About the Artwork +
This Kalighat painting by Uttam Chitrakar offers a powerful rendition of the traditional sacred iconography of Mahishasuramardini, seamlessly blending 19th-century folk art techniques with a profound portrayal of cosmic triumph and divine mythology. Originating near the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, this art style has historically been celebrated for its ability to capture religious devotion, folklore and complex narratives with absolute economy of line. This artwork captures the fierce warrior goddess thoroughly absorbed in vanquishing the buffalo demon to restore cosmic order.
At the heart of the composition stands the multi-armed Goddess Durga as Mahishasuramardini, positioned centrally in a commanding posture. The goddess is depicted with long, flowing dark hair cascading down behind her back, a traditional bindi gracing her forehead, and her signature elongated, stylized almond eyes looking forward with focused, serene intensity.
In a magnificent display of her divine status, her ten arms fan out in a symmetric, radiating arrangement behind her shoulders. With her central hands, she firmly wields a long, slender silver trident (trishul), driving it downward into the chest of the demon. In her other arms she holds pasha and ankusha (noose and goad), dhanushya-baan (bow and arrow), khadga (sword) and lotus flowers. Both her garments and form are adorned with delicate silver-white line-work that traces her contours and traditional jewelry.
Emerging at the base of the canvas is the defeated Mahishasura, completing the narrative scene. Having been forced out of his shape-shifting buffalo form, which lies collapsed under the goddess's foot, the human form of the demon cowers on the right, holding up a curved shield and sword in a futile attempt at self-defense. His face is turned upward toward his vanquisher with a look of stunned submission, while on the left, the goddess’s ferocious lion vehicle crouches forward with an open mouth and bared teeth.
At the upper edge is a stylized draped curtain, completing the majestic setting. Painted with clean, sweeping lines, the theatrical backdrop hangs overhead to mimic a classic temple stage setting brought into a sacred narrative space.
The painting features the Kalighat school's signature bold outlines, using thick, sweeping strokes. The color palette relies on a sophisticated harmony of monochromatic sepia, muted golds, and shimmering silver tones, all highlighted by meticulous line-work on the goddess's patterned crown (mukut), the textures of the textiles and the lion’s striped coat. By documenting a timeless slice of sacred Hindu lore through centuries-old folk art conventions, this piece beautifully honors the living, evolving spirit of Bengal’s regional art heritage.
Authentication and Certification +
Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication
certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the
artwork.
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Sizes, Framing and Customisation +
The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.
Customisation
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Framing Services
No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.
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Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri
Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.
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Additonal Shipping Charges
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Delivery Timelines and Returns +
Returns and Replacements
We offer replacements or repairs if your artwork arrives damaged or has a quality issue. As each artwork is handcrafted, we do not accept returns or refunds for orders received in the expected condition.
Delivery Timeline
This artwork will be Made to Order and will take
2-3 weeks
to be made and shipped.
Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and
ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.
All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.
Colour Disclaimer+
All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.