Fine Art Reproduction Print (Ravi Varma Press Reproduction)
Artist / Date: Raja Ravi Varma | Circa 1910 | Ravi Varma Press, Karla-Lonavla
Key Features
This rare and serene composition presents Lord Shiva in his form as Dakshinamurthy, the divine teacher-a profound and lesser-depicted aspect of the deity described in scripture as a young preacher of supreme knowledge. Seated in a yogic posture beneath a great tree, Shiva's leg is bound in the traditional yoga-patta, his gaze steady and unwavering, while his right hand is held in vyakhyana-mudra, the gesture of imparting sacred wisdom.
This depiction closely follows the iconographic descriptions found in the Uttara-kamika and Shilpa-ratna, where Dakshinamurthy is portrayed seated beneath a tree, adorned with a crescent moon, rudraksha and rock-crystal malas, and serpents coiling gently around his form, embodying his mastery over both the wild and the wise. A cobra rests upon his arm and a deer leans close to his side, both symbols of the natural world's harmony under his teaching, while Nandi, his sacred bull, lies peacefully at his feet.
To his side sits a lone disciple, facing his Guru in quiet supplication-representing the sages, students, and spirits who traditionally gather to receive Dakshinamurthy's silent, transcendent teachings. In this print, Ravi Varma distills that vast assembly into a single seeker, lending the scene an intimate, contemplative stillness rarely found in more crowded devotional compositions.
Set against a backdrop of towering pines and distant snow-capped peaks bathed in soft twilight hues, the painting captures Shiva not as a fierce ascetic or cosmic destroyer, but as the eternal Guru-still, wise, and endlessly patient in the wilderness of the Himalayas.
Museum-Grade Poster Details
Size: 18 × 24 inches
Paper: 350 GSM archival matte paper
Print Quality: High-resolution reproduction preserving fine linework, subtle tonal gradients, and the rich natural palette of the original Ravi Varma Press print
Finish: Non-glare museum matte finish
Ideal For: Shaiva practitioners, collectors of rare Ravi Varma iconography, and admirers of contemplative Puranic art
Why You'll Love It
A rare and meditative Ravi Varma classic-Shiva as Dakshinamurthy, the silent teacher, captured in a moment of timeless stillness.
Order Now
Bring home Shankar as Dakshinamurthy, a rare depiction of Shiva the eternal Guru amidst the Himalayan wilderness. Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.
