Marriage of God Shiva with Goddess Parvati (Kalyanasundara)
c. 11th century
Medium
Sandstone
Dimensions
77.7 × 53.7 × 18 cm (30 5/8 × 21 1/8 × 7 1/16 in.)
Classification
sandstone
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148385
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This sculpture depicts the divine marriage of Parvati and Shiva, which was witnessed by all the gods after she devoted many years to ascetic practices (yoga) in order to persuade him to marry her. Shiva formally accepts the bride by taking her right hand in his (panigrahana). He gazes upon Parvati while she looks into a handheld mirror. Brahma, the creator god, can be seen officiating.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...