The Holy Family Kangra

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The quaint Shiva family, as represents this painting here, has been the most loved theme of Himalayan artists who seem to have always drawn great interest from its queer composition consisting of variedly formed figures and as varied legends of life-styles. This gave them for their composition wider scope and greater vividness of theme and ever new situations. These artists seem to have felt with queer Shiva family a kind of emotional affinity , may be for his association with Mount Kailash, and their mode of approach to him reveals a touch of tenderness and a casualness in taking liberty as one would not take from a deity. The depiction is unusually awe-free.

And, it is not only the artists but Shiva's associates, Nandi, rat, snake, peacock and his two sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya, and even the lion-heads appended to the lion-skin laid under him and on his shoulders, too are quite awefree and casual with their master. The carefree snake rides the nearby tree, the rat, as usual, feeds itself on modakas, a relaxed Nandi is yet to decide if it has to take his food from the tray laid before him and the peacock is trotting towards the tray laid for Nandi for sharing some of its contents. Ganesha is riding the shoulders of a busy mother advancing his hand and trunk to feed on her breast, which cast with extra protrusion swells with milk for the infant, though an envious Kartikeya is charging at him in fury and protest. The serene lion heads, in a blissful state of mind, are almost samadhist .

Shiva, the augharh yogi, not born to a model but to a quaint life-style, is busy in straining his bhang and for want of an extra piece of cloth for filtering it, is using part of Parvati's sari .The artist has minutely depicted the fine grains of bhang falling across the cloth. The blissfulness and sublimity on Parvati's face defines the state of her mind which combines the feelings of an affectionate mother of divine children and the spouse of the Supreme. Alike blissfulness reigns on Shiva's face. The painting is a mix of Kangra and Chamba art styles. The depiction is marked by a sharpness of features and figurative grace. The Himalayan perspective and serenity of the landscape, use of soft colours for figures and deep basic ones for the green terrain and the sublimity and quietude of the atmosphere are simply superb.

The artist is Sohan Billamoria, National award winner in the category of miniature paintings for the year 2001.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.