Question

Describe the theme and beauty of the sculpture mahishasuardini at ellora?

Answer 1

Mahishasura is a buffalo demon in Hindumythology, known for deception and who pursued his evil ways by shape shifting into different forms.[1][2][3] He was ultimately killed by Durgagetting named Mahishasuramardini. It is an important symbolism-filled legend in Hindu mythology, particularly Shaktism. The legendary battle of Mahishasura as evil and Durga as good is narrated in many parts of South Asian and Southeast Asian Hindu temples, monuments and texts such as the Devi Mahatmya.[4][5][6] The story is also told in the Sikh text Chandi di Var, also calledVar Durga di, which many in Sikh tradition believe was included in the Dasam Granth by Guru Gobind Singh.[7]
Mahishasura is a Sanskrit word composed of mahishameaning buffalo andasura meaning demon, or "buffalo demon". As an Asura, Mahishasura waged war against the Devas, as the Devas and Asuras' were perpetually in conflict. Mahishasura had gained the boon that no man could kill him. In the battles between the gods and the demons, the Devas led byIndra were defeated by Mahishasura. Dejected by their defeat, the Devas assemble in the mountains where their combined divine energies coalesce into goddess Durga. The new born Durga led a battle against Mahishasura, riding a lion, and killed him. Thereafter she is named Mahishasuramardini, meaning "the killer of Mahishasura".[3][8]

Mahishasura's legend is told in a major text of the Shaktism tradition known as the Devi Mahatmya. He is described as an evil being who can change his outer form, but never his demonic goals.[8] According to Christopher Fuller, Mahishasura symbolically represents forces of ignorance and chaos hidden by outer appearances.[9][2] The symbolism is carried in Hindu arts found in South Asia and southeast Asia (Javanese artwork, for example), where Durga is shown as serene, calm, collected and graceful symbol of good as she pierces the heart and kills the scared, overwhelmed and outwitted Mahishasura.[10][2]


Durga slaying Mahishasura is a prominent theme which was sculpted in various caves and temples across India. Some of the prominent representations are seen at the Mahishasuramardini caves in Mahabalipram, the Ellora caves, in the entrance of Rani ki vav[11] Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu and many more temples across India.

Durga is worshiped in herMahishasuramardini form, during Durga Puja

The worship of Durga during Durga puja in West Bengal is represented in pandal which depict Durga killing Mahishasura.[12]

Left: Buffalo-headed Mahishasura in Cave Temple, Mahabalipuram; Right: Mahishasura at Durga's foot inAihole temple.

The popular legend is that Mysuru gets its name from Goddess Durga, Mahishasura Mardini. The Buffalo Demon Mahishasura, states the regional tradition, had terrified the local population. Goddess Durga killed the Mahishasura, an event that is annually celebrated at Navratri and Mysore Dasara.[13]

The temple of the city’s guardian deity, Chamunda has a giant statue of Mahishasura on the hill facing the city. The earliest mention of Mysore in recorded history may be traced to 245 B.C., i.e., to the period of Ashoka when on the conclusion of the third Buddhist convocation, a team was dispatched to Mahisha mandala.[14]

Answer 2

Mahishasuramardhini Mandapa (Cave Temple; also known as Yampuri)[1] is an example of Indian rock-cut architecture dating from the late 7th century, of the Pallava dynasty. It is a rock-cut cave temple located on a hill, near a lighthouse, along with other caves in Mamallapuram. It is the one of the finest testimonials of ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis (Vishwakarma sculpture). Mamallapuram, also popularly known as Mahabalipuram, is a small village to the south of Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.[2] The temple is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1984.[3] This Cave Temple has many interesting architectural features of which three exquisitely carved reliefs on the cave walls of three sanctums are prominent. One is of Vishnu reclining on the seven hooded serpent, Adisesha, another of Durga, the main deity of the cave temple slaying the buffalo headed demon Mahishasura, and the third sanctum also has a sculpture of Vishnu.[4][5] The cave also depicts many scenes from the Puranas (Hindu mythology stories in Sanskrit dating from the 5th century AD).