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The Goddess Durga Victorious over the Buffalo Demon, Mahisha (Mahishasuramardini)

9th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 247
Representations of the goddess Durga killing the buffalo demon are celebrated throughout India. Transmitted to Southeast Asia, the theme appears in Indonesian art and in the early sculpture of Thailand and Cambodia. When the gods were defeated by the lord of the demons, Mahisha, they pleaded with Durga, the incarnation of female energy, to defend the universe. Having been given a weapon by each of the gods and thus possessing all of their powers, she defeated first the demon's armies and then Mahisha himself, who had taken the form of a buffalo.
In this sculpture, Durga stands on the corpse of the vanquished beast. The demon, having already left it, kneels behind its head and prays to the goddess for mercy. Despite the loss of the heads of Durga and the demon and the partial restoration of the breasts, this unusually large sculpture remains one of the most imposing images of this theme.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Goddess Durga Victorious over the Buffalo Demon, Mahisha (Mahishasuramardini)
  • Period: Central Javanese period
  • Date: 9th century
  • Culture: Indonesia (Java)
  • Medium: Volcanic stone (Andesite)
  • Dimensions: H. 60 1/16 in. (152.5 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Bruckmann, Mr. and Mrs. Perry J. Lewis, and Anonymous Gifts, 1988
  • Object Number: 1988.160
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 2212. The Goddess Durga Victorious over the Buffalo Demon, Mahisha (Mahishasuramardini)

2212. The Goddess Durga Victorious over the Buffalo Demon, Mahisha (Mahishasuramardini)

Costume: The Art of Dress

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SARAH JESSICA PARKER: What a woman! This is the Hindu goddess Durga, who conquered the fierce demon Mahisha. You can see the spirit of the buffalo-demon, rising from the animal below. The other Hindu gods gave Durga their powers so she could defeat Mahisha. That’s why she has so many arms. Her magnificent costume expresses her cosmic prestige. John Guy is the curator for India and Southeast Asian Art.

JOHN GUY: She wears what appears to be a very translucent skirt, a sarong in the Malay world, this image is from Indonesia, and then added to that is a whole complex array of skirts and belts.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER: Durga’s outfit is very elaborate—knots, bows, and all that jewelry. But on her torso she wears only her sacred cord. In ceremonies, she would have looked very different. Worshippers might never have seen her the way you’re seeing her.

JOHN GUY: She would have been certainly dressed and adorned during festivals with offerings of flowers, fine textiles, and so on. Textiles would simply be wrapped, pushed into the crevices, tied around it, thrown over it, so the figure would be enveloped and perhaps only the head really exposed.

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