The Goddess Devi and Eight Mother Goddesses (Ashta Matrika) Battle Demons

ca. 1800

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About the Artwork

In this dynamic scene, a band of goddesses victoriously battles an army of demons, some of whom are already retreating at right. It illustrates an episode from the Devi Mahatmya, a devotional text about the heroic feats of Devi, the supreme Goddess in Hindu traditions.

Devi, seated on a lion at middle-left, holds threatening weapons in her twelve hands. In front of her, charging at the demons, are the Ashta Matrika (Sanskrit for "Eight Mothers"), a group of goddesses comprised of the fearsome, emaciated Chamunda and the female counterparts of seven male gods — each considered the shakti, or divine energy, of the corresponding god. They include four-headed Brahmani, riding a goose; Maheshvari, who stabs a demon with her trident as her bull rushes ahead; Vaishnavi flying in on the green man-eagle, Garuda; six-headed Kaumari, riding the peacock; Aindri, seated on the back of an elephant and raising her thunderbolt-weapon; Narasimhi, part-lion, who rips demons to shreds with her sharp claws; the sow-headed Varahi, piercing a fallen demon with her tusks; and Chamunda, who lassos the same demon and holds what appears to be a weapon made of bones. At the conclusion of the battle, Chamunda eats the remaining demons after shattering them with her terrifying laughter.

Title The Goddess Devi and Eight Mother Goddesses (Ashta Matrika) Battle Demons

Artwork Date ca. 1800

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Indian

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. ----------

Medium Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Dimensions Image: 8 1/2 × 12 inches (21.6 × 30.5 cm) Sheet: 10 5/16 × 14 inches (26.2 × 35.6 cm)

Classification Paintings

Department Asian Art

Credit Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 69.426

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Provenance

Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel;
1969-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Indian, The Goddess Devi and Eight Mother Goddesses (Ashta Matrika) Battle Demons, ca. 1800, opaque watercolor and gold on paper. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel, 69.426.