Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

The Goddess Bhairavi Devi with Shiva

Attributed to Payag Indian
ca. 1630–35
Not on view
In this painting, attributed to the Mughal artist Payag, a demonic form of the Hindu goddess Bhairavi, female counterpart to Shiva, sits on the body of a decomposing corpse. Wearing jewelry and a skirt made of skulls, and horns in the form of spear heads, she is accompanied by Shiva who appears in the form of a devotee. Three of her hands carry symbols of destruction, while her fourth extends a gesture of blessing. The borders, executed in gold monochrome, form a continuation of the desolate landscape in the painting itself. The inscription above the image, written in Devanagari script, identifies the figure as Bhairavi.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Goddess Bhairavi Devi with Shiva
  • Artist: Attributed to Payag (Indian, active ca. 1591–1658)
  • Date: ca. 1630–35
  • Geography: Made in India
  • Medium: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 7 1/4 in. (18.5 cm)
    W. 10 3/8 in. (26.5 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2011
  • Object Number: 2011.409
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
"Shah Jahan on Horseback", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Payag Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Shah Jahan on Horseback", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Payag
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1630; recto: ca. 1530–50
Helmet, Steel, brass, copper, Indian, possibly North Indian
Helmet
Indian, possibly North Indian
probably 19th century
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Govardhan, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Govardhan
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1630; recto: ca. 1530–50
Portrait of Islam Khan Mashhadi, Payag Indian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Portrait of Islam Khan Mashhadi
Payag
17th century
Dagger (Katar) with Sheath, Steel, gold, wood, velvet, Indian
Dagger (Katar) with Sheath
Indian
18th–19th century

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.