Shiv Parivar Marble Murtis

Shiva's family in one murti

A Shiv Parivar shows Shiva with his consort Parvati and their sons Ganesh and Kartikeya, often with Nandi, Shiva's bull. The set is traditionally seen as an image of family harmony and is a popular choice for a home mandir, since it brings together deities many families already worship individually.

The figures in a Shiv Parivar

• Shiva, usually seated on Mount Kailash or a rock, with the trishul, damaru, crescent moon and serpent.
• Parvati seated beside Shiva, most often on his left, sometimes with one hand in blessing.
• Ganesh, commonly seated on Parvati's lap or at her side.
• Kartikeya, also known as Murugan or Skanda, often shown with his spear (vel) or his peacock.
• Nandi, seated at the front facing Shiva, completing the family scene.

Single-base set or individual murtis

Most Shiv Parivar murtis are carved as a single piece, which keeps the family together and makes the composition easy to display. Some temples prefer individual murtis for each deity, which allows separate worship and dressing but needs more space. The arrangement of the figures varies between artists and regional traditions.

What to consider before you enquire

Because the set includes several figures, a Shiv Parivar is usually wider and deeper than a single murti of the same height. Measure the full footprint of your mandir, and look closely at the smaller faces of Ganesh and Kartikeya in photographs, since carving quality at small scale is a good sign of care. If you already keep a Shivling, consider how the two will sit together.