Sixteen-Armed Durga

The most frequently told tale of the great goddess is the account of her martial encounter with the buffalo demon Mahisha. One of the most invoked forms is her manifestation as this youthful, multi-armed deity who successfully battles the mighty demon that symbolizes the elemental powers of brutish ignorance. In these depictions, the goddess decapitates the buffalo and the demon Mahisha emerges in human form from the buffalo's neck and attacks the goddess. Durga, then kills him with her spear.

Here, the artist immediately makes us aware of the brilliance of colors and there is a highly conscious arrangement of surface pattern. Considering the act of killing the demon, the goddess does not look aggressive. Slightly smiling, spotless, like the orb of the full moon, she stands atop Mahisha, while a fierce looking lion peers over the buffalo's body. This sixteen-armed Durga holds in her hands weapons bestowed by various gods, shown here as showering their blessings on to the savioress of the gods. The demons are running in fear and in order to balance the composition, humans in awe and reverence are shown on the opposite side. Clouds on either side provide symmetry to the background.

The treatment of the painting is folkish, colors are rich and there is a certain dynamism. In fact, its fearless colors, unhesitating lines and savage intensity hold us in deep awe.

This description by Renu Rana.