Ferocious yet Calm
This is the Hindu goddess Durga, slaying Mahishasura, a part-human, part-buffalo demon who threatened to conquer the world. The eighteen-armed goddess plants her foot on the vanquished demon. Durga is calmly triumphant, but at the same time her attributes and gestures emphasize her fierce nature. Her many arms hold an incredible range of objects, from a ritual cup made from a human skull to weapons including a sword, bow, arrow, and shield. Positioned in front of her left breast, one hand displays the kartarimukha (scissors) gesture, which indicates death. Her left foot is supported by a lion, her vahana, or vehicle. Durga is an important deity in the Hindu pantheon. She is said to possess the brilliance, greatness, and power of Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma combined, as well as unrivaled beauty.
Details
- Title : Durga Mahishasuramardini
- Year : 18th century
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Gilded copper alloy
- Dimension : 18 3/4 x 20 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches (47.6 x 52.1 x 19.1 cm)
- Accession No : 2012-58-1
- Country/ Geo-location : Made in Nepal, Asia
- Culture : Hinduism
- Collection : Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund for Indian and Himalayan Art, 2012
- Status : Currently not on display
- Curatorial Department : South Asian Art