A Madhubani delineation of the Ardhanarishvara, a composite androgynous form of Hindu God Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati. The intricate ornamentation throughout, and the color scheme, all highlight the artist’s close attention to definition and detail. Images of Hindu deities like Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati and vignettes from tales revolving around them form an integral part of the themes of Madhubani paintings. Madhubani paintings are made with natural dye on handmade paper coated with a layer of cow dung, which essentially reflect their artists’ proximity with nature!