Madhubani or Mithila paintings emerged thousands of years ago to mark the marriage of Sita and Rama, under the order of King Janak. Traditionally, they were painted on walls and floors of huts but now they are painted on cloth, canvas and art papers. Focussing on the religious, social and natural aspects of life, this art used natural pigments like turmeric for yellow ochre, palash flower for orange etc. In this painting; encompassing varied religious traditions of yogini worship, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Vajrayana Buddhism, the ten Mahavidyas are depicted. The figures of ten Hindu tantrik goddesses can be seen such as Kali, Taara, Chinnamasta, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamalatmika. The painting showcases the use of warm toned colours like yellow, red and orange as the base and the subjects and bold, definite black lines are used to outline each and every figure which defines the painting itself. Big and small deities are painted showcasing their distinct "mudras" and posture. A distinctive "yantra"(sacred diagram) is present beneath every goddess to symbolise their receptacles or sacred dwelling that hold their divine being. Going beyond the "kulin art" tag of this art form, this art is relevant even today as it has become inclusive in nature, and is drawn in wide range by amateurs as well as experienced artists using modern materials in canvases. The "bharni"(filled) style of this artwork aids in the creation of complex geometrical patterns which also act as therapeutic activity for the painter.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia, pays a beautiful tribute to one of the most basic tenets of Hindu Tantric philosophy in an affecting work: Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses (Dasha Mahavidyas). The Dasha Mahavidyas are the 10 personifications of divine wisdom that rule the universe and the evolution of human consciousness.
These personifications are in reference to Adi Parashakti (supreme cosmic feminine power). The goddesses in the painting are not frightening and wild, but are peaceful and have the meaning of divinity.
Besides, the painting features Kali (The Goddess of time and transformation), Tara (The compassionate protector), Bhuvaneshvari (The infinite space), Tripura Sundari (eternal beauty), Bhairavi (The fierce discipline), Chhinnamasta (The self severed ego transcender), Dhumavati (The non attached widow), Bagalamukhi (The stilled word), Matangi (Inner truth and outcasts) and Kamala (The lotus of material fulfillment).
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By: Shireen Ansari
The described Madhubani (Mithila) painting, traditionally created to celebrate Sita and Rama’s marriage and once painted on hut walls and floors, now appears on cloth, canvas, and paper, blending religious, social, and natural life themes. Using natural pigments such as turmeric and palash, it employs warm base tones of yellow, red, and orange, with bold black outlines that define every figure. The composition brings together diverse spiritual traditions, yogini worship, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Vajrayana Buddhism, by portraying the ten Mahavidyas: Kali, Tara, Chinnamasta, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamalatmika. Each goddess is shown in distinct mudras and postures, with a yantra beneath her indicating her sacred dwelling, and the bharni (filled) style produces intricate geometric patterns that are both visually striking and therapeutically engaging for the artist. Moving beyond narrow classifications like "kulin art," the work remains relevant today, embraced by amateurs and seasoned painters alike, adapted to modern materials while retaining its symbolic richness and communal significance.
