THE HINDU GODDESS DURGA SEATED ON HER MOUNT (VAHANA)
Rajasthan, North-Western India, 19th century

THE HINDU GODDESS DURGA SEATED ON HER MOUNT (VAHANA)
Rajasthan, North-Western India, 19th century

Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting the multi-armed goddess Durga riding a large tiger, her traditional mount, each hand holding one of her attributes, her face replaced by Vishnu's boar avatara (Varaha), Shiva's crescent moon embellishing her forehead, the scene set within black rules and bright red borders, the recto plain, mounted, glazed and framed, the panel 39cm x 28.5cm, 52.5cm x 42.2cm including the frame.

The choice of depicting the goddess' face as Varaha the Boar, one of Vishnu's manifestations, and the presence of the crescent moon on her forehead is not unintentional. These choices indicate that this composition was conceived by the artist as a hymn in praise of the Shakti (female divinity) and a testament to her superiority over the male gods' powers, as clearly stated in several Hindu religious manuscripts, such as the Devi Mahatmya.

Dimensions: the panel 39cm x 28.5cm, 52.5cm x 42.2cm including the frame