Fine Art Reproduction Print (Ravi Varma Press Reproduction)
Artist / Date: Raja Ravi Varma | Circa 1900 | Ravi Varma Press
Key Features
This graceful and emotionally resonant composition presents Ganga and Bhishma, depicting the celestial goddess Ganga as she carries the infant Devavrata-later known as the great Bhishma-in her arms, gliding across the sacred waters of the river that bears her name. Draped in a flowing vermilion saree adorned with shimmering jewels, her dark tresses trailing in the wind, Ganga is captured mid-flight, tender and resolute, cradling her eighth and final son close to her breast.
The narrative behind this scene is among the most poignant in the Mahabharata. Shantanu, a king of the lunar dynasty, fell deeply in love with Ganga, who agreed to become his wife on one solemn condition-that he never say anything to displease her. This union was itself predestined, for Brahma had cursed the ashta-vasus (the eight Vasus) to be born as mortals, and it was ordained that Ganga would bear them as her sons before returning to the heavens.
Bound by her vow and her cosmic purpose, Ganga released each of her first seven sons into the river shortly after birth, liberating them from their mortal curse-and Shantanu, honoring his promise, maintained his silence through each heartbreaking moment. But when the eighth son was born, the king could bear it no longer and pleaded that this child be spared. Having broken the sacred condition of their marriage, Shantanu forced Ganga to depart, and she fled the palace carrying her infant son, whom she raised in the forest, first naming him Devavrata-the child who would one day become the noble and self-sacrificing Bhishma.
Ravi Varma captures the exact moment of Ganga's departure with masterful tenderness and movement-her billowing garments, windswept hair, and the gentle protectiveness with which she holds her child conveying both maternal love and the weight of divine destiny. The luminous riverside landscape and softly reflective waters lend the scene an ethereal, otherworldly grace befitting the celestial goddess.
Museum-Grade Poster Details
Size: 18 × 24 inches
Paper: 350 GSM archival matte paper
Print Quality: High-resolution reproduction preserving fine linework, the shimmering ornamental detailing, and rich color depth true to the original Ravi Varma Press print
Finish: Non-glare museum matte finish
Ideal For: Lovers of Mahabharata narratives, collectors of Raja Ravi Varma art, devotees of Ganga, and admirers of classical Puranic imagery
Why You'll Love It
A rare and moving Ravi Varma classic-the goddess Ganga carrying the infant Bhishma, capturing maternal love and the weight of divine destiny.
Order Now
Bring home Ganga and Bhishma, a timeless depiction of one of the Mahabharata's most poignant moments. Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.
