Woman worshiping at an outdoor shrine, personifying a musical mode (Bhairavi Ragini)

The image of women at worship is a common one in Indian paintings. In this example, a female attendant observes as another woman kneels before a small outdoor shrine containing a linga—the phallic emblem representing the Hindu god Shiva. Scattered near the kneeling woman are ritual utensils, including water sprinklers and a bowl of flower offerings. The nudity of the woman, visible through her sheer dress, suggests that this private moment of worship is occurring immediately after her bath.