Goddess Durga (Mahishasurmandini)

myminifactory

In this magnificent sculptural group (also available to download from Scan the World, see below), The Hindu Goddess Durga is depicted triumphantly crushing the leader of the demons, Mahisha, who had successfully defeated the gods in battle. The Gods were left homeless and helpless, infuriating the great Gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, who joined their powers to create the Goddess Durga. The gods also bestowed each of their weapons upon her (now missing from the sculpture), thus bringing into being the powerful Goddess as a beautiful woman, destined to defeat Mahisha. The Goddess is shown with ten arms, surrounded by the severed limbs of demons around her waist. She is depicted after having beheaded Mahisha, the buffalo demon (see other sculpture). Mahisha took many forms to fight Durga and ultimately transformed into a buffalo, the symbol of death. Durga slays the buffalo, and from its severed neck, the Demon Mahisha emerges in Human form. Mahisha proceeds forward in an agitated state to attack Durga but is defeated by her due to the powers granted by the Great Gods. She holds him by the hair and pierces his heart with her weapons. As the Goddess Durga vanquished the demon Mahisha, she is known as Mahisha-asura-mardini, the destroyer of the Buffalo-Demon. Durga is a primary and widely popular form of Hindu goddess. She is the warrior goddess, whose mythology revolves around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace and prosperity. She is the fierce form of the protective mother goddess, willing to unleash her anger against wrong, violence for liberation, and destruction to empower creation. She carries the severed limbs of demons around her waist and is often portrayed beheading the buffalo demon, Mahisha. This sculpture also captures her in this scene, you can find the statue of Mahisha here: https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-69676