Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c13.s7.65

c13.s7.65

DURGĀ—There are images of Durgā having four arms and seated on a lion assignable to the Kushāṇa period but the form, which was more popular, was that of Mahishāsuramardinī, i.e. goddess Durgā in the form of killing the demon. [Fig. 183]. Her images with two, four and six arms are found in considerable number in Kushāṇa and Gupta art. The most eloquent description of her exploits and power is contained in the Devī-Māhātmya of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa. The worship of Mahishāsuramardinī became popular throughout the country and we find a magnificent representation of the conflict of the goddess riding on a lion with the demon Mahishāsura in the early Pallava art.