Divine couple seated in a lotus blossom

early 1800s

Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Kangra

Medium

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Measurements

Sheet: 13.3 x 9 cm (5 1/4 x 3 9/16 in.)

Credit Line

Bequest of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1997.118

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

The five-part butter lamp at the lower right is lit with flames, and smoke wafts from the censer.

Description

A gigantic, thousand-petaled lotus flower provides an intimate setting for the lovers. They sit on the seed pod of another full-blown lotus flower, which indicates their transcendent nature by elevating them from the mire of the earth.

Shown with full face forward in all white, the four-armed male deity has the all-seeing third eye in his brow and holds only a manuscript. The red goddess on his lap grasps a lotus flower in one hand, which communicates her benign and peaceful nature. At the bottom are offerings of flowers, incense, oil lamps, and jeweled cups of pure water or liquor.