According to the legend, the demon had taken control over the home of the gods- Devaloka, and forced them to flee. All the divine beings rushed to take refuge in the feet of Vishnu and Shiva. The gods had realized that their powers were not enough to annihilate the demon. Consequently, the divines combined their powers and the ball of fire that originated from their powers and rage combined took the most awe-inspiring female form. The goddess was Mahalakshmi- incarnated to fulfill the Lakshya (goal) of salvaging the abode of the gods and restoring balance. When the goddess approached the demon on the battlefield, he tried to outwit the Devi who was the embodiment of the great wisdom, by transforming himself into various creatures.

The primordial goddess, who knew all of his maneuvers well, stood in front of him, emanating power and magnitude with her ten-armed form clad in a vibrant red- the color that symbolizes strength and vigor. In the end, as Mahishasur started changing into his favorite form- a water buffalo, the goddess, bristling with the rage of the gods but also aware of the ultimate end of the tricks of Mahishasur, poured herself a cup of the wine of the divine ecstasy and just as the demon was about to escape the body of the buffalo and take a human form, swiftly cut off his head.

In this beautiful watercolor, we see the great goddess Mahalakshmi as a splendid feminine, standing on a lotus, with weapons in her hand while the head of Mahishasur lies lifeless near her feet. The artist has perfectly captured the effortlessness of the Mahadevi- the great goddess, who even though involved in a battle, appears to be the picture of tranquility while contrasting her mannerism is the struggle felt in the way Mahishasur’s hands carrying his weapons are raised while his buffalo’s body is about to collapse. Against a calm backdrop of the light-blue sky, the legendary scene of the battle between Mahishasur and Mahishasur-Mardini (slayer of Mahishasur) truly comes alive in this painting.