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The
Dasamahavidyas
,
literally
translated as “ten great goddesses,” are
forms of the Supreme Goddess, Shakti.
Kali is the first of these ten forms, and
the fiercest aspect of the goddess.
According to the
Devi Mahatmaya
,
an ancient text scripted during the
5
th
‒6
th
century, she was born from
the brow of the Goddess Durga. Kali
emerged during Durga’s battle with
the demon Raktabija, and according
to legend, went on a killing spree and
attempted to destroy everything on
sight. To stop her, Lord Shiva threw
himself under her feet putting an end
to her rage. As seen in the present
lot, the bones and skeleton strewn
about the foreground are signs of her
destructive power. Kali is depicted in
this scene with eyes wide and tongue
out in astonishment or anger, holding
her four
yantras
, standing on the
supine Shiva’s chest. The conventional
iconography of Kali paints her with
a bluish‒black complexion, four
arms, and a necklace made of skulls,
standing amidst cremation grounds.
The reclined Shiva lying prostrate
under the feet of Kali suggests that
without the power of Kali (Shakti),
Shiva is lifeless.
41
KALI WITH BIJA MANTRA
KANGRA, CIRCA 1820
Inscribed in Nagari on the front and
further inscribed in Nagari on the reverse
Gouache on paper heightened with gold
Image: 9 x 5.5 in (23.2 x 14.4 cm)
Folio: 11.75 x 8 in (29.9 x 20.9 cm)
Rs 7,00,000 ‒ 9,00,000
$ 10,450 - 13,435
Kali as the slayer has been a powerful subject for
artists who have depicted it in their own distinct
styles.
Manjit Bawa,
Untitled
, 1996
Saffronart, Mumbai, 15 February 2014, lot 14
NON‒EXPORTABLE
REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
PROVENANCE
Property from a Distinguished
Family Collection
40
TRIPURASUNDARI
KANGRA, CIRCA 1820
Inscribed in Nagari ‘ath tripurawala dhyana 5’ at the top and
further inscribed on the reverse
Gouache on paper heightened with gold
Image: 8.75 x 6.5 in (22.6 x 17 cm)
Folio: 11 x 9 in (28.4 x 23.2 cm)
Rs 5,00,000 - 7,00,000
$ 7,465 - 10,450
NON‒EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
PROVENANCE
Property from a Distinguished Family Collection
The Tripurasundari forms “... part of a group of Tantric
goddesses known as
Dasamahavidya
: the “Ten Supreme
Mantra
‒powers” of the Feminine Principle. Essentially an
eclectic group, these goddesses drew within their fold,
several Hindu and Buddhist deities from two prominent
streams of Tantric goddesses namely the Kalikula... and
the Srikula, headed by goddess Tripurasundari.” (Ratan
Parimoo,
NC Mehta Collection Volume II, Rajasthani, Central
Indian, Pahari and Mughal Paintings
, Ahmedabad: Gujarat
Museum Society, 2013, p. 292) The present lot is a literal
visualisation of the iconography of the particular goddess
avatar
from the ritual text.