Maheshvari on Nandi the Bull and Brahmani on Hanisa the Ostrich, from the Devi Mahatmya
Maheshvari on Nandi the Bull and Brahmani on Hanisa the Ostrich, from the Devi Mahatmya

On view

South Asian Art

Maheshvari on Nandi the Bull and Brahmani on Hanisa the Ostrich, from the Devi Mahatmya,

18th century

Indian
y1947-341.2

In his quest to conquer the three worlds (heaven, earth, and the atmosphere), the power-thirsty buffalo-demon Mahishasura, a deceitful shape-shifter, obtained the divine boon of being undefeatable by any male. He used this power to defeat Indra, the king of the devas, and other deities, banishing them from their celestial realm. In this painting, the female deities Maheshvari and Brahmani hold court.

Namrata B. Kanchan, PhD Candidate,
Department of Asian Studies, University of Texas at Austin

Information

Title
Maheshvari on Nandi the Bull and Brahmani on Hanisa the Ostrich, from the Devi Mahatmya
Dates

18th century

Medium
Opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
14.4 × 19 cm (5 11/16 × 7 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Frank Jewett Mather Jr.
Object Number
y1947-341.2
Place Made

Asia, India, Rajput

Culture
Indian
Type
manuscripts
Materials
paper (fiber product), watercolor
Subject
birds, bulls, deities, miniatures (paintings)

Mankot, Himachal Pradesh, India; Professor Frank Jewett Mather Jr. (1868–1953); given to the Princeton University Art Museum, 1947.

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