God Shiva Seated with the Seven Mother Goddesses (Saptamatrika)

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Across India, the seven mother goddesses ( saptamatrikas ) are the personified powers ( shakti ) of the principal male gods, whom they energize. Here, these warrior deities have been invoked for their primary role: to help the goddess Durga destroy demons. The mothers are shown dancing in victory, drunk with the blood of vanquished demons. Shiva is featured at the left playing the veena , a stringed instrument. The skeletal goddess on the far right is Chamunda, the goddess of destruction and death.

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