“Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maatr Roopen Samsthita, Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namah”- the great goddess who manifests in all beings, the Supreme mother of all beings, I bow down to you! Amongst the many forms the great goddess takes, her motherly aspect, as the affectionate guardian of the Universe is the most popular and beloved. In this Mysore painting, the great goddess is hailed in her aspect as Parvati, the mother of Ganesha and the entire world.
On a grand Simhasana (standing on the feet of a lion or Simha), adorned by elephants, a symbol of royalty, goddess Parvati sits carrying universal auspiciousness in her lap, in the form of her dotting son Ganesha. Devi Parvati is attired in a red saree, with intricately delineated ornaments, Tripunda (Shaivite mark) with a crescent moon mark on her forehead, and a regal crown. Chidagni (the fire of consciousness) halos Devi Parvati, creating an animated flaming effect in the background. The sacred fire, which is a manifestation of the powers of the goddess burns the forest, which is simultaneously blooming on each side of the goddess, symbolizing the cycle of life, where annihilation and creation are both activities of the great mother.
With her trident and gesture of fearlessness (Abhaya mudra), Devi Parvati tells her devotees to be assured of her presence. A heart-warming symbol of her supreme tenderness is her warm embrace for Ganesha, whose innocent and lively countenance and plump form infuse a beautiful sense of Vaatsalya (affection) in the imagery.
On the left side of the canvas are Shiva Ganas, followers of Lord Shiva, singing the praise of his beloved Parvati, and on the right are female devotees of the goddess with ascetics joining the procession.
Amplifying the grandeur of the artwork, Devi’s mount Simha, or lion sits in the foreground, and an imposing Kirtimukha, or face of glory roars on the ornate arched gateway that frames the painting. Decorated by lotus blossoms, the majestic golden arch is one of the most alluring elements of a Mysore painting, a symbol of the opulence of the royal patrons of this art form.
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