When the demon-king Mahishasur attacked the Devalok- home of the gods, all the residents headed by Brahma took refuge in the feet of Vishnu and Shiva. But this solution was a temporary one. The menacing demon had disrupted the balance of the universe, and none of the powerful male divinities were able to restore peace. The outrage and wrath of all the deities, combined with their supreme energies, culminated into a magnificent female form- the Adi Shakti, primordial goddess, brimming with the luster of the powers of all the gods, she represented the zenith of all their potencies. The Devi Mahatmya tells us the story of how the great goddess slays Mahishasur, a demon with shape-shifting abilities. The enchantingly dynamic Rajput painting you see here is a reproduction of the last moments of the notorious demon-king.
The legend from the Devi Mahatmya mentions that Mahishasur after changing several bodies, all of which were annihilated by the powerful trident-wielding Maa Durga, turned into his favorite form, the water buffalo. The great goddess, along with her mount, the tiger, pranced ferociously on Mahishasur, as he was in the process of emerging out of the body of the buffalo. Maa Durga severed the buffalo’s head, pierced her Trishul (trident) in the chest of the asur (demon), and ended his reign of terror. Henceforth, Devi came to be known as Mahishasur Mardini (slayer of Mahishasur).
The painter of this artwork has done an excellent job recreating the drama and vigor of the battlefield. The prancing tiger seems to be hanging mid-air, with his jaws penetrating the body of Mahishasur, the mount becoming an equal participant from the side of the great goddess. Maha Devi, the great goddess who is the central figure of this painting is in an offensive posture, one foot in the air and the other placed on the neck of the buffalo from where the demon in his human form is attempting to escape. The green chunri (stole or scarf) and garland adorning the four-armed goddess fly as she attacks the demon-king with all her force. Mahishasur with his drooping eyes appears to have accepted his fate. His headgear hovers in the air due to the sudden impact of the attack by Maa Mahishasurmardini. Assisting the goddess in her task is Bhairava, the embodiment of the fury of Lord Shiva. From the Khadau (footwear) of goddess Durga and Bhairva to the fire that forms a halo behind Devi’s head, and the sun that is about to rise in the background, every element in this watercolor painting carries a sense of action- it seems like we are bearing witness to the legends of Devi Mahatmya through the medium of this awe-inspiring art.
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