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Dattātreya was a Brahman saint in whom a portion of Brahmā, Vishnu and Shiva was incarnate

Dattātreya with his four dogs and cow. Chromolithograph by R. Varma.

Brahma was the first member of the Hindu triad. He is considered as the supreme spirit manifested as the active creator of the universe

Brahma enthroned with his goose or swan. Watercolour drawing.

1 print : chromolithograph ; border 34.5 x 24.8 cm

Vishnu and Lakshmi on an elephant meeting Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha on a bull while Brahma watches in heaven. Chromolithograph.

The Hindu or Vedic triad claled Trimūrti consists of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva all of whom are associated with a specific cosmic function. Brahma signifies the equilibrium between two opposing principals of which Vishnu is one and Shiva the other. Vishnu symbolises preservation and renewal, while Shiva symbolises disintergration and destruction

Page 129: the Trimurti or Hindu triad consisting of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Watercolour drawing.

Vishnu resting on the ocean accompanied by Lakshmi, Tumbara, Hanuman, Narada, Garuda and Brahma sitting on a lotus. Chromolithograph.

The Holy cow's body is divided up between many holy men, deities and elements, underneath Dharmarāja, King of Justice is praying and a farmer gives milk to Hindus, Parsees and Englishmen. The Shlokas (Sanskrit verses) are acts for the protection of cows which in turn are protection of ancestors

The holy Cow personified as World Mother with many Sanskrit verses. Chromolithograph.

Dattātreya was the son of Atri and Anasūyā. He was also the mythological combination of three gods, Brahmā, Shiva and Vishnu, which indicates a rapproachment between different sects. Dattātreya is a cult that contributes to one of many facets of the Advaita Vedānta

Dattatreya accompanied by his four dogs among cows. Chromolithograph.

1 drawing : gouache, with oxidised silver

Shiva and Parvati mounted on Nandi bull in a procession led by Brahma and Hanuman and attendants. Gouache drawing.

1 print : transfer lithograph, with watercolour

Vishnu reclining on the ocean with Brahma springing from a lotus growing from Vishnu's navel with attendants. Coloured transfer lithograph.

1 print : chromolithograph ; border 34.1 x 25.2 cm

Shiva waiting for the arrival of his bride Parvati. Chromolithograph.

Page 137: Vishnu reclining on the serpent, Sesha, with Brahma springing from his navel, and Lakshmi on the milk ocean. Watercolour drawing.

Nārāyana is an incarnation of Vishnu
Maruti is another name for Hanuman
Tumbara is another spelling for Tumburu who is usually the personified tambour
Lettering in Devanagari script
The subject of the picture is also represented under the title "Vishnu on the milk ocean"

Narayan on the waters with Lakshmi massaging his legs surrounded by Narada, Maruti, Garuda and Tumbra, all surrounded by roundels. Coloured transfer lithograph.

The dhenu, or milk cow as a symbol of abundance. In front of the cow is a woman worshipping while at the back, a woman milks. Between the hind legs of the cow stands an Englishman holding a glass of beer

The cow as mother of the world: with pictures of Hindu deities all over its body. Coloured lithograph.

1 print : chromolithograph ; border 24.7 x 34.5 cm

Vishnu lying on a serpent, with Lakshmi massaging his feet and Brahma in heaven. Chromolithograph.

The four-faced turban-clad Brahmā, from the Buddhist perspective, is a protector associated with the meditative experiences of the 'world-system of form' (gzugs-kyi khams), one of the eighteen elements, and he is acknowledged as the head of a group known as the 'liberating' protectors (sgrol-'ging). Though he is a Hindu god, he and Indra have been incorporated in the Buddhist pantheon. He is one of the eight Dharmapālas, Defenders of the Teachings (Tibetan Drag gśed) who have been pressed into the service of Buddhism since the eighth century when Padmasambhava subdued non-Buddhist and local deities. The eight Dharmapālas are Lha-mo, Tshaṅs-pa, Beg-tse, Yama, Kubera, Hayagrīva, Mahākāla and Yamāntaka. All Dharmapālas are included in the rgyan tshogs banners of which this is one (Yamāntaka in the form of Vajrabhairava), except Hayagrīva who may perhaps be concealed by one of his epithets in the list of fifteen deities
At the top are flayed human skins with human heads, sense organs and other organs of the body. Below are six skull-bowls holding the six sacramental substances
In the centre, Brahmā's hand-held attributes are shown: from top centre downwards, a vajra-chopper, a seventh blood-filled skull bowl, and a triangular snare. Other hand-held attributes are shown below: from left to right, a long sword, a vessel with green fluid, a battle-lance, a trident, a human organ (?), and a garland of skulls
At the bottom centre is a large gtor-ma (offering cake). Beside the lower part of the gtor-ma are a fire cone, two scrolls bound together by a ribbon, a double drum, and king's and queen's earrings. Pieces of grinning human skeletons make macabre gestures
To the far left of the gtor-ma, a mirror reflects Mount Sumeru the mythical axis mundi of Indo-Tibetan mythology with its crystal, beryl, ruby and golden flanks, representing the 'world-system of form'. At the bottom right, a corresponding mirror reflects the symbols of the five senses: a stūpa (touch), a mirror reflecting cymbals (hearing), a small mirror on its own (sight), a conch shell containing incense (smell), and some fruit (taste). Above these are the mounts of Brahmā: a black bull, ram, a black horse (instead of the white horse he usually rides), an antelope and a dog

Fifteen banners from a Tibetan Protector chapel.

1 painting : distemper on linen ; distemper 62 x 49 cm.

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Dattātreya with his four dogs and cow. Chromolithograph by R. Varma.

Brahma enthroned with his goose or swan. Watercolour drawing.

Vishnu and Lakshmi on an elephant meeting Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha on a bull while Brahma watches in heaven. Chromolithograph.

Page 129: the Trimurti or Hindu triad consisting of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Watercolour drawing.

Vishnu resting on the ocean accompanied by Lakshmi, Tumbara, Hanuman, Narada, Garuda and Brahma sitting on a lotus. Chromolithograph.

The holy Cow personified as World Mother with many Sanskrit verses. Chromolithograph.

Dattatreya accompanied by his four dogs among cows. Chromolithograph.

Shiva and Parvati mounted on Nandi bull in a procession led by Brahma and Hanuman and attendants. Gouache drawing.

Vishnu reclining on the ocean with Brahma springing from a lotus growing from Vishnu's navel with attendants. Coloured transfer lithograph.

Shiva waiting for the arrival of his bride Parvati. Chromolithograph.

Page 137: Vishnu reclining on the serpent, Sesha, with Brahma springing from his navel, and Lakshmi on the milk ocean. Watercolour drawing.

Narayan on the waters with Lakshmi massaging his legs surrounded by Narada, Maruti, Garuda and Tumbra, all surrounded by roundels. Coloured transfer lithograph.

The cow as mother of the world: with pictures of Hindu deities all over its body. Coloured lithograph.

Vishnu lying on a serpent, with Lakshmi massaging his feet and Brahma in heaven. Chromolithograph.

Attributes of Brahmā (Tibetan Tshaṅs-pa, the pure one) in a "rgyan tshogs" banner. Distemper painting by a Tibetan painter.

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Dattātreya with his four dogs and cow. Chromolithograph by R. Varma.

Brahma enthroned with his goose or swan. Watercolour drawing.

Vishnu and Lakshmi on an elephant meeting Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha on a bull while Brahma watches in heaven. Chromolithograph.

Page 129: the Trimurti or Hindu triad consisting of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Watercolour drawing.

Vishnu resting on the ocean accompanied by Lakshmi, Tumbara, Hanuman, Narada, Garuda and Brahma sitting on a lotus. Chromolithograph.

The holy Cow personified as World Mother with many Sanskrit verses. Chromolithograph.

Dattatreya accompanied by his four dogs among cows. Chromolithograph.

Shiva and Parvati mounted on Nandi bull in a procession led by Brahma and Hanuman and attendants. Gouache drawing.

Vishnu reclining on the ocean with Brahma springing from a lotus growing from Vishnu's navel with attendants. Coloured transfer lithograph.

Shiva waiting for the arrival of his bride Parvati. Chromolithograph.

Page 137: Vishnu reclining on the serpent, Sesha, with Brahma springing from his navel, and Lakshmi on the milk ocean. Watercolour drawing.

Narayan on the waters with Lakshmi massaging his legs surrounded by Narada, Maruti, Garuda and Tumbra, all surrounded by roundels. Coloured transfer lithograph.

The cow as mother of the world: with pictures of Hindu deities all over its body. Coloured lithograph.

Vishnu lying on a serpent, with Lakshmi massaging his feet and Brahma in heaven. Chromolithograph.

Attributes of Brahmā (Tibetan Tshaṅs-pa, the pure one) in a "rgyan tshogs" banner. Distemper painting by a Tibetan painter.

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

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