Worship of Shiva and Devi

early 1700s

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Bikaner

Medium

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Measurements

Image: 26.7 x 20.3 cm (10 1/2 x 8 in.); Overall: 31.2 x 24.5 cm (12 5/16 x 9 5/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Sherman E. Lee 1967.240

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Location

Not on view

Description

In the shrine in the lower half of the painting, the Hindu god Shiva appears in human form along with his wife, depicted as a red goddess. Shiva has the appearance of a yogi, his matted locs coiled on top of his head, a chain of skulls around his neck. He wears cobras as jewelry, and his body is white with ashes of the cremated dead. The crescent moon perches at his third eye of knowledge. Six women bear offerings in vessels of brass—a pure material suitable for sacred food and drink. The narrative scene featuring a heroine at three moments of time remains unidentified.