Battle Scene from a Devi Mahatmya

Battle Scene from a Devi Mahatmya

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The epic battle between the forces of the goddess Durga and those of a hoard of asuras, or demons, illustrates the power and varied forms of Devi. Centrally placed on the left is Durga on her lion; below, the emaciated Chamunda (Durga's terrifying aspect) advances. Surrounding them are female manifestations of the Hindu pantheon, the Matrikas; flying above are Vaishnavi on Garuda, Kaumari on a peacock, and Brahmani on a swan, while Indrani rides on an elephant and Maheswari on a bull.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Battle Scene from a Devi MahatmyaBattle Scene from a Devi MahatmyaBattle Scene from a Devi MahatmyaBattle Scene from a Devi MahatmyaBattle Scene from a Devi Mahatmya

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.