Goddess Jagadhatri

1878–1883

Not on view

The regal young goddess whose name means “Bearer of the World,” sits elegantly on her lion companion as he navigates mountainous terrain. Jagadhatri is an emanation of Kali who, according to one myth, transformed herself into a fair complexioned beauty after Shiva made disparaging remarks in jest about Kali’s dark skin. Shiva misses his spouse intensely and fails to recognize her in her new guise. Her true identity is established when Jagadhatri garlands Shiva with a cobra, shown poised above her left shoulder. She displays in her four hands a bow, arrow, discus, and conch, and is richly bejeweled; even her lion sports a jeweled gold diadem.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Goddess Jagadhatri
Date: 1878–1883
Culture: West Bengal, Calcutta
Medium: Lithograph, printed in black and hand-coloring with watercolor and selectively applied glaze
Dimensions: Sheet: 16 in. × 12 1/2 in. (40.6 × 31.8 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Purchase, Robert and Bobbie Falk Philanthropic Fund Gift, 2021
Object Number: 2021.201
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Goddess Bhairavi, Shib Gobin Lal, Lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored with yellow and pink watercolor. Selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Bhairavi
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Goddess Matangi, Sasadhar Banarjee Indian, Lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored with watercolor, selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Matangi
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Sri Sri Kali (recto); Kali (verso), G. C. Dass (recto), Recto: lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored in red, crimson, and yellow watercolor, selectively applied glaze. Verso: lithograph, printed in black, West Bengal, Calcutta — Sri Sri Kali (recto); Kali (verso)
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ca. 1880–85 (recto); ca. 1875–85 (verso)

Goddess Bagala, Sasadhar Banarjee : Designer and publisher Indian, Lithograph printed in black with hand-coloring with watercolor and selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Bagala
Sasadhar Banarjee
ca. 1875–85

Goddess Kamalatmika, The Hindu Art Studio, Lithograph, printed in black with hand-coloring in watercolor and selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Kamalatmika
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