The Goddess Durga Slaying the Demon Buffalo Mahisha
This sculpture portrays the sixteen-armed form of the goddess Durga as the slayer of the demon buffalo Mahisha. The array of arms, each displaying a weapon, creates a kinetic energy in the image, no doubt all the more powerful when contemplated in a shrine dimly illuminated by oil lamps. This work is among the finest Indian miniature sculptures of the Pala-Sena period.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Goddess Durga Slaying the Demon Buffalo Mahisha
- Period: Pala-Sena period
- Date: 12th century
- Culture: Bangladesh or India (Bengal)
- Medium: Argillite
- Dimensions: H. 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm); W. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); D. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Purchase, Diana L. and Arthur G. Altschul Gift, 1993
- Object Number: 1993.7
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
Audio
7921. The Goddess Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasura Mardini), Part 1
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