Durga - Karnataka - Bronze - India - 17th - 18th century

Durga
South India, Karnataka
End 17th - 18th century
Bronze
Height 10 cm

Small bronze sculpture depicting the goddess Durga, seated in a posture of dominance, holding various symbolic attributes, including a sword. The deity rests on a stepped architectural base.
The figure is accompanied by her vahana, a stylized lion, visible at the right foot, treated in a condensed and almost abstract manner. The face features expressive traits, with almond-shaped eyes deeply incised and a marked nose. The treatment of the body, compact and energetic, as well as the simplification of volumes, give the whole work a strong presence.

Durga is one of the principal manifestations of Shakti, the cosmic feminine creative and destructive energy. She embodies both power, protection, victory over evil, and spiritual strength. In Hindu tradition, Durga appears when the gods are unable to defeat the demonic forces by themselves. She then unites their powers and becomes the supreme expression of divine energy.

The lion that accompanies Durga is not a mere decorative animal. It represents strength, courage, royalty, and domination over the instincts. It acts as the vahana, the goddess’s sacred mount, but it also symbolizes the controlled power put at the service of cosmic order. In some traditions, the lion is also interpreted as the embodiment of Durga’s own will, advancing fearlessly against the forces of evil.

Condition: The surface shows an aged brown-green patina, with traces of oxidation and wear consistent with long use. The mandorla is missing. Overall good condition for its age.

Provenance: Kanaka The Collection Portugal
Shipped with UPS and insured