Seated Eight-Armed Durga

Seated Eight-Armed Durga

1000s-1100s
Locale
Madhya Pradesh Province
Country
India
Object
sculpture
Accession Number
1983.266
Credit Line
Anonymous Gift

Image of Durga, 1000s–1100s. Central India. Sandstone; 19 3/8 x 14 3/4 x 8 in.
Denver Art Museum: Anonymous gift, 1983.266

Dimensions
height: 19 3/8 in, 49.2125 cm; width: 14 3/4 in, 37.465 cm; depth: 8 in, 20.32 cm; base height: 2 3/4 in, 6.985 cm; base width: 15 5/8 in, 39.6875 cm; base depth: 7 1/4 in, 18.415 cm
Department
Arts of Asia
Collection
Arts of Asia
This object is currently on view

Durga
1000s–1100s
Central India
Sandstone
Anonymous gift
1983.266

The goddess Durga was created by Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu to destroy the buffalo demon Mahisha, whom they could not defeat. In her eight arms she holds weapons associated with the gods who created her. Eventually, Durga became a prominent goddess with entire temples dedicated to her. She remains very popular today in Bengal (India), Nepal, and Bangladesh. Every fall during the Durga Puja festival, thousands of plaster Durga images are made for commercial and household shrines. When the celebration is over, the images are reverently taken to the nearest river and submerged.

Known Provenance
n.d., Claude DeMarteau [1]. At least 1967-1981, Pan-Asian Collection, Christian Humann [d. 1981]; 1981-1982, Robert H. Ellsworth [b. 1925, d. 2014], purchased from Humann's heirs; 1982-1983, Private Collection, Denver CO, purchased from Ellsworth; 1983, DAM collection, Anonymous Gift.