handmade sun

Surrounded by peacocks and elephants, the sun smiles upon the earth. It represents the Indian deity Surya, god of the sun; his father is the sky god, Indra and his wife is Chaya, goddess of dawn. Devendra Kumar Jha creates an exquisite painting in the ancient Madhubani style, using natural colors on handmade paper.

As each painting is an individual creation, each is unique. Colors and motifs may vary slightly from that pictured.

Hindu mythology is populated by a plethora of deities, but few are as instantly recognizable as Ganesha thanks to his distinctive elephant head. Indian artist Bharti Dayal strips the god of wisdom and good fortune of all the pomp and ostentatious embellishments with which he is usually characterized to give us a more simple, relaxed scene where he is enjoying a quiet time under the sun and embracing nature. The folk painting in the traditional Madhubani style is crafted with acrylic paint and vegetable dyes on handmade paper.

Indian artist Bharti Dayal imagines a tender scene between Hindu goddess Parvati, wife of Shiva, and his infant son, god Ganesha, who is instantly recognizable for having an elephant head. The artist crafts the charming folk painting in traditional Madhubani style by applying acrylic paint and vegetable dyes on handmade paper with sharpened reeds, pen nibs and brushes.

Male and female unite in this unique watercolor by India's Shikha Kaistha. The artist paints the celestial union of Hindu god Lord Shiva and the goddess Parvati as they become an entirely new being called ArdhNareshwar. Parvati is dressed in traditional attire and adorned with gleaming jewels, while om symbols and sun motifs swirl in the blue background.

The river Ganges is as majestic as a Hindu deity--that is why it is actually personified as Ganga, the goddess of purification and forgiveness. In this striking folk painting done in classic Madhubani style, renowned Indian artist Bharti Dayal recreates the legend of Shiva holding Ganga on his head to let an outlet for the river to flow freely and reach all humans with its purifying water. God Shiva is known by the name of Gangadhar in this representation created with acrylic paint and vegetable dyes on handmade paper.