Untitled (Humour in Heaven)

Infused with humour and set against the mountainous background of Kailash—a range of the Himalayas considered sacred amongst the Hindus and the eternal home of Shiva, one of the most important gods of the Hindu pantheon—the artwork depicts Shiva falling off his bull while being chased by Parvathi’s (alternatively, Durga’s or Gauri’s) lion. The Bengali inscription states that Parvati, Shiva’s wife, angered by an inebriated Shiva, sent her lion after his bull. After Shiva’s fall, Parvati can be seen mocking his predicament. Challenging preconceived notions of divinity, the artwork humanises the deities and shows their susceptibility to mortal passions.