In the Himalayas, Hindus believe that every twelve years Shiva and Parvati leave their home on Mount Kailasa and descend to earth to look over creation. Paintings of this theme are particularly popular in the hill regions of Himachal Pradesh. Another rendition of this same composition is in the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
The holy family is portrayed here with their animal mounts making the descent through the mountains. The ascetic god Shiva holds his wife Parvati’s hand to help her manage along the unsteady path. Shiva holds a trident with a bull banner. Parvati carries their six-faced son Skanda. The elephant-headed Ganesha and Skanda’s peacock mount ride Shiva’s bull, Nandi. Ganesha’s rat mount walks in front of the bull, while Parvati’s tiger mount follows close behind. Shiva’s simian attendant, Nandishvara, leads the family and carries a tied bundle of possessions on his head and a drum (mridangam) over his shoulder.
Another closely comparable version of this composition, therein attributed to "probably Mandi, Kangra style, circa 1830," is in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (K.1997.982).
