Artwork Page for The Goddess Annihilates the Demon Raktabija, from a Devi-Mahatmya

Details / Information for The Goddess Annihilates the Demon Raktabija, from a Devi-Mahatmya

The Goddess Annihilates the Demon Raktabija, from a Devi-Mahatmya

c. 1640

Central India, Madhya Pradesh, Malwa

Medium
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Measurements
Page: 16.2 x 25.7 cm (6 3/8 x 10 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.128
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The painting also depicts Hanuman, the monkey god, fighting for the Goddess.

Description

The demon Raktabija had received a boon that from each drop of his blood that falls on the ground, a new demon would arise. When the Goddess wounded Raktabija in combat, and drops of his blood fell on the ground and generated new Raktabijas, she extended her tongue to catch every drop before it hit the ground. Here she is shown lapping up Raktabija himself.
A horizontally oriented gum tempera and ink painting depicts a multi-armed goddess riding a leaping white tiger toward our right. Wearing a gold crown and colorful garments, she brandishes weapons at pink and gray-skinned figures holding swords and shields. Arrows fly against the dark green background. A scalloped brown mound occupies the left corner, one figure lies on the ground below, and a yellow border with black script lines the top.

The Goddess Annihilates the Demon Raktabija, from a Devi-Mahatmya

c. 1640

Central India, Madhya Pradesh, Malwa

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