The Gods Sing and Dance for Shiva and Parvati

Shiva and his wife Parvati rest on a tiger skin as they watch a pair of dancers accompanied by divine musicians. The group of performers is so large that it winds away behind the trees. Shiva, the great yogi, can be identified by his ash-white skin, long hair, snake jewelry, and third eye. However, he is shown here not as a terrifying ascetic god, but as a lovely prince on a bucolic outing. The text that this painting illustrates is unknown, but the scene may represent the celebration when Shiva accepts Parvati as his bride.