Vintage Indian Hindu Lithograph Print: Jai Shankar (Hail, Shiva) (14.25”x9.75”)

This print depicts Lord Shiva in meditation in the wild, undisturbed. Shiva is revered as the god of destruction and transformation. The snake around his neck represents his mastery over desire. Among other design elements in this image is his sacred bull Nandi, a trident, the Ganga River flowing from his hair, all significant symbols associated with the god. We can’t help but notice the two squirrels playing above the bull, two blue and white birds near the top, a heron on the shore below the waterfall, a small scorpion ready to strike, and a lizard, as well as the way the bull is looking at a tiny snake armband…
 
The print is signed in the lower left corner but is cut off (could be BG Sharma the artist behind several of our prints), its title is in Hindi Jai Shankar which translates to ‘Hail, Shiva’, and it was printed by the Swastik Picture House of Delhi. 
 
 
NOTE: THE HINDU SWASTIKA IS NOT THE SAME AS THE NAZI SWASTIKA. Its arms are perpendicular to the page, not diagonal like the Nazi symbol. In Hinduism, the swastika is a sacred and auspicious symbol representing good luck, prosperity, and well-being.
 
The print is a halftone lithograph, a common printing technique for mass-produced religious imagery in India in the past which made them affordable to all. Such prints evolved from use in puja rooms (prayer rooms) to stickers in taxis, shop art, calendars, ticket labels, and other everyday objects, becoming part of the colorful décor of Indian homes and public spaces. They played a significant role in popularizing Hindu iconography. They are still in use today, although modern printing techniques are used to reproduce them and create new interpretations.
 
Most online are asking at least $ 25 per piece for these kinds of prints. 
 
We do not know if it was our grandmother who purchased these in the 1930s or our mother in 1969 or the 1970s. This particular print is in good vintage condition, with only very minor creases along the edges. We would mail this flat.
 
H 14 1/4” x L 9 3/4”
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.