Faithful Depictions of Mahadevi Durga: A Glimpse into the Miniature Painting Collection of Goddess Durga at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad

Abstract

India is a land of culture, faith, and religion and this land has always surprised its worshippers with miracles beyond explanation. Every tragedy has strengthened multiple narratives of belief systems and better ways of living. While the cultural consciousness has discovered a neutral source of energy to worship upon, not everyone can focus their energies on a fictitious fire of power. As humans, we tend to humanize that energy into the binaries we understand. While exploring these dichotomies, the energy representing the divine female draws us into its own web of complexities. Existentialism and origin are two strong words that can haunt us forever if not addressed; Who are we and what’s our divine origin? Where does femininity originate from in India? How do we identify ourselves with a visual divine female? Thus, while addressing this existentialism, this paper explores the notions of femininity, the need for an icon, her presence, her history and tales of her belief. It analyzes the collection of the paintings of Durga at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad.