Shiva Gaurvarna Sitting 
Reproduction of oil painting on canvas derived from vintage art. Giclée print on high-quality archival paper.

8 x 10 inches.

Read about our archival printing process

This mesmerizing painting captures the divine essence of Shiva Gaurvarna (The Lord of Time) whose complexion is milk white colour. In a state of serene meditation, he sits gracefully in the lotus position. 

The composition is a visual symphony, with vibrant colours that evoke the divine energy Lord Shiva embodies. The half-open eyes add to his mystical gaze of detached compassion. 

Lord Shiva is revered for his multifaceted nature, who symbolizes the destructive and regenerative forces in the universe and serves as a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of creation. The artist skillfully portrays Shiva with a countenance that reflects a perfect blend of tranquility and cosmic awareness. 

This rare artwork (by an unknown painter of antiquity) was recovered from a Himalayan monastery of the Nonprofit’s monastic council and was painstakingly repaired and remastered to depict the original intention of the painter. 

According to the extant Sanskrit texts, Daxa Prajapati – the father of Sati (wife of Shiva) conducted the Hayamedha Yajña (Vedic fire ceremony) in Kankhal (Haridwar, India), but deliberately excluded an invitation to Śiva, his son-in-law. Feeling disheartened, Lord Śiva’s wife Satī sacrificed herself during the ceremony. In his pensive mood, Śiva dispatched Virabhadra and Bhadrakalī to punish Daxa for losing his wife Satī. 

Daxa performed this famous ceremony on 8 December 11218 BCE on the full moon of the soli-lunar month of Phalguna, which we can precisely determine according to archeoastronomy. 

After the loss of Sati, Shiva returned to the Himalayas, engaging in intense meditation. Thereafter, Parvati dedicated herself to intense meditation to winning Shiva as her husband. Finally, Śiva married Pārvatī on Mahashivaratri on Magha Krishna Chaturdasi or the waning fourteenth night of the soli-lunar month of Magha (typically in January/February). 

Mahādeva Śiva hailed from the lineage of Rudras. He founded schools of yoga, nātya (theatrics), saṅgita (music), śilpa (sculpture), vyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar) and many other fields. In Tamil Nadu, he was known as the legendary Iraiyannar Agapporul, a contemporary of sage Agastya and the father of his two illustrious sons, Vināyaka and Subrahmanya (Kārtikeya).