Kali Presenting the Heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Goddess)

Kali Presenting the Heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Goddess)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In order to engage in battle, Durga manifests as the fierce, emaciated goddess Kali. At the center of the frenzied battle, together with her lion vehicle (vahana), Kali beheads the demons Chanda and Munda. In the upper right, both goddesses appear: Kali presents the heads of the demons to Durga, who is shown in a benign form with many arms and holding a trident. In turn, Durga bestows the name Chamunda on her terrible manifestation.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Kali Presenting the Heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Goddess)Kali Presenting the Heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Goddess)Kali Presenting the Heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Goddess)Kali Presenting the Heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Goddess)Kali Presenting the Heads of Chanda and Munda to Durga: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the Goddess)

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.