77 year old portrait maker of Gods!

God’s pictures are the treasured possession of most of the Hindus. They keep it with reverence in their prayer room. Most of the time we are not bothered to find, who painted it. For example I have been charmed by the Bala Krishna as well as Viswaroopa paintings of Guruvayurappan. I also reverentially look at and fold my hands, when I see the great painting of Puducode Annapoorneshwari, (Which is in the home of thousands of people originating from Puducode) who is my family Goddess. Some how I never wondered as to who painted these great pictures.

Recently I came to know that these have been painted by Sri Sitaram, who is 77 and even today very busy in making oil paintings of various gods in Palakkad. Sri Sitaram belongs to Guruvayoor and was given initial training by his father Sri Srinivasa Iyer , who was a celebrated painter. He had the good fortune to Meet Sri Kondaiah Raju , a celebrated oil painter who was producing almost all the calendars in India originating from Sivakasi , some 40 years back.. Sri Sitaram got interested in oil painting and specialized in Portrait painting. He was especially interested in Painting Gods and that too Guruvayurappan. His painting skill is very great . Even today he keeps on making newer and newer paintings.

Though 77 he is interested in making portraits of Gods(Directly from sanctum sanctorum or portraits according to Dhyana Slokas) if an opportunity is given to him. He can be contacted at

S.Sitaram, Artist 3/44, Venkateswara Colony 10th street Ambikapuram Post, Palakkad 678011 Telehone: 2577049

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