A WHITE MARBLE RELIEF OF UMA MAHESHVARA, 13TH-15TH CENTURY
India. The divine couple seated in lalitasana on Shiva's mount Nandi. Shiva's primary left hand around Uma's back and cupping her breast, one of his upper hands holding a trident, Uma with one arm draped around Shiva's shoulders, her left hand holding a mirror.

Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Condition: Fine condition, commensurate with age, extensive old wear, encrustations and soiling, losses, dents, cracks and scratches here and there.

Weight: 15.5 kg
Dimensions: Height 42 cm, length 24.5 cm

Uma-Maheshvara represents the sacred embrace, alingana, of the Lord Shiva joined with the Goddess Uma. The Great Ascetic, Lord Shiva, who was overcome with the beauty of Uma, Daughter of the Mountain, succumbed to their union for the benefit of his devotees (S. Kramrisch, Manifestations of Shiva, Philadelphia, 1981, page 57). Their union is principally metaphysical, though during the Pala period, Shiva and Uma's relationship can be most immediately observed through their corporal interplay. It is through their sensual relationship that they are meant to become a gateway for the devotee to enter their sacred realm.

The divine couple is featured here in the moment before their union, the anticipation of which accentuates the possibility of entering the divine realm. This expectancy is what creates a feeling of activity, carried throughout the piece in the swaying movement of the surrounding figures and swirling foliate carvings throughout.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a related marble relief at Christie's New York in Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art on 23 July 2020, lot 9, bought-in at an estimate of USD 8,000-10,000.