Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, it resides along the bank as a reminder of the impermanence of the cycle of creation and destruction. To this very day, it still remains as a place of worship and when the sanctum is submerged, the priests dive into the water to offer their gifts and prayers upon the altar. Even in the face of the elements, faith stands strong. We keep going. 

This painting is part of a 5 piece collection entitled "Sunrise on the Ganga," and was inspired by my trip to India. On the Winter Solstice, my party journeyed out onto the water to watch the sunrise. As the sun came over the horizon, you could see thousands of devotees making their descent down the steps to greet the day and offer their prayers. In that moment I sat in awe realizing they have been doing this here for over 3,000 years. Bathing in the waters will purify your soul and wash away your sins and it is believed that if your body is cremated here, you will achieve immediate Moksha, the ultimate release from the cycle of death and rebirth. 

For me, this piece was a meditation on this process, and a dedication to the impermanence of our lives as we slowly get pulled into the great river of time. A practice in absorbing the sublime and the beautiful. Each moment my brush connects with this canvas, I am drawn back to this moment and continue the practice of letting go. 

Standing 14 meters tall (46 feet), Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple was built between 1825-1830.