A KANGRA MINIATURE PAINTING FROM A MARKANDEYA PURANA SERIES DEPICTING THE DEMONS RETURNING TO THE UNDERWORLD AS THE GODS REJOICE IN HEAVEN, LATE 18TH-EARLY 19TH CENTURY

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A KANGRA MINIATURE PAINTING FROM A MARKANDEYA PURANA SERIES DEPICTING THE DEMONS RETURNING TO THE UNDERWORLD AS THE GODS REJOICE IN HEAVEN, LATE 18TH-EARLY 19TH CENTURY Expert’s note The present scene illustrates the conclusion of the Goddess’s conflict with Shumbha and Nishumbha, as recounted in the Devi Mahatmya, an integral section of the Markandeya Purana. The Sanskrit inscription on the reverse quotes Chapter 12, verses 33–35: following the destruction of Shumbha and Nishumbha, the gods resume their respective functions and once again receive their allotted shares of the sacrifices, while the surviving Daityas withdraw to the subterranean realm of Patala. The restored cosmic hierarchy is expressed through two distinct registers. Above, Indra sits enthroned within his celestial golden palace, surrounded by the assembled gods and heavenly attendants, while musicians and dancers celebrate the divine victory. Below, the surviving demons, rendered in vivid colors and distinguished by their horned and animal-like features, retreat in defeat. North India, Punjab Hills. Ink, gouache, and gold on paper. Finely painted, the composition is arranged in two distinct registers: below, the surviving demons descend in single file toward the subterranean realm of Patala, their heads bowed in defeat; above, beyond great banks of swirling silver clouds, Indra sits enthroned at the center of a magnificent golden palace, surrounded by the assembled devas and apsaras, who celebrate their return to heaven and the restoration of cosmic order. Inscriptions: On the reverse, three verses from the Devi Mahatmya, Chapter 12, verses 33-35, inscribed in Sanskrit in Devanagari script: With their enemies slain, the gods, now free from fear, resumed their respective functions as before and once again partook of their allotted shares of the sacrifices. When the Goddess had slain Shumbha in battle—the enemy of the gods, destroyer of the world, terrible and of incomparable prowess—and the mighty Nishumbha, the surviving Daityas withdrew to Patala. Dimensions: Image size 26 x 32.9 cm, Size incl. frame 40.1 x 46.8 cm The Sanskrit hymn Devi Mahatmya, an integral section of the Markandeya Purana. This foundational text from the closing centuries of the Gupta period recounts the origins and worship of Devi, the Great Goddess. By this time, the worship of Vishnu and Shiva had largely superseded the ancient sacrificial traditions of Hinduism. Theologians sought to reconcile these personalized deities with the philosophical principles of Vedanta, broadly identifying them with the eternal, impersonal Brahman, the supreme reality underlying the universe. The Devi Mahatmya recounts a series of battles between the Goddess and powerful demons who have defeated the devas—the celestial gods led by Indra, ruler of heaven, whose authority helps sustain the divine order of the universe—and thereby disrupted the cosmic order. In the final episode, the powerful demon brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha conquer the three worlds—the celestial, earthly, and underworld realms—expel the gods from their domains, and seize their powers and treasures. The defeated gods invoke the Goddess for protection, and she ultimately destroys the demon armies and slays Nishumbha and Shumbha. With their defeat, the cosmic order is restored, the gods are freed from fear, and the surviving demons are forced to abandon the celestial realm and return to the underworld. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related painting depicting the demons returning to the underworld as the gods rejoice in heaven, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra, dated c. 1810, 18.9 x 25.4 cm (image), illustrated in Jeremiah P. Losty, A Picture Book of the Devi Mahatma, 2016, no. 53. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 5 October 2010, lot 377 Price: GBP 10,000 or approx. EUR 18,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of painting, and composition. Note the smaller size (16 x 25.9 cm).

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