A complete, beautiful depiction of Shiva Parivar - Paravati and Shiva sit next to each other; She offers Vasuki (Shiva’s snake) a bowl of milk while feeding her breastfeeding her son Skanda symbolic of her nourishment and maternity, and Shiva with his half open transcendental eyes, looks at her while her does the Japa with Rudraksha Mala. Ganesha, the younger son grinds Bhanga for his father and at some distance is the sacred Agni. The painting also presents - Nandi, Simha, Mushaka and Mayura who are the mounts of Shiva, Devi, Ganesha and Skanda respectively. Made by KAILASH RAJ, this canvas of watercolor draws from the Pahadi technique of Himachal Pradesh.
This miniature, rendered using the late eighteenth century Guler idiom of Pahari art, portrays the holy family in absolute bliss. The painting most effectively reveals also the Indian ideal of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, world a family, as in the painting, the boundaries of kinship, or family, transcend all barriers, natural as well as human. If Parvati, mother, is feeding one child, Karttikeya, from her breast, she is feeding the other, snake, from her bowl, and peacock, leaning from the branch of tree, knows that in the drink it also has its share. Lion, bull, mouse, peacock, and snake, so different in nature, not only coexist but exist in absolute peace and bliss. Shiva's mount Nandi and Parvati's lion are resting calmly under the same tree. It is not a world of master and servant, or man and animal. Ganesh, master, is grinding bhang for his father, while mouse, his vehicle, is enjoying a luddoo.
It is an evening of spring. The sun has set, yet from under the western horizon bursts its glow and renders the western sky pinkish-red. The evening has darkened lake-water but spring blooms in its lotuses. The tree, under which the holy family is camping, a huge Saptaparni, does not have flowers but foliage blooming in colours. Behind the Shiva family, there lay a large hill-range, brown and barren except for a few scattered bushes, suggestive of Himalayan upper ranges. Lord Shiva and Parvati are seated on their usual tiger skin laid over a level green pitch of land. Parvati has Karttikeya in his lap and is feeding him from her left breast Ganesh seated towards the bank of the lake is preparing bhang for his father in a grinding pot. Lest it fell he is holding the pot by his feet. His mouse, sitting near him, is enjoying a luddoo. It is constantly looking at Ganesh to find out what he feels about his luddoo eating. Shiva is wearing only a loincloth, though Parvati is well costumed and bejewelled. Her striped lehenga is quite typical.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.
Of Related Interest:
Paintings by Kailash Raj
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