Door Lintel Depicting the Marriage of Shiva and Parvati
On View In:

Artist:   Artist Unknown  
Title:   Door Lintel Depicting the Marriage of Shiva and Parvati  
Date:   late 18th century  
Medium:   Hardwood  
Dimensions:   11 3/4 x 44 x 2 in. (29.85 x 111.76 x 5.08 cm)  
Credit Line:   Gift of Alfred and Ingrid Lenz Harrison  
Location:   Gallery Not on view  

This ornately carved wooden panel, depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati (Kalyanasundara)in its central register, functioned as a door lintel in an upper-class south Indian household in Karnataka. The sculpture is densely packed with figural images representing various manifestations of the god Shiva drawn from Hindu mythology. To the right is Kama, god of love, with his bow, whose task was to aid Parvati in her seduction of Shiva. To the left of Kama is the divine couple riding Shiva's vehicle, the bull, Nandin, followed by Shiva's son, Skanda, god of war, astride his peacock holding a lance. The marriage ceremony in the center depicts Shiva and Parvati, the god Brahma, various musicians and worshipful figures attending a joyous event.


Object Description  
  
Classification:   Architecture  
Physical Description:   carved wood; marriage of Shiva panel; marriage ceremony of Shiva and Parvati in center; various figural images representing manifestations of Shiva.  
Creation Place:   Asia, South, Karnataka  
Accession #:   91.14  
Owner:   The Minneapolis Institute of Arts