This wooden panel, a relief work measuring 14 cm by 7 cm, came to me as a part of an auction lot. It managed to find its position in my collection and with good reason. It started with curiosity as to why these three deities are depicted together.

The panel shows Chamunda, Mahalakshmi and Ganesha from our left. It is possibly a variation of Saptamatrikas’ depictions. Normally the depiction of the seven Matrikas are/is flanked by Veerabhadra and/or Ganesha. In Bengal tradition, going back to the Pala/Sena period, it is three Matrikas and Ganesha. This wooden panel, two Matrikas and Ganesha, may be a continuation of that Bengal tradition.

By chance, I found a similar grouping. It is a bronze and was published by the Lost Arts of Nepal on Facebook pages. The bronze is an excellent example of Newari craftmanship. It is included here to train your eyes.

In the wooden panel, the iconography of Mahalakshmi is interesting for the number of arms, eight, her riding the vahana and the aggressive posturing with her sword.

The wooden panel is from Nepal and it is probably a manuscript cover. There is significant softening of the features. It is probably 150 to 200 years old.