A PAINTING OF THE HOLY FAMILYINDIA, PUNJAB HILLS, MANDI, CIRCA 1820-3013 x 103⁄4 in. (33 x 27.3 cm.) (folio)‌105⁄8 x 81⁄4 in. (27 x 21 cm.) (image)Details13 x 103⁄4 in. (33 x 27.3 cm.) (folio)‌105⁄8 x 81⁄4 in. (27 x 21 cm.) (image)In this scene of domestic bliss—both chilling and delightful— Karthikeyya is helping his mother Parvati string freshly severed heads into a garland for Shiva. Shiva’s mundamala, or garland of heads, represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. Ganesha is grinding grains and spices in a mortar to prepare for a meal and Shiva is looking over his sons and wife lovingly. Shiva’s bull Nandi, Parvati’s tiger-lion, Ganesha’s rat and Karthikeyya’s peacock are all stationed nearby. An early 19th century Kangra painting with a similar scene of Shiva’s family beading a mundamala is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (acc. no. IM.6-1912). The present painting, however, is quite stylized in comparison; Shiva’s form is unusually feminine and his hair is more finely gathered into a bun rather than in thick dreadlocks. Particular attention had been paid to the twisted, knotted tree who’s flowering branches shelter the scene. ---