Durga, Kali, and the Matrikas Battle the Demon Raktabija: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya
ca. 1780
Medium
Ink, ocher and underdrawing
Dimensions
Image (sight): 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 in. (22.2 x 29.8 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
India (Himachal Pradesh, Guler)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Subhash Kapoor, in memory of his parents, Smt Shashi Kanta and Shree Parshotam Ram Kapoor, 2008
Accession Number
2008.359.22
Tags
Art Historical Context
In this vibrant Pahari miniature painting from around 1780, master artist Nainsukh of the Guler school captures thrilling episode from the *Devi Mahatmya*, a foundational Shakta text in the Markandeya Purana. The scene depicts the fierce goddess Durga, the fierce Kali, and her divine attendants—the Matrikas—in epic battle against the demon Raktabija. This asura's blood spawns countless clones upon hitting the ground, but Kali triumphs by drinking it mid-air, showcasing the goddesses' unyielding power. Elephants charge amid swirling demons, embodying the chaotic energy of divine warfare. Creat...