The Marriage Procession of Lord Shiva Superfine Unframed Painting by Bijay Biswaal

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Ending Devi Mena’s wait, arrived the “Rudrasena”- the retinue of Rudra-Shiva, a collective of Gana, Khsetrapala (protectors of regions), Bhairava (wrathful aspects of Shiva), Brahmarakshas, Bhuta, Preta, Pishach (ancient souls that hover over the land of the living), Gandharva (divine musicians). Some of them had the appearance of a storm, some had missing limbs, others had long beards and all of them had peculiar bodily features and played instruments of war such as Bheri, Dundubhi, and conch. In the center of them was Lord Shiva, with ash smeared on his body, wrapped in the hide of a tiger, snakes as his ornaments, a stream of Ganga emanating from his Jata (locks of hair), and the moon shining on his forehead. Devi Mena who was expecting a celestially beautiful man was shocked by this bizarre army and their leader, who was going to marry her delicate Uma. After recovering from the shock, Mena refused to give the hand of her daughter to Shiva, whose unusual appearance she could not forget. Little did she know, Mahadeva Shiva’s uncanny form was only meant to break her false pride. Sri Vishnu consoled Mena and told her about the true nature of Shiva, which is beyond any form and the human mind. Once the veil of pride was removed, Mena was able to witness the cosmic beauty of Shiva, in front of whom all the heavenly beings were only a fragment of his magnificence.

Bijay Biswal on a seven-foot canvas conjures the scene of Shiva’s marriage procession as witnessed by Devi Mena from her palace. On a neutral background, the members of Shiva’s procession are painted with mind-boggling details. Leading the crowd are Naga sadhus- ascetic devotees of Shiva, who have painted their skinny bodies with ash, wear red and saffron clothes, and throw their dreadlocks in the air, ecstatically dancing on the occasion of their Lord’s marriage. On the left half of the canvas, a Naga sadhu in red stands with his hand placed on his mouth, as if letting a “Har Har Mahadeva” (Hail Shiva) out in the atmosphere. Nagas behind him, one holding a skull in his hand and the other dancing, add to the strangeness of the celebration. On the right half of the canvas are two Nagas, one seated on the shoulder of the other in the mood of frenzy, while another one in saffron attire kneels next to Shiva. As one lets the gaze dwell in the crowd, odd Ganas and ethereal beings in different states and forms can be seen, all unified in reaching the threshold of Maa Parvati’s home. Almost in the center of the composition is the groom Shiva- his ash-colored body tinted with a pleasing turquoise shade, his hair flowing magnificently, a full moon as his accessory, the necklace of the serpent, flowers, and Rudraksha beads adorning his torso, Baaghacharma as his dhoti, with his trident in his hand. Shiva seems to be walking ahead, with his right leg slightly raised and bent and his left foot firmly placed on the ground. In the background, we can find Ganas throwing ash in the air, which is spread in the foreground as well and covers the sky with a beige-grey color.

Despite the ethereal Sringaar (ornamentation) of Shiva, his face carries an enchanting smile and his physique is the perfection of the human form. For the devoted mind that seeks to look beyond what is visible, into what is occult, hidden, and not apparent, Shiva stands as the most bewildering and exquisite being, who is the sole origin of life, beauty, and its end in the three worlds.