Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva In The Worship Of Devi Kali

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This is a powerful painting. It comprises of the sacred trinity of creator (Brahma), preserver (Vishnu), and destroyer (Shiva), and the Devi Kali Herself. Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva are paying their homage in unison to the supreme Devi, while She seated on a flaming pyre in all Her ferocity and divine glory, as the three supreme lords of the composite universe reach out to Her in Their devotion. The pyre that constitutes Her asana is made up of logs of wood and the naked bodies of a man and a woman. The fire that rages around Her has been projected with determined brushstrokes in rich orange, and emits copious proportions of deadly black smoke. The Devi's iconography is what could be termed disturbing for those used to the soothing, maternal image of the Indian devi. Seated in a poorna-padmasana, a tiger-skin functions as Her loincloth, while the shringar on Her limbs and torso comprises of human skulls and wild snakes. With Her four hands (chaturbhujadhari), She wields weapons and dispenses blessings with equal fervour. She lets out her tongue in bloodlust; Her temple bears the spiritual third eye against a spattering of coloured ash; and a pristine moon is perched on Her dishevelled tresses.

Of the three deities, it is Shiva's iconography that is somewhat of a match to Hers. His tresses are as matted and moon-ridden as Hers, as opposed to the ornate bejewelled gold of Their lotus petal-tipped crowns. His tiger-skin loincloth and skull-and-snakes shringar are in stark contrast to the coloured silks and jewels of Brahma and Vishnu. All three deities are barefoot on the lush verdure that makes up the background of this watercolour. Note the ashen-faced curs at the mouth of the pyre, which are seemingly ready to charge on the adharmee.