Durga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya

Durga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha: Scene from the Devi Mahatmya

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

As the Daitya army approaches, Matrikas spring from the bodies of Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, Shiva, and Skanda, who are readily identifiable: Brahma sitting on a swan, Vishnu on the bird Garuda, Indra on an elephant, Maheshwari on a bull, and Kumari on a peacock. The Devi Mahatmya text celebrates Durga’s victory over the Daitya Asuras, who embody unchecked human emotions.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Durga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha: Scene from the Devi MahatmyaDurga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha: Scene from the Devi MahatmyaDurga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha: Scene from the Devi MahatmyaDurga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha: Scene from the Devi MahatmyaDurga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha: Scene from the 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.