ManuscriptsIndian18th-19th century

Procession Scene with Shiva, Brahma, and Kali (painting, recto; painting, verso), illustration from a Ramayana series

18th-19th century

Description

This painting features a procession scene with several Hindu deities who are surrounded by various human, mythical, and zoomorphic creatures. At the center is the Hindu god Shiva, lord of destruction. He possesses several of his iconic attributes: matted hair, cobras, his trident, third eye, and a font of water, representing the sacred Ganges River, issuing from his hair. He is also riding on Nandi, his beloved bull mount. Facing him is a priest carrying prayer beads in one hand and a stringed instrument in the other, as well as the god Brahma, lord of creation. He bears his iconic four heads that represent the cardinal directions. Behind Shiva and Nandi is a form of the goddess Kali. Kali is the vengeful manifestation of the goddess Durga. In some mythologies, she is the wife of Shiva. Kali is depicted here naked, with three heads that bear fangs, and with her iconic dark skin. This double-sided folio possibly belongs to a Ramayana manuscript produced in Sirohi. Other folios from the same manuscript in the Harvard Art Museums’ collections are 1973.164, 1973.165, 1973.166.A, 1973.166.B, 1973.167, 1973.168.A, 1973.168.B, 1973.169, 1973.170.B, 1973.171. Rajput, Rajasthani, Sirohi School.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper

Culture

Indian

Century

18th-19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art