The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Vertically oriented painting of two people with light skin tones at a shrine in front of a tree at the edge of water. Both have light skin tones, wearing white robes fastened with gold sashes. The person on our left stands. The other, a gold halo around their head, kneels before the shrine. Flowers and a gold snake at the base of the tree's flowing tendrils sprouting into green leaves and pink flowers.

Maharana Sangram Singh II (r. 1710–34) Worshipping a Linga Under a Banyan Tree

c. 1712–15

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Mewar

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Page: 24.8 x 18.1 cm (9 3/4 x 7 1/8 in.); Miniature: 23.2 x 16.8 cm (9 1/8 x 6 5/8 in.)
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.144
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

A miniature sculpture of Nandi, the bull mount of Shiva, is next to the king on the terrace.

Description

Shrines alongside bodies of water were associated with serpent deities. A four-headed snake painted gold is wrapped around the linga (the phallic emblem marking the sacred presence of the god Shiva). Facing the linga is a marble image of Shiva’s mount, the bull Nandi. Flowers, packets of paan (areca nut and sweet aromatics wrapped in betel leaf), coconuts, and a flower garland are among the offerings. A brass ewer holds purified water, and a bell would punctuate moments of recitation. A blue-and-white porcelain cup holds the fragrant yellow paste to be applied to the linga and the forehead of the pious king.
  • ?–2018
    Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Barbara Timmer, Beverly Hills, CA, partial sale and gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2018–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Temples and Worship in South Asia. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 14, 2024-March 9, 2025).
  • {{cite web|title=Maharana Sangram Singh II (r. 1710–34) Worshipping a Linga Under a Banyan Tree|url=false|author=|year=c. 1712–15|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.144