Devotions to Nagadevata Indian. Devotions to Nagadevata, ca. 1790. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, sheet: 11 3/16 x 8 1/16 in. ( x cm). This unusual painting shows a group of individuals—human, divine, and semi-divine—worshipping a snake deity, or naga (with multiple cobra heads), in a temple setting. Indians of various religious affiliations have worshipped snakes since ancient times: poisonous, but helpful because they eat rodents, serpents are thought to have close ties to the earth and the underworld and are therefore believed to deserve reverence. The multi-headed, white-sk
Devotions to Nagadevata Indian. Devotions to Nagadevata, ca. 1790. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, sheet: 11 3/16 x 8 1/16 in. ( x cm). This unusual painting shows a group of individuals—human, divine, and semi-divine—worshipping a snake deity, or naga (with multiple cobra heads), in a temple setting. Indians of various religious affiliations have worshipped snakes since ancient times: poisonous, but helpful because they eat rodents, serpents are thought to have close ties to the earth and the underworld and are therefore believed to deserve reverence. The multi-headed, white-skinned figure at the left is the Hindu god Shiva. The horse-headed musician at the right is a kinnara, or celestial entertainer. The snake-god’s two wives, with human bodies and snake tails, appear at the right. Asian Art ca. 1790
Size: 1910px × 2617px
Photo credit: © BBM / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ?
