Procession scene with Shiva, Brahma, and Kali
Unknown (Indian)
- Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum
[Museum inv. no.: 1973.170.A]
Item location
Description
Description from museum website:This painting features a procession scene with several Hindu deities who are surrounded by various human, mythical, and zoomorphic creatures. At the center is the Hindu god Shiva, lord of destruction. He possesses several of his iconic attributes: matted hair, cobras, his trident, third eye, and a font of water, representing the sacred Ganges River, issuing from his hair. He is also riding on Nandi, his beloved bull mount. Facing him is a priest carrying prayer beads in one hand and a stringed instrument in the other, as well as the god Brahma, lord of creation. He bears his iconic four heads that represent the cardinal directions. Behind Shiva and Nandi is a form of the goddess Kali. Kali is the vengeful manifestation of the goddess Durga. In some mythologies, she is the wife of Shiva. Kali is depicted here naked, with three heads that bear fangs, and with her iconic dark skin. Rajput Style.
Iconclass
12H13representations ~ godesses, demi-godesses, heroes, etc. (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism)
12H13(SHIVA)
Shiva, god of fertility of nature
12H12
Brahma (supreme being, creator, etc. ~ Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism)
Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)
Bin [3626]Kanjira [2649]
Mrdanga [2676]
Narsiga [4415]
RIdIM images
