Artistic Depictions of Hindu Goddesses

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Artistic Depictionsof Hindu Goddesses
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1. Icons from the Ancient Medieval Periods

• Archeological clues suggest that female
  deities of various types have been venerated in
  Indian culture since very ancient times the
  clearest examples are found in the early Buddhist
  period, dating from the centuries just before
  after the common era. (This fits with literary
  evidence of the even earlier Vedic period, which
  reveals interest in female deities on the part of
  ancient brahmans.) In the 5th century CE,
  however, we find the first expression of the idea
  that there is one supreme goddess or Shakti,
  whose power and divine status are actually
  greater than that of the male powers. The Devi
  Mahatmya describes the great acts of this
  goddess, named Durgaa (impenetrable one), as
  well as her terrifying emanation Kaalee (dark
  one) and in subsequent centuries we find more
  more stone icons depicting them both. The icons
  in this section, drawn from the different periods
  mentioned above, are generally found on the
  outside of monuments or temples dedicated to
  worship of the male deities saints.

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goddess surrounded by elephants (2nd BCE, west
Central India)
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goddess ornature spirit?(2nd BCE Bengal)
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nature spirit on Buddhist monument (1st
CE,southeast India)
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nature spirit onBuddhist temple(Central India)
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basic layout forboth Hindu Buddhist
temples(2nd CE later)
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river goddess Yamuna(5th CE,Central India)
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serpent queen(11th CE, east Central India)
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Brahmas Consort (9th CE,South India)
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Durgaa on Tiger(14th CE, southwest India)
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Kaalee(10th CE,South India)
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Shiva linga footprints of Vishnu (10th
CE?Rajasthan)
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2. Late Islamic British Influenceon Indian
Architecture

• In order to get a more vivid sense of the
  wider historical context for depictions of
  goddesses (Durgaa Kaalee in particular) during
  the colonial period, it is helpful to see a few
  examples of the architecture decorative art
  that were being sponsored by the British in the
  major urban Indian centers of that time.
  Although British governors stripped Muslim rulers
  of any real power, they for the most part kept
  Indian royalty, known as Maharajas (great
  kings, either those they had conquered, or
  others they installed), in place as ceremonial
  figures. Many of the structures commissioned by
  such rulers, with the support of the British,
  were palatial residences monuments dedicated to
  fostering the impression that Indias former
  glory was being preserved intact. Interestingly,
  though, such buildings were significantly
  influenced by European architectural styles, and
  sometimes built out of actual materials imported
  from Europe.

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triumphal gate (18th CE,southeast India)
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Maharajas palace (19th CE central South India)
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botanical gardens (19th CE? central South India)
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acrobats circus performers--city buildings in
the background(late 18th CE,northwest India)
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3. Goddesses in ManuscriptPainting Popular Arts

• The colonial period whose architecture is
  featured in the previous section saw the
  proliferation of illuminated manuscripts of the
  Devi Mahatmya. The style of the illustrations in
  such manuscripts matched closely the style
  coloring developed in earlier periods by both
  Muslim Hindu painters (see section 2 of the
  previous slide show, and also IAR, 59,60, 73).
  Yet the depiction of the Durgaa Kaalees bloody
  rampages in such manuscripts contrast strikingly
  with the neat images of courtly life that are
  often the subject of earlier paintings Devi
  Mahatmya painters clearly intend to show these
  goddesses intimately linked with the horrific
  (and in some cases sexual) aspects of human life.
  Popular arts on the other hand, a few
  contemporary examples of which are shown in the
  second part of this final section, honor in more
  abstract form the presence of goddesses closely
  associated with domestic abundance. Such
  symmetric, aniconic patterns are integral to the
  daily life of ordinary housewives adorning their
  bodies homes. Interestingly, though, Shakta
  theologians who commented on the Devi Mahatmya
  used similarly patterns to revere Kaalee Durgaa
  in their rituals.

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Durgaa slaying the buffalo demon(18th CE,
manuscript)
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Kaalee on slain demons head(undated)
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folk theatreKaalee/Durgaa Mask(late 19th
CE,South India)
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Kaalee standing over Shiva(19th CE, manuscript)
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sari cloth wrap (19th CE, north Central India)
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entryway decorations (southwest India)
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festive doorway(southwest India)