Durga Mahishasuramardini

Overall view of fragment on base; The Chandella (or Candella) was a dynasty of Rajputs who ruled parts of northern India. This sculpture is a fragment of what would have portrayed the incident of the goddess Durga killing the buffalo demon. When the gods were defeated by the lord of the demons, Mahisha, they pleaded with Durga, the incarnation of female energy, to defend the universe. Having been given a weapon by each of the gods and thus possessing all of their powers, she defeated first the demon's armies and then Mahisha himself, who had taken the form of a buffalo. In this fragment, Durga's multiple arms have been broken off, but she still raises the trident with which she kills the demon. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 4/15/2015