Uma - Maheshwar ( Lord Shiva with Goddess Uma)

Uma - Maheshwar ( Lord Shiva with Goddess Uma)

Prathihara Dynasty,10th Century CE, Bhopal Museum

             After the sudden death of Sati, Lord Shiva retreated into the Mt. Kailash and sat in deep meditation. His withdrawal froze the landscape and everything became desolate.  The gods were worried. Absolute control over the desires leads to a lifeless existence.  Shiva had to be aroused from the deep meditation.  Lord Kama was sent, but he was burnt. Only Gauri or Uma could win his heart, but through austerity. She won. She domesticated his wild nature. 

            Here They sit in each others company. She looks at Him with deep reverence. He at Her, with deep love. The cosmos revolves around them. Lord Brahma stands on top left, Lord Vishnu on top right, Ganesh sits on bottom left, and Kartikeya on right bottom of the viewer.  

           When we lose someone, we too become shell shocked. We need to be brought out of our mourning.  The desire to live, to prosper, to excel needs to be rekindled. Nature, in all Her splendour  ( Goddess Uma) smoothens the harsh edges of the intellect. She draws us back into the beauty of life. We begin to create (Brahma), we begin to preserve  (Vishnu ); we work with wisdom (Ganesh ), and with force (Kartikeya ). All is well.