For anyone following this site regularly, the identity and the backstory of this Vigraha need not ne described, as this site has several examples. She is Durga as Mahishasuramardhini (Mardhini for short) and she is depicted in the act of killing the demon, Mahisha.

Protected by the boons he got, Mahisha took the form of a water buffalo and terrorized the world. Durga then takes this special form, endowed with the attributes of the Gods she vanquishes Mahisha. The severed head of the buffalo is on the pedestal. Mahisha is being pulled out of the buffalo’s body and Mardhini is about to plunge Trishul (missing) into Mahisha’s torso. More details on the back story may be found on this blog on Mardhini.

It is rare to see Mardhini cast in copper rich bronze and that too in typical Tamil Nadu style.

When I put together some of the other Madhinis, please see the above image, one thing stood out. The form, as in eight-armed, and the attributes are standardised for Mardhinis from the Karnataka region. This standardization is irrespective of the style, classical, folk or tribal. All the examples show her holding a sword, shield, arrow, bow, Shankha and Chakra. That adherence to common Slokha across different styles is not common.

The Vigraha is about 8 cm in height and it may be dated to the early 19th century.