Image of the Goddess Kaumari

Kaumari (sometimes called Sena), is the wife of Shiva’s war-like son Kartikeya. Statues surrounded by a frame like this one were popular in the western Himalayan foot hills towards the end of the 17th century and the early 18th century. They were usually of moulded bronze. The larger mask on the very bottom of the frame is like those used in the Kulu valley so it is possible that the statue came from that area.

The goddess is standing on the back of her associated mount, the peacock. Her four right arms hold a sword, a disc, a drum and a trident, her left arms hold a disc, a conch shell, a demon and an offering cup. Above her head and to either side are three chakras or cosmic halos. The surrounding arch has masks representing Kaumari’s army of goddesses.

Description taken from the ‘Art From The Indian Sub-Continent In The Sainsbury Centre’ catalogue by Margaret A. Willey (Sainsbury Centre, UEA, 1995).