Thursday, September 24, 2009

Mahishasurmardini in the British Museum



The collection of Indian antiquities in British Museum has been a main attraction of visitors from all over the world. Now Indian collection of this museum is the part of the Joseph E. Hotung Gallery of Oriental Antiquities which was opened to public in 1992.

Apart from rich Buddhist collection in this section of the museum, there is also a very good collection 'Hindu' images from all regions of India and countries of Indian sub-continent and countries from South East Asian countries with the past of Indian influence.

On the eve of Saptami of Shardiya Navratra, it was nice to explore images of Devi in many forms in the British Museum- Chamunda, Mahishasurmardini, Vaishnavi, Manasa etc. In all form of Devi, the form of Mahishasurmardini has been more attractive to all the artists all through the ages and British Museum posseses many such statues of Mahishasurmardini. An attempt to create a catalogue of statues of Devi Durga in various museums in the world should be attempted, as it has religiously been done for of Buddhist images all over the world.

Apart from variousstatues of Devi, one small statue of Ravana is also of major attraction in the Indian collection...in very graceful form...for a change...

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