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Shiva Vishavarupa, Universal form with ConsortShiva Vishavarupa, Universal form with ConsortPreviousNext

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Shiva Vishavarupa, Universal form with Consort, mid-19th century

Pigments on cotton

In this stunning painting of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort, the cosmic quality of the central couple is expressed through the painting's composition. The couple, together with their pedestal and halo of flames, occupies almost the entire surface of the canvas. With much of his own body obscured by the red body of his consort, the white Shiva graphically structures the composition through his column of heads and circle of arms. Within the dominating red, the range of colors used for Shiva's heads and the Hindu deities at the base enlivens the painting.

This form of Shiva is called Vishvarupa, or "Of All Forms" a notion expressed here through the multiplicity of heads and arms. Such images emphasize the cosmic nature of the deity, and both Shiva and his consort hold orbs representing the sun (red) and moon (white), Shiva dances with his consort, who has as many heads and arms as the god, within an aureole of fire and atop a dais supported by lesser Hindu gods. The scene is placed in a charnel ground-a site for disposing the dead-and additional manifestations of Shiva occupy the corners. The style and composition of this depiction is unique to Nepal.