Painting

Indian popular religious prints have been published for nearly a century, first by German presses, later by Indian ones. The prints may take the form of calendars, posters, or simply images. The style of the representations is European. In the beginning they were Hindu images, but are now acquiring elements both of folk art and a romantic secularism. It is a living art currently influenced by the movie industry and non-Hindu religions. The images are a vehicle for advertising and are also used for religious purposes. This painting for use as front and back cover for book.

popular religious art

Shiva is lord of paradox, both destroyer and creator who sets in motion change, or death and rebirth of the universe. Often shown with female creative nature represented by his counterpart, Parvati, Shiva's gentle, devoted, and loving wife, most common consort, known as the universal mother. She is often identified by a conical crown. Shiva also identified by: trident; blue skin; attendant bull; symbol of three white lines and third eye; hair arranged in topknot which spouts fountain of yogic power; crescent moon; tiger skin; snakes; sacred drum; lingum; and prayer beads. Couple also identified sometimes by presence of their two sons, Murugan and Ganesh: Murugan identified by his lance, 'Sakti-Vel', and attendant peacock, Ganesh, by his elephant head and attendant rat.

Rectangular painting consisting of two images on a piece of cardboard covered by two pieces of pale yellow, slightly textured paper. Paper is decorated with random design of orange, mauve, and blue silhouetted stars and flowers. Painting on right depicts Shiva, a blue-skinned, four-armed, long-haired male. He is seated on a boulder with Parvati who is wearing a pink sari. Seated in between the figures is Ganesha, a plump, elephant-headed boy. White bovine lies along the bottom edge. Shiva wears yellow dhoti and a leopard skin around his waist. There is a cobra entwined around neck, and one around hair's topknot. There are three horizontal, parallel, white lines, repeated on arms, and forehead. He is adorned with brown- beaded jewelry; white cord across chest; and white crescent shape in hair. Male holds two objects, one in each hand: gold trident on left, double-sided drum on right. Liquid pours in stream from topknot. Ganesha has white thread across chest and holds white conch in hand on right. Female holds white flower in hand on right. Small, round painting scenic centred on left with a black cylindrical object set on double flanged base with spout-like projection is set on ground in landscape. Pink lotuses and two joined white ellipses with red dot decorate it.