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Durga Slaying Mahisha, c. 1700-1710. Creator: Unknown
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Durga Slaying Mahisha, c. 1700-1710. Creator: Unknown
Durga Slaying Mahisha, c. 1700-1710. Durga is the name of the goddess who personifies the sum total of the powers of all the male gods combined. When she vanquishes the fierce buffalo demon named Mahisha, she is described as having many arms, each holding a different weapon: bow and arrow, trident, discus, shield, sword, mace, and the conch shell that sounds the start of battle. The horizontal lines on her arms are sectarian markings. At the moment depicted in this painting, she has succeeded in beheading the buffalo demon and shooting arrows into his true form that climbs from its neck. Artists in the foothills of the western Himalayas, where this work was made, depicted Durgas mount as a tiger--lions and tigers had synonymous meaning throughout India as emblems of shakti, or divine creative energy
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Media ID 19625286
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
Early 18th Century Ink And Colour On Paper Pahari Hills
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This print showcases the artwork titled "Durga Slaying Mahisha" created by an unknown artist in the early 18th century. The painting depicts a powerful scene from Hindu mythology, where Durga, the goddess embodying the combined powers of male deities, triumphs over the formidable buffalo demon named Mahisha. In this moment frozen in time, Durga is portrayed with multiple arms, each wielding a different weapon symbolizing her divine strength: bow and arrow, trident, discus, shield, sword, mace, and a conch shell that signals the commencement of battle. Adorned with horizontal lines on her arms representing sectarian markings, she stands as a formidable force against evil. The artists hailing from the foothills of the western Himalayas chose to depict Durga's mount as a tiger—a significant choice since lions and tigers were synonymous symbols of shakti or divine creative energy throughout India. This fusion of artistry beautifully captures both power and grace within one frame. Preserved within this ink and color on paper masterpiece lies not only artistic excellence but also cultural heritage. Housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art today under Heritage Art/Heritage Images' custodianship (not affiliated with any company), this piece serves as a testament to India's rich artistic traditions and devotion to its mythological narratives.
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