Details
- Title : Book covers (a pair)
- Year : 18th century
- Classification : Watercolour Painting
- Medium : Watercolour on wood
- Dimension : 3 13/16 in. x 10 1/2 in. (9.68 cm x 26.67 cm)
- Accession No : 1990.169.a-b
- Country/ Geo-location : NEPAL
- Collection : San Diego Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Edwin Binney 3rd Collection
- Label Copy : Label Copy: VISIONS OF THE GREAT GODDESS September 2004 The exteriors of Nepalese manuscripts typically bore foliate designs, while the interiors-shown here-featured paintings of gods and goddesses. This pair of 18th century manuscript covers is decorated with eight visualizations of Devi slaying Mahisha, the buffalo demon, and may have held a copy of the Devi Mahatmya. These eight women represent the eight mothers, ashta matrikas, who are both emanations of Devi as well as other Hindu gods. Similar images of the eight mothers also show the goddesses slaying Mahisha, however, the absence of distinct characteristics makes these deities more difficult to identify. Each figure is accompanied by a lion, Devi's mount and the differences in skin color and ornament are less clear. The seventh goddess, however, may be Vaishnavi, an emanation of Vishnu who shares his bluish complexion and carries his discus. Sonya Quintanilla (2014) Quebec Book covers with the goddess slaying the buffalo demon From a Devimahatmya («Glory to the Great Goddess») Nepal, 18th century Watercolor on wood Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.169.a-b The exteriors of Nepalese manuscripts typically bore foliate designs, while the interiors-shown here-featured paintings of gods and goddesses. This pair of 18th century manuscript covers is decorated with eight visualizations of Devi slaying Mahisha, the buffalo demon, and may have held a copy of the Devi Mahatmya. These eight women represent the eight mothers, ashta matrikas, who are both emanations of Devi as well as other Hindu gods. Similar images of the eight mothers also show the goddesses slaying Mahisha, however, the absence of distinct characteristics makes these deities more difficult to identify. Each figure is accompanied by a lion, Devi's mount and the differences in skin color and ornament are less clear. The seventh goddess, however, may be Vaishnavi, an emanation of Vishnu who shares his bluish complexion and carries his discus.
- Exhibition History : (1) Devi: The Great Goddess, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 3/28/1999 - 9/6/1999 (2) Goddess: The Divine Female in Hindu and Buddhist Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 10/13/2006 - 1/28/2007 (3) Into India: South Asian Paintings from The San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Art, 2/28/2012 - 5/27/2012