Artwork Page for Devi Shrine

Details / Information for Devi Shrine

Devi Shrine

c. 1810

Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Mandi

Medium
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Measurements
31.8 x 24.1 cm (12 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Nancy and Wayne Hunnicutt 2020.80
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 marble structure with floral inlay derived from Islamic architecture, though the shrine is Hindu.

Description

The sacred space of a Hindu shrine is separated from the everyday world by an enclosure wall. The mount of the goddess, a tiger, perches on a pedestal in front, gazing into the sanctum. On either side of the doorway are the monkey god Hanuman and the elephant-headed Ganesha seated on his mount, the rat. They ensure protection and success of a devotee’s worship.

This powerful six-armed goddess has been dressed and adorned as a living presence. She holds a different weapon in each hand. She offered protection from disease or malevolent forces that endanger children to her devotees.
A vertically oriented tempera painting depicts a white temple with square façade and roof rising in step-like levels in a pyramidal shape. Centered in the doorway, a goddess with light skin tone and six hands, each holding a weapon, faces us. In niches on either side, a monkey looks at her from the left and an orange, multi-armed elephant and gray rat the right. On a pedestal, left of the temple, a tiger faces the goddess.

Devi Shrine

c. 1810

Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Mandi

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