Cleveland Museum of Art

Devi Shrine

Date

c. 1810

Medium

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Culture

Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Pahari Kingdom of Mandi

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The sacred space of a Hindu shrine is separated from the everyday world by an enclosure wall. The mount of the goddess, a tiger, perches on a pedestal in front, gazing into the sanctum. On either side of the doorway are the monkey god Hanuman and the elephant-headed Ganesha seated on his mount, the rat. They ensure protection and success of a devotee’s worship. This powerful six-armed goddess has been dressed and adorned as a living presence. She holds a different weapon in each hand. She offered protection from disease or malevolent forces that endanger children to her devotees. The marble structure with floral inlay derived from Islamic architecture, though the shrine is Hindu.

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