Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon

Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon

900s
Locale
Uttar Pradesh Province Mathura, India
Country
India
Object
sculpture
Accession Number
1986.7
Credit Line
Harold P. and Jane F. Ullman Collection, gift of Dr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Ullman
Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon. 900s. Harold P. and Jane F. Ullman Collection, gift of Dr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Ullman. 1986.7.
Dimensions
height: 24 in, 60.96 cm; width: 18 3/8 in, 46.6725 cm; depth: 5 1/2 in, 13.97 cm; base height: 3 1/4 in, 8.255 cm; base width: 21 3/4 in, 55.245 cm; base depth: 9 3/4 in, 24.765 cm
Department
Arts of Asia
Collection
Arts of Asia

Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon
900s
Central India
Sandstone
Harold P. and Jane F. Ullman Collection, gift of Dr. and Mrs.
Edwin F. Ullman 
1986.7

This form of the Hindu goddess Durga is known as Mahishasuramardini, “destroyer of the buffalo demon.” The goddess is shown here with her right foot on the back of the demon Mahisha as she plunges her trident into the demon’s back. Her lion assists by biting the rump of the creature. Depictions of this form of Durga became very popular in Northern India in the ninth and tenth centuries.

Known Provenance
(Sundaram Works of Art and Handicrafts), New Delhi, India, by 1968; purchase, Harold P. [1899-1975] and Jane F. [1908-1991] Ullman, Santa Monica, CA, 1968; gifted to Dr. Edwin F. Ullman, Atherton, CA, 1985; gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 1986.
Exhibition History
  • "South Asian Sculpture: The Harold P. and Jane f. Ullman Collection", Denver Art Museum, January 11 - February 23, 1975