My friend in Sao Paulo, Brazil asked me if I could create a painting to show a fusion of traditional Brazilian and Indian cultures. I did put on my thinking cap and created this painting. Since this deals with the Man-Woman relationship, I thought this would make an interesting painting.
Statement:
“Ardha Narishwar” is the androgynous manifestation of Lord Shiva that unites the antagonistic forces of male and female power and matter and energy to display the two-fold nature of the universe.
Shiva fused his inner-self with Parvati (His Consort) so that she could be his constant companion. The worship of the Shiva - Shakti in this form brings family harmony and the soul mates unite as the celestial beings unite in fruitful union. In this painting I have shown Shiva in one of his characteristic dance form and Sakti in an all too familiar ‘Samba’ dance form in her head gear of plumes, and of course a bit scantily clad, but not in an obscene way!. I think together they combine to make a beautiful dance pose.
I have shown Parvati as his ‘Samba’ counterpart as these dance forms have remarkable similarities as you can see. Hence the tile “Samba-Shiva”. Which is another popular name for Shiva-‘Sambashiva’ . What a similarity!!
The emerging vibration from their individual bodies is the cosmic power .It is not a material force like electricity, magnetism, centripetal or centrifugal force. It is a spiritual potential Sakti or cosmic power. In reality it has no form.
There are many symbolic representations in this painting. I have executed on 18x24in hard pressed ‘Bristol’ paper in acrylic.
Enjoy!
Seshadri