This painting shows Vishnu (God of Preservation) as a four-armed deity seated on the back of the thousand-headed serpent, Seshanaga, in the cosmic ocean. His four hands are holding his standard attributes namely, the discus, conch, mace and lotus. His consort, Lakshmi is shown massaging his feet. This iconography is commonly known as Sheshashayi Vishnu. The scene depicts the process of the creation of the universe whereby the four-headed Brahma (God of Creation) seated in a large lotus flower emerges from Vishnu’s navel, and began to create the universe. This painting either belongs to the Chamba or Kangra Jammu/Kashmir school of Pahari paintings and is unique because it features the patron, Maharaja Gulab Singh, who possibly commissioned it.
