Panchayatan Himalayan

• 17th century
• Width: 3.25 inches

Height: 3.25 inches

Wonderful artistic details on this Shiva Family Shrine. The fabrication of this piece was a combination of lost wax casting and assembly of separate parts. The Shiva and Parvati have wiggly arms and whorls near where their ears might be. Their hair is depicted with lines under a ball crown top. The faces are fabulous and quite different with large noses and mouths. Before the seated Shiva and Parvati are a Cobra, Nandi, and a figure that probably is Ganesh, but his trunk is broken now and the figure leans forward.
Having a Shiva Family Shrine in one’s home is believed to offer many spiritual benefits: as the idealized family, it is a reminder of maintain an atmosphere of peace and love; it is a reminder of the balance of masculine and feminine energy; and it serves as protection in the home.
17th century

Imtiyaz  “oh my god, rare, splendid piece”

Longnose is Himachal

there is something like Nasik   but Imtiyaz agreed it is Himachal