Parvati Greets Shiva in His Beauty as Chandra Shekhar

This sumptuous painting recreates a moment from Shiva and Parvati’s wedding, when Parvati greets her divine husband in his most beatific form. She bows before him, touching his feet with a garland, as others—gods, demons, and devotees alike—kneel in his presence. The figure of Shiva is outsized in comparison to the rest, commanding attention within the painting. Celestial musicians in the clouds sprinkle multicolored flowers to bless and celebrate this union of the gods.

Opaque watercolor with gold on paper

Possibly made in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia