a) Ahilyoddhar
Oleograph on paper
20.25 x 14.25 in (51.5 x 36 cm)

Beautiful and glamorous Ahalya was the wife of sage Gautama. But Indra also loved and wanted to marry her. When Gautama was away from hermitage, Indra assuming the form of Gautama came to Ahalya, expressed his love and desire. Ahalya, knowing that Indra himself had come to her, became conceited and yielded to his wish.
On his return, Gautama saw Indra coming out of the hermitage, cursed that he would become devoid of his strength and potency. He also cursed Ahalya that she would be transformed into a petrified rock and remain there for hundreds of years, till Rama's feet touched upon her.
Sage Vishwamitra after performing a great ritual at Siddhashram with the help of Rama and Lakshmana, was proceeding to Mithila. On their way they reached the place of Gautama's hermitage, where Ahalya lay in the form of stone all those years. The moment Rama's feet touched upon the rock, Ahalya emerged from it in all radiance. She offered obeisance to Rama. Oleograph with printed signature of Ravi Verma

b) Shree Dattatreya
Oleograph on paper
20 x 15 in (50.5 x 38 cm)

The three headed monk is considered to be an incarnation of the three Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He was especially venerated in Maharashtra and known for his skills as a yoga guru. He is dressed as a simple monk holding symbolic attributes associated with Shiva (trident, damaru drum, begging bowl), Vishnu (conch and chakra discus) and Brahma (water pot). He is always surrounded by a cow and four dogs, symbolizing the four Vedas.
One of the most important texts of Hinduism, namely Avadhuta Gita has been attributed to Dattatreya. He is also said to have inspired many monastic movements in Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism. He is mentioned frequently by the legandary poet Tukaram and revered for his way of life. He is also described in the Mahabharata as a sage possessing extraordinary insight and knowledge.
The modern iconography of Dattatreya was created by the Chitrashala Press and later followed by the Ravi Varma Press. The symbol on the forehead determines the press to which the print is attributed. If the forehead had the sign of Shiva then it was from the Chitrashala Press and if Vishnu then Ravi Varma Press.

(Set of two)

These works will be shipped unframed