥ ਤਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਤੈਕੈ ਹਨੂ ਤਉ ਪੁਕਾਰੇ ॥੫੭੯॥

हागड़दंग हनू कागड़दंग कोपा ॥ बागड़दंग बीरान मो पाव रोपा ॥ सागड़दंग सूरं हागड़दंग हारे ॥ तागड़दंग तैकै हनू तउ पुकारे ॥५७९॥

– Ram Avtaar, Chaubis Avtaar by Kavi Shyam ji? Translation by Bhagat Singh


Fantasy Sketches

A Deadly Headbutt, Akali, Nihang, Turban, Dastaar Boonga, Warrior, Sikh Warrior, Sikh fantasy painting, Drawing, Sketch
A Deadly Headbutt
Lice Problem, Insect, Nihang, Warrior, Sikh Warrior, Sikh fantasy painting, Drawing, Sketch
Lice Problem – Insectoid Disguised as a Nihang
Prince of Patiala, Warrior, Sikh Warrior, Sikh fantasy painting, Drawing, Sketch
Prince of Patiala
Crocodile Warriors, Concept for Blind Chakram on Howdah, Sikh Fantasy Painting, Drawing, Sketch
Crocodile Warriors – Concept for Blind Chakram on Howdah
Akali, Nihang, Warrior, Sikh warrior, Turban, Dastaar Boonga, Khalsa, Sikh Art, Punjab, Sikh Painting
Nihang Warrior (2008)
Akali, Nihang, Warrior, Sikh warrior, Turban, Dastaar Boonga, Khalsa, Sikh Art, Punjab, Sikh Drawing
Nihang Warrior (2015)
Rajput Warrior, Kshatriya, Indian Warrior, Soldier, Sword, Shield, Hindu Fantasy Painting, Drawing, Sketch
Rajput Warrior

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