Hindu Deities and Mythology
May 2026
These objects depict Hindu gods, goddesses, and mythological narratives, particularly featuring Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura, along with other deities like Ganesh, Krishna, and Brahma from various South and Southeast Asian traditions.
59 objects · 3 institutions
Agni, God of Fire
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1000
Altarpiece with the First Jaina Tirthankara Rishabhanatha Surrounded by Twenty-Three Other Tirthankaras
Art Institute of Chicago
1089 A.D.
Amorous Couple (Mithuna)
Cleveland Museum of Art
400s
Amorous Couple (Mithuna) Seated in a Chair
Art Institute of Chicago
Amorous Couple (Mithuna) with Parrot
Art Institute of Chicago
1st century B.C.
Bovendorpel
Rijksmuseum
c. 800 - c. 900
Brahma
Rijksmuseum
800 - 900
Brahma
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1890
Brahma-Shiva
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 900s–1000s
Child Krishna Protected by a Serpent
Art Institute of Chicago
c. 15th century
Durga Destroying the Buffalo Demon
Cleveland Museum of Art
Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon
Rijksmuseum
c. 1000 - c. 1100
Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon Mahisha
Cleveland Museum of Art
800s
Durga Slaying the Demon Buffalo
Cleveland Museum of Art
1500s
Durga as the Slayer of the Buffalo Demon
Cleveland Museum of Art
Eight Armed Shiva Dancing Between Two Pillars
Cleveland Museum of Art
900s–1000s
Emblem of God Shiva with Four Faces (Chaturmukhalinga)
Art Institute of Chicago
7th/8th century
First Jaina Tirthankara Rishabhanatha Standing in Meditation (Kayotsarga)
Art Institute of Chicago
10th/11th century
Four-Armed God Brahma Standing in Frontal Posture (Samabhanga)
Art Institute of Chicago
10th century
Four-Armed God Vishnu Holding Discus and Conch
Art Institute of Chicago
Vijayanagar period, 15th century
Frieze with Geese (Hamsa)
Art Institute of Chicago
Late 10th century
Ganesh
Cleveland Museum of Art
Ganesha
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1890
Ganesha
Cleveland Museum of Art
Ganesha-Janani (Mother of Ganesh)
Cleveland Museum of Art
God Krishna Dancing on the Head of the Snake Demon Kaliya (Kaliyadamana)
Art Institute of Chicago
Vijayanagar period, 14th century
Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon
Art Institute of Chicago
9th century
Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
9th/10th century
Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
6th century
Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
5th/6th century
Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
Kushan period, 2nd century
Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
Angkor period, 10th century or later
Hoyshaleshvara Temple Sculpture, Halebidu (Halebeedu)
Cleveland Museum of Art
1856–57
Jain Temple, Calcutta
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1890s
Jaina Tirthankara Chandraprabha Standing in Meditation (Kayotsarga)
Art Institute of Chicago
12th century
Jaina Tirthankara Parshvanatha Seated in Meditation (Dhyanamudra) under a Snake Hood
Art Institute of Chicago
6th century
Jaina Tirthankara Seated in Meditation (Dhyanamudra)
Art Institute of Chicago
15th century
Kali
Cleveland Museum of Art
900s–1000s
Liggende stier
Rijksmuseum
Lovers (Mithuna)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Marriage of God Shiva with Goddess Parvati (Kalyanasundara)
Art Institute of Chicago
c. 11th century
Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance
Cleveland Museum of Art
One of a Pair of Manuscript Covers from the Glorification of the Great Goddess (Devimahatmya)
Art Institute of Chicago
18th century
One of a Pair of Manuscript Covers from the Glorification of the Great Goddess (Devimahatmya)
Art Institute of Chicago
One-Faced Linga (Ekamukhalinga)
Cleveland Museum of Art
600s–700s
Parshva
Cleveland Museum of Art
800s
Rama and Lakshmana Holding Bows, Seated under a Tree
Art Institute of Chicago
Gupta period, c. 5th/6th century
Ravana Shaking Mount Kailasa
Cleveland Museum of Art
700s
River Goddess Ganga
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 700
Savitri Triumphs over Yama, the God of Death
Art Institute of Chicago
12th/13th century
Shiva Nataraja
Rijksmuseum
c. 1100 - c. 1200
Shiva and Parvati
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 950–60
Shiva as Lord of Music
Cleveland Museum of Art
Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja)
Art Institute of Chicago
Chola period, about 10th/11th century
Shiva as Slayer of the Elephant Demon
Cleveland Museum of Art
1000s
Shiva met de maan in het haar
Rijksmuseum
c. 1000 - c. 1200
Standing Shiva Mahadeva
Cleveland Museum of Art
700s
Ten-Armed Goddess Durga, Seated on a Double Lion Throne
Art Institute of Chicago
11th century
Woman and Water Buffalo Rhyton
Cleveland Museum of Art
500–700