Tiger Worship: Bagh Dev Pooja in Gond Art by Venkat Shyam

This striking Gond painting by Venkat Shyam gracefully reimagines the majestic tiger, the Bagh Dev—a powerful symbol in Gond folklore—within a whimsical, intimate composition that radiates both warmth and mythic energy. The central figure of the tiger is depicted as a highly revered deity, often worshipped as a spirit of power within the tribe.

The tiger is shown in a gentle, curled posture, its elongated body forming a protective arc that embraces itself and a boar nestled beneath its tail. This suggests offerings made to the powerful protectors of the Gond communities or perhaps their harmonious existence in nature. The tiger’s face, exquisitely detailed in earthy ochre and deep red, is adorned with intricate scale-like motifs and foliage-shaped ears, reflecting nature’s omnipresence in tribal imagination. Vivid orange stripes accentuate its gray, finely textured body, each stroke meticulously executed with the artist’s hallmark cross-hatching technique.

Adding a layer of ritual symbolism, a decorated earthen pot rests upon the tiger’s back. This represents prosperity, sustenance, and the sacred continuity of life cycles in tribal tradition, as well as the ritual belief that a tiger's spirit can possess a family member during these ceremonies. Surrounding foliage elements and the serene gaze of both animals elevate the painting into a narrative of ecological interdependence, where strength and vulnerability, wilderness and domesticity, seamlessly intertwine.

Through this artwork, Venkat Shyam not only honors the tiger’s regal presence within Gond oral tales but also imparts a subtle, profound message about balance, respect, and the interconnectedness of all living beings in the natural world—a recurring theme in his evocative visual storytelling.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

View Sample Here

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork.

Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork. We offer framing services on demand at additional costs. If you wish to get your artwork framed, please reach out to us on WhatsApp or email.

Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork. We offer framing services on demand at additional framing and shipping costs.

We take custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

We ship worldwide, Our Prices are inclusive of GST/Taxes in India. For international orders, any specific custom duties you may encounter in your home country during the delivery has to borne by the buyer.

For all artworks except Lippan and Terracotta, we offer free shipping on orders above ₹999, a ₹249 flat rate is applicable to smaller order amounts.

Our standard shipping rates are not applicable for custom framed artworks.

For international artwork orders shipping charges of 4000 INR* are applicable.

For Lippan and Terracotta Artworks, We charge a Shipping rate on a per Kilogram basis.

*Extra charges may apply for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• International artwork orders where the artwork's smaller side measures more than 36 inches.
• Extra charges are applicable for Express Shipping. Contact support to check availability for your order.
• Orders with more than 2 product types in the cart.

All artworks are packed and couriered securely in a tube.

Ready To Ship/ In Stock artworks are shipped in under 2 weeks. We only accept return requests for Ready to Ship/ In stock artworks placed within a week from date of delivery. However, no returns can be accepted for international deliveries.

Made To Order artworks will take 2-3 weeks to be made and shipped once they are ready. Returns are not applicable on Made To Order artworks.

Once your order is placed, our team will stay in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.