Painting: Origin of Shiva

This an acrylic on canvas painting by artist Bharat Tripathi that is symbolic depiction of the origin of Shiva. In this powerful composition, the deity's ascetic and cosmic nature has been emphasized through his long matted hair and the golden trident, a symbol of divine authority and spiritual power against the background of intense flames. The scene created is one based on contemporary devotional aesthetic that blends traditional symbolism with modern compositional style.

This painting is a part of the Shiva Series by the artist and was displayed in an exhibition titled "The Story of Shiva" held at the Coomaraswamy Hall, CSMVS Museum, Mumbai in December 2012.