Holy Family preparing Bhang
Description
The theme of Shiva's family engaged in different activities was fairly popular with Pahari artists and several versions still exist. Shiva, with the crescent moon on his matted hair, and Parvati are busy preparing bhang, the favourite drink of Shiva. The three-headed Kartikeya, though young and well aware of the effects of the intoxicating drink, eagerly rushes to his mother to get his share in the bowls held in his hands, while Ganesha quietly steals the drink from the main container with his long trunk.
There were occasions when artists liked to thin of the great and terrible Shiva as a home-loving god, mindful of his devoted wife of the royal estate, who never wearied of tramping the mountains with him.
The Hill folk believe that on Mahashivratri, Shiva and his family can still be seen trekking through the mountains on their way to Mount Kailash.
Karl and Meherbai Khandlavala Collection
Collection
Indian Miniature Paintings
Object Type
Miniature Painting
Material
Gouache on Paper
Schools/Culture/Period
Pahari
Technique
Indian miniature painting
Date
Last decade of the 18th century
Location
Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Dimension
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