Shiva's Half-Body Form (Shiva Ardhanareshvara) (painting, recto), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series

In this painting, the Hindu god Shiva appears as Ardhanareshvara (literally, the lord who is half-woman). The Ardhanareshvara form of Shiva dances, with the body split into half, where the male aspect of Shiva is depicted blue-skinned, while the feminine aspect, denoted by his wife, the goddess Parvati, is depicted with flesh tones. Ardhanareshvara holds a trident and a damaru-drum in their hand, both attributes of Shiva. At their feet are Nandi, the bull and a tiger, the vehicles of Shiva and Parvati respectively. The Ardhanareshvara form here is conflated with another form of Shiva: the Gangadhara Shiva, a form that depicts him bearing the flow of the divine river Ganges in his matted hair as she descends on earth. In the painting, the Ganges emerges from his topknot, which is bejeweled with a beetle wing fragment which creates a luminous effect. Ardhanareshvara is placed within a rocky formation, with lush flora and fauna. The accompanying text on top offers a hymn and a salutation to lord Shiva whose form is described. This folio belongs to a Ragamala or "Garland of Melodies" series produced in Malpura. The text in the top register of the folio in this series is written alternatively in gold and silver. The use of such precious materials might suggest elite patronage. The artist Jai Kisan completed the series in 1756 CE, as mentioned in the colophon on the reverse of the last folio (HAM 1963.74). Three other folios of the same series are in the Harvard Art Museums’ collections: 1963.73, 1963.74, 1969.174. Rajput, Rajasthani, Malpura School.