Shiva, the great destroyer in Hinduism is popularly known as “Maha-Kaala”, especially among the Shaiva devotees who revere Him in order to get over the fear of the inevitable- death. In this superfine watercolor painting by Kailash Raj, Shiva has been visualized as the one who is beyond death and time (Kaala).
With a magnificent tranquillity playing on His face, Shiva sits relaxingly on a rug of lion skin, holding a trident and skull in his hands. The painting reminds one of the episodes of Brahma’s ego from the Puranas (Skanda, Kurma, and Varaha). When a congregation of sages asked him who is the most powerful god, filled with pride, Brahma declared himself to be the sovereign of all the divine beings and went on to disregard Shiva. At that moment, Rudra, “the fearsome one” appeared and as a punishment for the vanity of Brahma, severed his fifth head. It is this head, which became attached to Rudra-Shiva’s hand, and as a result of his sin of “Brahma-Hatya”, He was destined to roam the earth, all the while carrying the symbol of his deed with him. This fearsome and powerful aspect of Shiva is also known as “Mahadeva-Kaala Bhairva” or “Kaalaraja”- the ferocious ruler of time and death.
A luxuriant crescent moon adorns Shiva’s tresses held in a jata by a snake in this watercolor. Animal skin and snakes- objects that the common sensibility finds awful are the ornaments of the destroyer of death. The third eye and the yellow “Tripunda” mark on Shiva’s forehead enliven His face and this painting. Nandi, Shiva’s trusted mount and devotee in his zoomorphic form is embellished with gold jewelry and is painted in a manner that he appears to be looking directly at us. With his raised front hoofs, Nandi brings a sense of movement to the painting.
The background of this spiritually rich Shiva painting is formed by snow-capped mountains, probably Kailasha, and on the ground, one can see a carpet of greenery interspersed with charming flowers. Kaal-Bhairva is the representation of Shiva as the ultimate reality, in a most potent and striking appearance.
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