Tamil Heritage Trust
28 Aug 2026
In her talk, Chitrakaavyam: Poetry Designed to Dazzle, researcher and
translator, Rajani Arjun Shankar will explore Sanskrit verses composed
over the past two millennia that showcase this extraordinary form of
poetic ingenuity. Some verses impose elaborate restrictions on the
letters or sounds that may be used; others can be arranged or
represented in visual patterns, adding another dimension to the meaning
of “Chitra” - “picture” or “wonder.” The talk will also explore intriguing examples from Tamil poetry.
The online Talk in English is at 5.30 pm IST on Saturday, September 5th, 2026.
To receive your link for the talk, please register at: bit.ly/THT_Register
Chitrakaavyam literally means “verses that evoke wonder.” Among the
wonderfully diverse forms of Sanskrit poetry, Chitrakaavyam stands out
for its ingenious and often playful use of letters, syllables, words and
sounds, arranged in surprising patterns and structures to delight the
ear, the eye and the imagination.
Rajani Arjun Shankar, who previously taught at "The School -
KFI," currently works as a Sanskrit teacher and translator. Driven by
her passion for Carnatic music, she has translated the *kritis*
(compositions) of Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sadasiva Brahmendra into
English, sharing them on the blogs *Guruguha Vaibhavam* and *Sadasiva
Brahmendra Vaibhavam*.
As a volunteer with the NGO 'Nizhal', she has spoken on topics such as
*Sthala Vrikshams* (temple trees) and the significance of trees in Tamil
and Sanskrit literature. She is also actively engaged in studying and
learning the *Saiva Thirumurais* and the works of Arunagirinathar
through music, as well as writing articles about them.
Tamil Heritage Trust
tamilheritage.in
tamilheritage.in@gmail.com
youtube.com
919444823681
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