Detail View: The AMICA Library: Siva's family

AMICA ID: 
MIA_.97.36
AMICA Library Year: 
2000
Object Type: 
Sculpture
Creator Name: 
Unknown
Creator Nationality: 
Asian; Indian Sub-Continent; Indian; Uttar Pradesh
Creator Role: 
sculptor
Creator Name-CRT: 
artist unknown
Title: 
Siva's family
View: 
Front
Creation Date: 
about 1000
Creation Start Date: 
980
Creation End Date: 
1020
Materials and Techniques: 
buff sandstone
Dimensions: 
H.59 x W.32-3/4 x D.13-1/2 in.
Component Measured: 
overall
Measurement Unit: 
in
AMICA Contributor: 
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Owner Location: 
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
ID Number: 
97.36
Credit Line: 
The John R. Van Derlip Fund
Rights: 
Context: 

This elaborate relief of Shiva, god of destruction, and his wife Parvati (Uma-Mahaeshvara) was likely set into the central niche on the exterior west wall of a Shiva temple. The husband and wife are seated on a lotus, the symbol of the universe, which in turn is supported by the bull Nandin, the vehicle of Shiva. The divine couple is shown in Shiva's Himalayan house on Mount Kailasa. Calm and all-powerful, he grasps his trident and gently presses his right foot against the mountain to restrain the warriors of Ravana, the demon king of the underworld, shown in the lower register. Parvati holds a mirror in her left hand to reflect the glory of Shiva as well as her own beauty. Parvati's left foot rests on her lion vehicle. To either side are Shiva's offspring, Ganesha, the elephant-headed lord and master of obstacles and Skanda, the lord of war with his peacock. The family is surrounded by various attendants, celestial guardians, elephants and lion figures. At the top right and left sides are miniature temples containing manifestations of Shiva. This theme of the divine couple is arguably the archetypal icon of later Hindu period sculpture in north India.

Related Multimedia Description: 
Antenna Audio: Permanent Collection Tour
Related Image Identifier Link: 
MIA_.10127c.tif