An important buff sandstone figure of Sachika

INDIA, RAJASTHAN, DATED TO 1179

Details

An important buff sandstone figure of Sachika
India, Rajasthan, dated to 1179
Expressively and finely carved in openwork with the goddess Sachika standing on a plinth with one foot atop the buffalo as her lion mount bites into his hindquarters, her face with almond-shaped eyes and her hair in a high chignon, holding various weapons in her multiple arms and flanked by devis above, wearing multiple beaded necklaces, armlets and festoons, inscribed and dated along the front of the base
33 in. (83.8 cm.) high

Provenance

Sotheby's London, 14 November 1988, lot 95

Literature

P. Pal, The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India, 1994, p. 17 and 180, cat. no. 66

Exhibited

Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum; New Orleans Museum of Art; London, Victoria and Albert Museum, The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India, November 1994 - January 1996
Honolulu Academy of Arts, on loan March 2005 - March 2008

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Lot Essay

The inscription states that this image of the goddess Sachika was dedicated in 1179. Sachika is another name for Durga Mahishasuramardini, victor over the buffalo demon.

The demon Mahishasura was half man and half buffalo. He invaded heaven, defeating Indra, the king of gods, and driving all the gods out of heaven. Since he was invincible to all men, the gods created his nemesis in the form of a young woman, Durga. She combined the powers of all the devas in a beautiful form. Armed with a trident from Shiva, Chakra from Vishnu, a lion from the Himalayas and a bow and arrow from Vayu, the goddess attacked Mahishasura and killed him after nine days of fierce battle. She remains the most important and popular form of the great goddess known generically as Devi or Shakti.

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