Bhairavi as Shamashan Kali in the Devotee’s Vision. In this watercolor painting, after an original attributed to the Mughal artist Payag (c. 1630-35), a demonic form of the Hindu goddess Bhairavi, female counterpart to Shiva, sits on the body of a decomposing corpse. Wearing jewelry and a skirt made of skulls, and horns in the form of spear heads. She is accompanied by Shiva who appears in the form of a devotee. Three of her hands carry symbols of destruction, while her fourth extends a gesture of blessing. The inscription above the image, written in Devanagari script, identifies the figure as Bhairavi. Size: 9'' x 13'', 23 x 33 cm (sight); 18'' x 22'', 46 x 56 cm (frame). Property from the Jim and Kit Horne Collection.

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