Mahisasuramardini is the title Durga attained on killing the demon Mahisa. Representations of Mahisa vary some depict him emerging from the buffalo, others show him in just a demon form. Here, not only is he without an animal disguise, but armed also, holding a sickle and a shield. He is painted green, in colour of venom. His chest is wounded by the deity's spear.
Durga, astride the lion, looks resplendent. The multi-armed goddess holds all kinds of weapons of destruction. By her expression, Durga looks very angry. If one could look beautiful in anger, she does.
The image of Durga and Mahisa is placed on a pedestal in a niche. The artist uses conflicting colors against a black background. That alone would have been schematic, but various colors of the pillars and canopy are chromatically clashing, perhaps reiterating the militant theme of the composition.
This description by Renu Rana.
Of Related Interest:
Durga the Warrior Goddess
Books on Goddess Durga
Pata Chitra of Orissa
Paintings of Devi
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