Marriage of God Shiva with Goddess Parvati (Kalyanasundara)

This sculpture depicts the divine marriage of Parvati and Shiva, which was witnessed by all the gods after she devoted many years to ascetic practices (yoga) in order to persuade him to marry her. Shiva formally accepts the bride by taking her right hand in his (panigrahana). He gazes upon Parvati while she looks into a handheld mirror. Brahma, the creator god, can be seen officiating.