Goddess Bagala

ca. 1875–85

Not on view

The goddess Bagala is the eighth of the ten personifications of transcendent wisdom of tantric Hinduism, the Mahavidya or the wisdom goddesses. Her full name is Bagalamukhi, which translates as “the one who checks the mouth” to silence speech and still the mind. In later tantric yoga she is associated with the practice of meditative breath control (pranayama). The goddess is shown as both regal and martial, wearing a chain mail vest over her upper body, with a pleated blue skirt and a loose-fitting gown. A garland, likely of white jasmine, hands around her neck. Jasmine (chameli) is a fragrant flower much loved by Shiva, and also linked in ayurvedic medicine with the calming of the mind, one of the wisdom goddess Bagala’s powers.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Goddess Bagala
Artist: Sasadhar Banarjee : Designer and publisher
Date: ca. 1875–85
Culture: West Bengal, Calcutta
Medium: Lithograph printed in black with hand-coloring with watercolor and selectively applied glaze
Dimensions: Sheet: 15 ¾ x 11 ¾ in. (40.1 x 30 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Purchase, The Kipper Family Foundation Gift, 2021
Object Number: 2021.191
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Goddess Matangi, Sasadhar Banarjee Indian, Lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored with watercolor, selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Matangi
Sasadhar Banarjee
ca. 1875–85

Goddess Dhumavati, Sasadhar Banarjee ; Designer and publisher Indian, Lithograph, printed in black and hand-coloring with watercolor and selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Dhumavati
Sasadhar Banarjee
ca. 1875–85

Goddess Bhairavi, Shib Gobin Lal, Lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored with yellow and pink watercolor. Selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Bhairavi
Shib Gobin Lal
ca. 1870–80

Sri Sri Kali (recto); Kali (verso), G. C. Dass (recto), Recto: lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored in red, crimson, and yellow watercolor, selectively applied glaze. Verso: lithograph, printed in black, West Bengal, Calcutta — Sri Sri Kali (recto); Kali (verso)
G. C. Dass
Unidentified artist
ca. 1880–85 (recto); ca. 1875–85 (verso)

Goddess Kamalatmika, The Hindu Art Studio, Lithograph, printed in black with hand-coloring in watercolor and selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Kamalatmika
The Hindu Art Studio
ca. 1880–85

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