During a trip to India it was impossible not to notice and be impressed by the frequent and commonplace religious and spiritual rituals in both open and closed temples. In this painting, a Hindu woman is worshipping Shiva, the god of destruction and creation. When the world becomes evil, Shiva destroys it to make way for beneficial change. Here the woman is pouring water over Shiva who is symbolized by a phallic cylinder. Most major Hindu gods have an animal companion. In the lower left corner is Nandi, a sacred bull, whose name means “giving delight and joy,” and who is Shiva’s means of transportation.