{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25015"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25015/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT2029/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT2029/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT2029","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AK8915","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JC0770","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O25015/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25015","accessionNumber":"IS.77-1965","objectType":"Figure group","titles":[{"title":"Durga Mahishasuramardini","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The goddess Durga, the sakti or female energy of Shiva, in her ferocious form as the slayer of the buffalo demon Mahisa. Durga is represented in her eight-armed aspect, wielding the sacred weapons used against the forces of evil. The demon is seen emerging from his buffalo guise as Durga’s trisula (trident) pierces his body. The goddess is eight-armed and holds the supernatural weapons of the gods, notably the bana, chakra, khadga and trisula in her right arms and the dhanus, ghanta and khetaka in her upper left hands, pressing Mahisa's head with the remaining hand. The demon is pierced by Durga's trident as he emerges from the dying buffalo form. Two other demons (asuras) are shown - one is pierced by an arrow and the other receives a thrust from Durga's sword. The goddess wears elaborate ornaments including a ratna mukuta, karas, yajna pavita, katibandha, makara kindalas and rings, bracelets, armlets and anklets. Behind the group is makara torana with kirttimukha at the top.\r\n\r\nThe Hoysalas established their capital at Halebid early in the 11th century and endowed many major temples in southern Karnataka. Their flamboyant sculptural style derived from the late Calyuka traditions and flourished throughout the 12th and 13th centuries. This sculpture was presented to the seventh Viscount Powerscourt whilst in Karnataka in 1861. The precise provenance of this sculpture is not recorded but close parallels can be seen in the sculptures at Sadasiva Temple, Nuggihalli, southeast of Halebid.","physicalDescription":"The goddess is eight-armed and holds the arrow (<i>bana)</i>, discus (<i>chakra</i>), sword (<i>khadga</i>) and trident (<i>trisula</i>) in her right arms and the bow (<i>dhanush</i>), bell (<i>ghanta</i>) and shield (<i>khetaka</i>) in her upper left hands, pressing Mahesha's head with the remaining hand. The demon is pierced by Durga's trident as he emerges from the dying buffalo form. Two other <i>asuras</i> are shown - one is pierced by an arrow and the other receives a thrust from Durga's sword. The goddess wears elaborate ornaments including a jewelled crown (<i>ratna mukuta</i>), bangles (<i>karas</i>),a sacred thread (<i>yajna pavita</i>), a hip girdle (<i>katibandha</i>), earrings decorated with <i>makaras</i> (<i><i>makar</i>a <i>kundalas</i></i>) and rings, bracelets, armlets and anklets. Behind the group is <i>makara torana</i> with <i>kirttimukha</i> at the top.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Limestone","categories":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Hoysala style","id":"x32250"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AT2029","2006AK8915","2016JC0770"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47B (VA)","id":"THES49796"},"free":"","case":"BNC","shelf":"4","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}],[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Karnataka","id":"x29829"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Hassan District in the southern Karnataka in the Deccan"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"mid-13th century","earliest":"1200-01-01","latest":"1300-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"147","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"14/03/2025","earliest":"2025-03-14","latest":"2025-03-14"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"82","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"14/03/2025","earliest":"2025-03-14","latest":"2025-03-14"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"37","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"14/03/2025","earliest":"2025-03-14","latest":"2025-03-14"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased in 1965 from Mrs G. Slazenger, the owner of the Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, Ireland. The Slazenger family purchased the Powerscourt Estate from the Wingfield family in 1961. The 7th Viscount Powerscourt  (1836-1904) described in his history of the house how he acquired two pieces of Indian sculpture while on a sporting tour in the state of Mysore in 1861. He relates how he asked Captain Johnston, who accompanied him on this tour and was at the time the Commissioner of Irrigation for Mysore, 'to get me a specimen or two of these beautiful works of art and he sent me these two [IS.76 and 77-1965, Surya and Durga] saying that he had persuaded the Brahmin in charge of the temple to allow them to be taken away'. Lord Powerscourt thought that they probably came from Halebid, but their provenance remained unrecorded. John Guy recognised close parallels with the sculptures at Sadsiva Temple, Nuggihalli, south-east of Halebid.","historicalContext":"The goddess Durga, the <i>shakti</i> or female energy of Shiva, in her ferocious form as the slayer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Durga is represented in her eight armed aspect, wielding the sacred weapons used against the forces of evil. The demon is seen emerging from his buffalo guise as Durga's trident (<i>trisula)</i> pierces his body. The Hoysalas established their capital at Halebid early in the 11th century and endowed many major temples in southern Karnataka. Their flamboyant sculptural style derived from the late Chalyuka traditions and flourished throughout the 12th and 13th centuries. ","briefDescription":"Durga Mahishasuramardini, limestone, southern Karnataka, India, mid-13th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Viscount Powerscourt, K.P., P.C. <u>A Description and History of Powerscourt </u>, Mitchell and Hughes, London, 1903\r\n\r\n\n"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Willis, M., ed, <u>India: the Art of the Temple</u>, Shanghai,  Shanghai Museum, 2010. p.254, ill. No. 2:50, pp. 202-3, ISBN 978-7-5479-0092-5"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u> India: The Art of the Temple</u>, Shanghai Museum, 2010, No. 2:50"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John,ed,<u> La Escultura en los Templos Indios: El Arte de la Devoción</u>, Barcelona ,Fundacion ‘La Caixa’, 2007. p.111, cat.71. ISBN 9788476649466"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John,<u>Indian Temple Sculpture</u>, London, V & A Publication, 2007, p.159,pl.180. ISBN 9781851775095"},{"reference":{"text":"In the image of man : the Indian perception of the universe through 2000 years of painting and sculpture : [exhibition / organized by Catherine Lampert assisted by Rosalie Cass]. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson :in association with the Arts Council of Great Britain, 1982 Number: 0297780719, 0297781243 (pbk.)","id":"AUTH339940"},"details":"p. 219, cat. no. 450","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7","id":"AUTH347571"},"details":"p. 63","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Irwin, John C., Indian Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1968","id":"AUTH348144"},"details":"pl. 17","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Irwin, John; Indian Art: Victoria & Albert Museum departmental guide, H.M.S.O. ISBN 0 905209117, 1978","id":"AUTH348999"},"details":"fig 9, p. 9","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hindu","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Durga as Mahisasuramardini\r\n\r\nAbout 1240–60 \r\nHoysala period \r\n\r\n\r\nThe goddess Durga represents the shakti or female energy of the \r\ngod Shiva. Her eight arms wield sacred weapons against the forces \r\nof evil. Here she is shown in her ferocious form as the slayer of the \r\nshape-shifting demon Mahishasura. She kills him as he emerges \r\nfrom his buffalo guise. \r\n\r\nThe flamboyant style of the figure is characteristic of the Hoysala \r\ndynasty which endowed many major temples in southern \r\nKarnataka. \r\n\r\nMetamorphosed impure limestone\r\nSouth-west India (Hassan district, Karnataka, Deccan) \r\n\r\n\r\nMuseum no. IS.77-1965 ","date":{"text":"06/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-06","latest":"2011-06-06"}},{"text":"DURGA AS MAHISASURAMARDINI\r\nMetamorphosed impure limestone\r\nHassan district, Karnataka, Deccan\r\nHoysala style, mid-13th century\r\n\r\nThe goddess Durga, the sakti or female energy of Siva, in her ferocious form as the slayer of the buffalo demon Mahisasura. Durga is represented in her eight-armed aspect, wielding the sacred weapons used against the forces of Evil. The demon is seen emerging from his buffalo guise as Durga's trident (trisula) pierces his body. The Hoysalas established their capital at Halebid early in the 11th century and endowed many major temples in southern Karnataka. Their flamboyant sculptural style derived from the late Calyuka traditions and flourished throughout the 12th and 13th centuries. This sculpture and the accompanying Surya (IS 76-1965) were presented to the seventh Viscount Powerscourt in 1861. Their provenance is unrecorded but close parallels can be seen in the sculptures at Sadasiva Temple, Nuggihalli, south-east of Halebid.\r\n\r\nIS 77-1965","date":{"text":"1988-2007","earliest":"1988-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.77-1965"],"accessionNumberNum":"77","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1965,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM9726","2019LW4604"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-27","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}