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97 photos
Varaha with Bhu, Pahari region, North India, around 1740. The four armed Varaha is shown holding Vishnu's characteristic attributes, the discus, conch shell, a lotus and a club with which he strikes the sea-demon. Blood pours from the demon's chest and he staggers back, dropping his broken sword. Varaha lifts the earth balanced on is tusks, saving the earth goddes Bhu from the swirling black ocean. OA 1966.7-25.01
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Varaha with Bhu, Pahari region, North India, around 1740. The four armed Varaha...

Megha Raga Krishna dances to the rythm of three female musicians. From a Ragamala series,1760. ID:Add Or 27
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Megha Raga Krishna dances to the rythm of three female musicians. From a Ragamal...

Bhairavi Ragini, Indian, around 1610. A woman worships a Shiva linga in a shrine by a lake. The lake is often described in texts as being near Mount Kailash, Shiva's holy mountain. While one woman garlands the black linga with flowers, the othr chants and beats the rythm with a pair of cymbals. The pool im which the shrine is set is filled with lotuses on wich butterflies and wild birds rest. OA 1973.9-17.03
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Bhairavi Ragini, Indian, around 1610. A woman worships a Shiva linga in a shrine...

Krishna and Balarama in guise of cowhers, with cattle at right and six men dressed in white with turbans and sashes, at left. Sandy Dunes and flowewring trees represent the idyllic landscape of Brindaban. In Hindu mythology, Balarama is the elder half-brother of Krishna, with whom he shared many adventures. ID: Or 4203
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Krishna and Balarama in guise of cowhers, with cattle at right and six men dress...

Holi Hindu spring festival with nobleman throwing red powder and woman playing sitar Illuminated manuscript by anonymous Oudh artist; 1782
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Holi Hindu spring festival with nobleman throwing red powder and woman playing s...

Relief sandstone panel depicting the Saptamatrika, 10th century. With the exception of one, each goddess derives her name and attributes from the male god who she personifies. Brahmani (the second figure from the left) has four heads like Brahma, and is often shown seated on a lotus or on a gander; Maheshvari, the feminine personification of Shiva or Mahesa, sits next to her on a bull; Kaumari, derived from Kumara, rides a peacock; Vaishnavi is the female personification of Vishnu, as is Varahi, in his incarnation as the boar; Indrani derives from Indra. Chamunda, the last in the series, is shown emaciated, and crowned by serpent heads. They are usually accompanied by Shiva and Ganesha at either end of the relief. Every alternate goddess carries a child in her lap. The ancient cult of goddess worship is linked with primeval ideas of fertility, generation and the earth. Collectively, they are known as Devi, the great goddess, who is simultaneously powerful, fierce, seductive and gentle. OA, 1880-230
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Relief sandstone panel depicting the Saptamatrika, 10th century. With the except...

Krishna and Radha dancing in the rain with three girl musicians. India; Rajasthani miniature painting, 17th century.
#03070351

Krishna and Radha dancing in the rain with three girl musicians. India; Rajastha...

Young prince Shri Raga (Rama) sitting in a pavillion listens to music played by the sage Narada and Tamburu (wearing a hose head). From the Ramayana epic by Valmiki. India; Rajasthani miniature painting, 17th century.
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Young prince Shri Raga (Rama) sitting in a pavillion listens to music played by...

Goddess Kali astride her consort Shiva with attendants and corpses. India; Chamba, Punjabi School, 18th century.
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Goddess Kali astride her consort Shiva with attendants and corpses. India; Chamb...

The Mahant sees Elokeshi at the Tarakeshwar temple. The Mahant (the high priest of the Shiva temple, Tarakeshwar) holds a 'nargila' pipe and sits on a striped rug in front of the temple, a second man, perhaps his agent, Kinaram, behind him. Before him stand three women -Elokeshi, the young wife of the clerk, Nabin Chandra Banerjee, holding up a plate of rice or sweetmeats in her left hand and boldly unveiling her face with her right; her younger sister, Muktakeshi, unveiled, stands behind her with folded hands; between them in the background, Telebo, the female servant of the family who acted as procuress, looks away. Yellow background. Watercolour and silver details; 1875. Shelfmark: Add.Or.3346
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The Mahant sees Elokeshi at the Tarakeshwar temple. The Mahant (the high priest...

The Gods, led by Brahma, approach Vishnu to manifest on earth as Dasaratha's four sons in order to vanquish the evil demon Ravana. From Ramayana, Bala Kanda. India, Udaipur, 1712. Shelfmark: Add. 15295 Page Folio Number: f.38
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The Gods, led by Brahma, approach Vishnu to manifest on earth as Dasaratha's fou...

Hindu gods and goddesses.For more than 3.000 years the women of the province of Mithila in the State of Bihar, India, have produced paintings on paper, on walls, in the courtyards of their homes. The coloured drawings are the women's prayers.
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Hindu gods and goddesses.For more than 3.000 years the women of the provinc...