Uma-Mahesvara

Description

This figure of Shiva as Mahesvara, the Lord of the Universe, and his wife Parvati as Uma is the most beautiful form. This form of the Hindu divine couple joins the opposing male and female aspects of the cosmos to represent the oneness of all things.In her incarnation as Uma, the goddess performed many meritorious deeds in order to marry Shiva. Together, Uma and Mahesvara represent an ideal married couple with arms draped around each other. Arched slab carved in high relief showing Hara-Gauri. Four-armed Siva is seated in sukhasana. He holds the trident in the upper right hand and a cup in the upper left. With two fingers of the lower right hand he is lovingly touching the chin of his consort, who is seated embracing him on his lap, also in sukhasana. The deities are adorned with the usual ornaments. Couchant Nandi bull and the lion are depicted on the base in front, under the dangling foot of the respective deities. The arched slab has a wreathed prabhavali and a flaming border.