Clay Images of West Bengal

1. Durga-the 'Inaccessible', goddess of victory.

In popular Bengali tradition Durga is the daughter of Himavat, the Himalayas. She is also Menaka, the wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesh, Kartik, Sarasvati and Lakshmi. She is also Ma, the Universal Mother who wards off danger, disease and calamity. The clay image of Durga worshipped during the autumnal Durga puja festival represents her as the destroyer of the buffalo demon Mahisha who ousted the gods from heaven. Durga stands upon her lion mount and is portrayed in the act of killing Mahisha. Her left foot is on Mahisha's right shoulder and her right foot is on the back of her lion. Durga's trident pierces Mahisha's chest and her snake noose encircles his neck. She is ten-armed and holds in her right hands a sword, discus, trident, spear and arrows and in her left hands a noose, goad, shield, bell and bow.

2. Lakshmi-the goddess of wealth

Lakshmi (left) stands on a lotus that rises from the chali. She is golden coloured and holds a lotus in each hand. She is sometimes accompanied by her mount, the owl. She is otherwise known as Shri, the wife of Vishnu.

3. Sarasvati-the goddess of learning

Sarasvati (right) holds a vina (Indian lute) and is shown standing on a lotus like Lakshmi. Both Lakshmi and Sarasvati stand in a posture known as ardhasana which is familiar in images of Krishna playing the flute. Sarasvati is white in complexion and her mount is the swan. She is considered to be the wife of the god Brahma.

4. Ganesh-the elephant-headed god of prudence

Ganesh (Left) is usually painted white with a red body. He sits on a lotus with his mount, the rat, placed below him. He is four-armed and holds a mace, discus, lotus and conch.

5. Kartik-the bachelor god of war

Kartik (right) is two-armed holding a bow and arrow and is seated on his mount the peacock.

6. Lion-the stylised 'horse-lion'

Described by one 19th c artist as a unicorn because of its white colour and unusual appearance. Kalighat paintings representing Narasimha, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, show this avatar in much the same way as the ghora-simha (horse-lion) of the traditional Durga image. Among unusual markings are a moustache, an eyebrow fringe, large eyes, leg fringes, clawed feet, a beak-like nose, thin body, long pointed ears, a decorative sash round its waist and a collar. It paws Mahisha and bites the right sword hand of the demon. This stylised lion (right) was probably derived from the mythical vyali which appears in classical sculpture. It was later replaced by a more realistic lion borrowed directly from the heraldic lion of the British East India Company.

7. Mahisha-the buffalo demon

Mahisha (above) is shown bending under the weight fo the twofold attack from both Durga and her lion. He kneels on one leg and stares up at Durga who looks outward smiling. Mahisha carries a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left. The decapitated head of a buffalo is usually placed nearby. The buffalo demon is coloured green with croooked teeth and blood gushing from his mouth.