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Shiva and Parvati (Uma-Maheshvara-murti)

Late 10th-early 11th century

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley

Copper alloy

H. 6 1/8 x W. 6 1/4 x D. 4 3/4 in. (15.5 x 15.9 x 12 cm)

Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.48

Provenance

John D. Rockefeller 3rd, New York, NY; acquired from William H. Wolff., Inc., New York, NY, January 1969.

The Asia Society, New York, NY, bequest of John D. Rockefeller 3rd, New York, NY, 1979.

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Small gestures speak loudly in this depiction of the divine, amorous marriage of Shiva and Parvati, known as Uma-Maheshvara after the Sanskrit names for the two gods. Shiva lightly embraces Parvati with his lower left arm and his upper left hand is held as if he were grasping the staff of his trisula (trident). Parvati turns towards Shiva and rests her arm on his thigh. He makes the gesture of exposition with his lower right hand and Parvati leans back comfortably in his arm, her gaze fixed on his face, as if listening to him. Such images of Shiva and Parvati are popular in Nepal and have been produced there since the 3rd or 4th century C.E. In this small sculpture Shiva and Parvati are seated on an oval base. Shiva is four-armed and sits directly on the base in an asana-posture with his proper left leg pendant. Shiva holds his lower right hand in the abhaya-mudra (in this case, with the index finger touching the thumb). His back right arm is raise, and the finger curve inward slightly, the index finger touching the thumb. Shiva's hair is arranged in a jatamukuta with a crescent moon on the proper right and a skull on the proper left. He wears a short garment (with incised designs to simulate rich brocade) and jewelry: necklaces, armlets, bracelets, earrings, and strands of pearls in the hair. The earring in the proper right ear is the "male," sea-monster earring; the one in the left ear is the circular, "female" one. A flaming halo, cast separately and attached with a pin, encircles Shiva's head. Uma (Parvati) wears only a short garment at the waist and a wealth of jewelry including a diadem on the head. Uma sits directly on the base rather than on Shiva's knee. She is two-armed and in her proper left hand she holds a flower: probably a blue lily (nilotpala), possibly a lotus (padma). The backs of the figures are carefully finished (the back of the halo, less so). Uma's halo is missing. Uma has two large buns of hair (or flowers?), one over each ear.