Brahma Negotiates Parvati's Marriage

Cave 21, Ellora

From left to right: Parvati, Shiva, Brahma (three heads), and Skanda. The story goes that during a time when the asuras (demons) were threatening to defeat the devas (gods), Brahma facilitated the marriage of Shiva and Parvati in order to produce a warrior son, Skanda, who would eventually defeat the demons.