Shiva Seated with Parvati

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The paring of Shiva and his wife, Parvati, as the divine couple known as Umamaheshvara, is a popular image in Shaivism. In this ensemble, the couple’s gestures and gently flexing torsos create a mood of great tenderness. They are alone, without Shiva’s calf-bull or their children Skanda and Ganesha, who are often represented.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art