Divine Mothers Kanmari, Vaishnav and Varahi
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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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In the Hindu religion, the greatest gods can have no direct contact with the tangible elements of the universe and so must emanate some of their own power to their saktis or female consorts (occasionally this power is manifested in the daughter of the particular god, too)
worshippers call these saktis the Divine Mothers. As the aspects of each god are many, so are the saktis, each with a different name and specific power. Each of the 'goddesses' is, at the same time, the 'whole' power of the god whom she represents and is incarnate in the mother of every earthly family. The three Divine Mothers in our illustration are those manifested from the lesser gods (who also had the power to emanate to their saktis their divine aspects). The Four Great Divine Mothers of the cosmic deities are Mahesvari, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasarasvati. In style, the goddesses are not as prismatic nor as harshly cut as the Pala and Rashtrakuta works, their detailing is less precise but no less lively, and they have stocky proportions. -- Found at Kagaroll. About 10th Century. Mathura, Curzon Museum.
worshippers call these saktis the Divine Mothers. As the aspects of each god are many, so are the saktis, each with a different name and specific power. Each of the 'goddesses' is, at the same time, the 'whole' power of the god whom she represents and is incarnate in the mother of every earthly family. The three Divine Mothers in our illustration are those manifested from the lesser gods (who also had the power to emanate to their saktis their divine aspects). The Four Great Divine Mothers of the cosmic deities are Mahesvari, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasarasvati. In style, the goddesses are not as prismatic nor as harshly cut as the Pala and Rashtrakuta works, their detailing is less precise but no less lively, and they have stocky proportions. -- Found at Kagaroll. About 10th Century. Mathura, Curzon Museum.
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Basham Collection
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circa 1970s
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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