Published in India in 1932, this collection of devotional poetry and Chitra Bhanda is by Sri N. Kalyansundaram Gounder (father of Sri Swami Satchidananda). In this Tamil form of poetry, a verse is bound (bhanda) inside a picture (chitra). The verse need not be about the picture. It can be on any subject that the poet desires, but its letters should fit within the various crisscrossing dhruva (pre-determined fixed points) inside a chitra (picture). Since this collection was dedicated to Lord Skanda (a form of Lord Muruga) some of the poems reflect related religious images. Sri Kalyanasundaram was awarded the title “Kavi Chudamani” (Crest Jewel of Poets) by Sri Swami Sivananda of Divine Life Society, India.
