Look closely at a Composite animal and entire worlds starts to come apart. An elephant's trunk turns out to be a coiled serpent, a horse's legs are leaping deer, and a cow carries a whole world of creatures in her body, recalling Kamadhenu, the sacred cow who holds the gods within her.

These composite animals travelled to India from Persia and became a playful speciality in Mughal, Deccani and Rajput workshops. The best known is the Pashu Kunjar, an elephant made entirely of other animals.

The Pashu Chitra Collection brings these old puzzles to your walls as signs of fortune, strength and plenty. Guests stop to count the creatures, children spot new ones every week, and the painting never quite gives up all its secrets.