SHAKTIRUPA

Goddess as Imagined by the Artists

The exhibition was on view at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum from 29th March to 20th July, 2025.

Devi, or the Goddess is a dominant figure in Indian spiritual and artistic traditions. Widely referred as Shakti, she embodies divine feminine energy, taking on various rupa (forms) across Hindu mythology and art. The divine creator in Hinduism is envisioned as either purusha (male) or nari (feminine), but also as a harmonious blend of both–Ardhanarishwara. However, veneration of the feminine as a source of creation and power predates structured religion. Mother Goddesses in the ancient civilizations were worshipped as a symbol of fertility, protection and prosperity.

Over time, this theological concept of the divine feminine evolved into a more complex and profound understanding of Shakti and animated by artists in their visualisation of the Devi. They drew upon sacred texts and oral traditions to bring Devi to life on the painted surface. Manuscripts such as the Durga Saptashati provide intricate descriptions of the Goddess which the artists interpret in unique ways. Infused with creative freedom, these representations stay rooted in textual traditions.

She is Parvati or Uma, appearing alongside her male counterpart, as the nurturing mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya; she is Lakshmi, the bestower of prosperity; she is Kali, the fierce warrior Goddess. She beheads herself in her awe-inspiring form of Chinnamasta, one of the Dasamahavidyas. She is manifold.

This exhibition brings together a selection of paintings and drawings from the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Collection and the N C Mehta Collection, alongside folios from the Durga Saptashati manuscript housed at the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology.

“Shaktirupa: Goddess as Imagined by the Artists” places these artworks in dialogue with their textual sources and artists. It invites viewers to explore a larger vocabulary associated with Shakti—how she is described, imagined, depicted and revered. While this exhibition focuses on Hindu representations of Devi, her presence in other traditions remains a subject for future explorations.

Scan the QR codes to access the narrated excerpts from the texts to experience a multisensory engagement with the divine feminine.

Download the Exhibition Brochure