Kshemankari (?) (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Doorways were one of the most richly ornamented parts of medieval Indian temples. As portals between mundane and sacred spaces, they required symbolic devices to ward off evil as well as to attract good. Sculptural decoration at entry points also helped visitors to identify which deities were housed within the temple. This fragment, which shows a single standing female figure, probably came from a Hindu temple associated with the goddess Durga and/or the god Shiva. The figure seems to be Kshemankari, a benevolent form of the goddess Durga. She holds Shiva's trident in her upper left hand.
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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