Umamaheshvara on Nandi

This is an elegant reverse glass painting of Umamaheshvara on Nandi. In this image, Shiva and his consort Parvati are riding on Shiva’s vahana (mount) Nandi. Shiva, in the centre, is one of the principle deities of Hinduism and is the protector, destroyer and regenerator of the universe and all life. Shiva’s hands and feet denote different meanings in the positions he holds and what he has in his hands. In this painting he holds mirga (antelope) is in his left back hand, and the upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass around which is a coiled snake, which symbolizes rhythm and time. The open palm of the lower right hand symbolises abhaya mudra ‘fear not’ and the lower left varada mudra signifies ‘offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity’. Parvati, also known as Gauri is the goddess of fertility, love, beauty and devotion. She is the Mother Goddess in Hinduism, and Lord Shiva’s wife. Around them is a glittering prabhavali and a parasol. Nandi is the sacred white bull calf, gatekeeper, and vehicle (vahana) of the God Shiva. On either side of them are devotees two of which are fan bears.