Untitled

ca. 1800 - ca. 1820

Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, one of the ancient Puranas, the Markandeya (in the Devimahatmya section), tells the story of the goddess Durga's battle and defeat of the buffalo-demon Mahisa. A long war takes place between the gods led by Indra and the demons. Riding a lion, Durga or Chandi goes to defeat the armies of the demons in the opening scene of the battle. The goddess Kali stands wielding a huge sword. She also holds a bow and a breast-bone. Album painting, representing the terrible Goddess Kali triumphant on the battlefield.