Goddess Durga in art

For centuries, Goddess Durga has been given a prominent place in Indian art, whether in temple sculptures, bronze idols, or paintings. Durga is usually depicted as a ferocious goddess riding on a lion, holding weapons of various kinds in her multiple arms. In almost every representation, she is shown to be slaying the buffalo demon, Mahisha. One can observe the limp body of a buffalo with a severed head writhing beneath the goddess's feet.

Creation of Durga

The story of Durga is narrated in the Hindu text Markandeya Purana. A prominent part of this scripture is the philosophical text called Devi Mahatmyam that describes the Goddess as the invincible power.

When a demon named Mahisha becomes all too powerful, he attacks the abode of the Gods in Amaravati. Unable to bear the atrocities of Mahisha and his followers, the Gods pray to the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The three gods, along with the energies of a multitude of Gods, create the female deity, Shakthi or Durga, to slay Mahisha.

In the image below, the artist depicts the Goddess in the middle with the Gods lined up before her. The legend has it that each God contributes a replica of his weapon to Durga to slay the Mahishasura [ Demons in Hindu texts have the word Asura, meaning demon, suffixed to their names.] Durga was thus equipped with a trident from Shiva, a discus from Vishnu, a lotus from Brahma (he does not carry a weapon. A lotus symbolises knowledge, and that is what Brahma offered Goddess Durga,) a thunderbolt from Indra, a bow and arrow from the Sun god, and so on.

Image notes: Though Durga is usually depicted with ten arms, the artist has chosen to show only eight. The artwork also depicts Durga sitting on a lotus flower instead of on her mount.

Artwork Details (Courtesy: Met Museum)

Title: The Creation of Durga: Page from a Dispersed Markandeya Purana: (Stories of the Sage Markandeya)

Date: ca. 1810–20

Culture: India (Punjab Hills, Guler)

Medium: Ink and opaque watercolor on paper

Many devotees read the Devi Mahatmyam text during the nine days of the Navaratri festival. The text Devi Mahatmyam has three parts, and the second part describes the prowess of Goddess Durga.

Mahishasura Mardini - the slayer of demon Mahisha

In all the images below, Durga is slaying the buffalo demon Mahisha. A beheaded buffalo is at the feet of Durga, and a monster is emerging from the severed body of the buffalo fighting the Goddess. From a trident to a spear, the weapon used by Durga to slay the demon varies according to the artist's vision.

For the artwork details of these objects, please visit the MetMuseum collection.

  1. Durga, 14th century, Nepal

  2. Durga, 9th century, UP

  3. Durga, 12th century northern Bengal

Paintings

In the paintings below, Durga, a form of Parvathi, is with her two children, Ganesha (on the bottom left) and Karthikeya (on the bottom right.) There is also Goddess Lakshmi on the left (symbolised by the lotus she is holding) and Saraswathi (indicated by the stringed instrument lute she is playing.)

Unusual depictions

Durga, 9th century Indonesia, 5
Durga, 9th century Indonesia, 5
Durga, 9th century, UP - 2
Durga, 9th century, UP - 2
Durga, 17th century, painting from Markandeya Purana, India, 10
Durga, 17th century, painting from Markandeya Purana, India, 10

L to R

  1. In this 5th-century Indonesian stone sculpture, the Goddess is shown standing on the demon Mahishasure. In this sculpture, the Goddess's lion is missing.

  2. In the 9th-century stone sculpture in Uttar Pradesh, the Goddess is shown only with four arms and seated on the lion.

  3. In this painting, Durga is shown battling the demon and not the usual slaying him under her foot. Also, the Goddess's mount looks more like a tiger than a lion.