ICONOGRAPHY OF MAHISHASURA MARDINI

THIS IS A PRESENTATION ON ICONOGRAPHY OF MAHISHASURA MARDINI AT DIFFERENT PLACES IN INDIA.

1. Iconography Of Mahishasuramardini

2. What is ICONOGRAPHY? Iconography is defined as the study of the symbolism behind sacred images. One of the most prominent tools of devotion in Hinduism is the use of images. The features of an image in Hindu iconography have a different meaning. Through gestures, clothing and attributes, the image reveals certain aspects of the God through which mythological story has been brought to attention and so on .

3. “MAHIShASURAMARDINI “- ON THE LIGHT OF ICONOGRAPHY One of the most magnificent and formidable goddess of the hindu pantheon is Mahishasur Mardini. she is worshipped as a supreme in the name of Sakti and is known for killing Mahisasur, the buffalo demon. This form of the goddess is also mentioned as Katyayani in Devi Mahatmya , Matsyapurana, and Roopmandan.

4. Textual references Of Mahishasuramardini Puranas Agamas Shilparatna Epic Agni Purana Markandya Purana Matsya Purana Vishnu Dharmottara Purana Anisumadhed A gama Sprabhed Agama Mayadipik Mahabharata

5. features of Mahishasur Mardini (historical period) The earliest images of Mahishasuramardini were found on terracotta plaques from Nagar in Rajasthan, belonging to the 1 st c. BCE –1 st c.CE time period.

6. Mahishasura Mardini, Udayagiri Caves, Madhya Pradesh, Gupta Period (401 CE). Mahishasura Mardini, Slaying the Buffalo Demon, Kushan period, 2 nd century CE, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura. Fig:1 Fig:2

7. Fig:4- Mahisasura Mardini, 8 th -century CE., Aihole Fig:3- Mahisasura Mardini, fighting with buffalo demon ( Ellora caves, Maharashtra)

8. Fig:6- Mahishasura Mardini,12 th century CE, Dulmi, Purulia, Manbhum, Bengal(Indian museum, Kolkata) Fig:5- Mahisasura mardini , Mahabalipuram Tamilnadu .

9. divergence of Mahishasura maRdini evolutionary phase till present

10. REFERENCES: 1 . Banerjea , J.N., (1956) The Development of Hindu Iconography , University of Calcutta, pp. 66-69. 2.Srivastava Brijbhushan , Prachin – bharatiya , pratima – Vigyan Evam murti kala (2015); Vishwavidyalaya prakashan Varanasi,Pp-126-133. 3. Gupte, .R.S ,. Iconography of the Hindus ,Buddhists and Jains ;D.B.Taraporevala sons and co.private ltd.(1972) ;pp.55-56. 4. Rao Gopinath T.A., Elements of Hindu Iconography , The law of printing house mount road, Madras; vol I part II;pp.344-355(1914).

11. Maa Mahisasur Mardini,Varanasi , Uttar Pradesh