The Goddess Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon, Mahisha (Mahishasura Mardini)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This painting portrays the climactic moment when Durga, shown as an eighteen-armed goddess, slays the demon Mahisha. Durga has already cut off Mahisha’s buffalo head and is shown bearing down on his human form, which emerges from the bleeding neck. Finished paintings of this subject are well known from the Mewar court and neighboring ateliers.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art