Important Notice

UTTAR PRADESH OR MADHYA PRADESH, 10TH - 11TH CENTURY
Sandstone
33.75 in (85.5 cm) high

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PROVENANCE
Property from an Important Family Collection


This majestic sculpture shows the moment of Durga's victory over the demon, a metaphor for the triumph of good over evil. "In her triumph over the buffalo-demon, she annihilates the forces of evil, no matter what their form. She is the omnipotent protector and the universal mother." (Susan S Bean, "Vessels for the Goddess: Unfired-Clay Images of Durga in Bengal," Pratapaditya Pal ed., Goddess Durga: The Power and the Glory, Mumbai: Marg Publications, 2009, p. 39) Durga, the primary deity, in characteristic iconography, has multiple arms and is shown holding her attributes: a vajra, chakra, shield, bow, and sword. With her trident, she slays the buffalo, who collapses at her feet. Her mount, the lion, joins in the battle by biting the hindquarters of the demon. The demon Mahishasura is shown emerging from the body of the slain beast. Celestial beings and figures from the pantheon grace the event on the upper stele. The goddess's powerful stance in victory is balanced by her complete composure and delicate features, perfectly combining the dynamic with the static in one truly iconic image. Mahishasura, while emerging from the neck of the bull in fatal defeat, also appears in recumbent position at the base of the sculpture, where he may be reflecting his destiny before going into battle and his ultimate submission, a unique feature expressing a consequence of events. This superbly carved sculpture ranks as a masterpiece of mediaeval sculpture from Central India and is in remarkable overall condition.

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