Durga
India
Bronze
5 inches high, 3 inches wide, 1.5 inches deep (12.2 by 7.6 by 3.8 cm)
17th century
Ex private collection, Oakland, CA

This portable shrine represents Durga in the form of Mahishasura-mardini, with her vahana (vehicle), the lion, under her left leg. She has four hands, which hold a sword, a shield, and two unidentified objects. There are two small attendant females at the right and left of the lion, each holding a lotus. Her eyes are inlaid silver; the prabhavala has been repaired and one foot of the pedestal has been replaced.

Durga means "the invincible" or "the inaccessible" and is considered the fiercer, demon-fighting form of Shiva's wife, the goddess Parvati. She manifests fearlessness and patience, never losing her sense of humor, even during spiritual battles of epic proportion.
#5231

$550