The Divine Family

Shiva can have an iconic or aniconic form, and like a complex personality, has multiple forms and a paradoxical character. He has been described as the 'erotic ascetic', the ithyphallic and promiscuous god who is also the celibate yogi practicing austerities in the Himalayas.

True to his iconic form as a yogi, he has smeared his body with ash, is clad in a loin cloth made of tiger skin, and wears a garland of snakes. Ganga sprouts from the top of his head, the side of which also holds a crescent moon. In his left hand he holds the trident that also supports the drum. The right hand holds Parvati, his spouse by the shoulder. Parvati looks elegant and matronly, holding her son Ganesha in her lap. She wears a small crown on hair cascading down her shoulders. The elephant headed Ganesha sits comfortably holding a modaka and lotus flowers. The Family sits atop a huge lotus. The lotus belongs to earth, water and light and is considered an auspicious seat of the gods. Forming an umbrella around the family are demonic serpents. The serpents show the power of Shiva to deal with death.

The artist has painted a dark background illuminated by the divine halo around the heads of the godly couple. The foreground shows dark waters with blooming lotus flowers floating in it.