A woman’s devotional artistry on rice grains

April 1, 2025 Unknown Wizards Valli Sarvani

Chaluvadi Malli Vishnu Vandana, a 50-year-old micro-artist from Chandanagar, Hyderabad, has transformed her devotion to Lord Rama into a remarkable and inspiring art form.

For the past nine years, she has meticulously inscribed the name of Lord Rama on rice grains and offered them as talambaras (sacred offerings) to temples during the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami.

Her dedication to this craft has earned her admiration across the country.

In 2025, Vandana took her devotion to new heights, inscribing Lord Rama’s name on an astonishing 1.75 lakh rice grains.

These tiny masterpieces were distributed to over 60 temples in various states. These include Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.

Each grain, bearing the divine name, serves as a token of faith, and Vandana’s efforts have touched countless devotees.

The process behind her devotion is nothing short of extraordinary. Vandana explains that it takes about an hour to inscribe 100 rice grains, and she dedicates 10 hours a day to the task.

With the unwavering support of her husband, Narasimharao, she has managed to stay consistent in her practice despite the challenges she faces.

One of the most significant hurdles she encounters is storage, as the rice grains attract bugs and worms. To ensure the offerings are made in time, she completes them 15 days before Rama Navami.

Since beginning this journey in 2016, Vandana has inscribed approximately 10.5 lakh rice grains. Her offerings have grown over the years.

In 2017, she presented 1,11,111 talambaras to the Kodanda Rama temple in Ontimitta.

Her offerings to other temples, including the Bala Anjaneya temple in Sullurpeta and the Bhadrachalam temple, have been equally impressive.

Vandana’s efforts are a testament to her unwavering devotion, patience, and the love she has for Lord Rama.

Through her labour of love, she has created a beautiful and lasting spiritual legacy, touching hearts and inspiring others to embrace faith through art.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 25, 2017