Kumara Seated on a Peacock

Kumara, "the everlasting youthful son," is an epithet of Skanda, the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is also identified with Karttikeya, the god of war in the Hindu pantheon. Here, he is depicted riding his vehicle, the peacock Paravani, a creature renowned for its aggressiveness and speed in combat.

MET Accession Number: 1984.494.3