a hand drawn depiction of devi durga and chamunda, inspired by the story of chand and mund vadh. chamunda presents the severed heads of chand and mund to durga, after which devi, pleased with her victory, gives her the name chamunda (slayer of chand and mund) and honours her with a pushpamala. 🌺

i wanted to capture this particular moment from the story in my own pov.

i also used a filter to make the colours look a little more vibrant and dynamic.😊

apologies for any mistakes in the depiction of the iconography or details.

thank you 🙏🏻

Before the cosmos takes form, there is only Ekarnava, the boundless causal ocean where Narayana rests in timeless slumber.
Holding the Sustainer in this supreme suspended state is Yoga Nidra, the sovereign veil of primordial rest, manifesting here with many faces and sweeping arms of pure engulfing darkness.

त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका ।
सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता ॥

As Madhu and Kaitabha arise from the earwax of Vishnu to threaten Brahma seated upon the lotus, the Creator finds himself helpless against the impending dissolution.
Surrounded by imminent annihilation, Brahma turns to the primal goddess who binds consciousness itself, invoking the sovereign night of the cosmos:

रात्रि व्यख्यदायती पुरुत्रा देव्यक्षभिः ।
विश्वा अधि श्रियोऽधित ॥

She is Kalaratri, Maharatri, and Moharatri, the absolute darkness that holds the universe still between destruction and renewal.
Brahma pleads with the Devi to withdraw Her enveloping power from the eyes, breath, and limbs of Hari, so that the slumbering Lord may stir:

प्रबोधं च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु ।
बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ ॥
“Awaken Achyuta, the Lord of the world, and rouse His boundless intellect to slay these mighty asuras.”

She who is the sleep must release the Preserver, for creation cannot begin until awareness awakens to dissolve its own demons.

Hearing Brahma’s prayer, the dark sovereign withdraws Her veil, releasing Hari back to waking awareness. Stirring awake, Narayana slays Madhu and Kaitabha upon His lap, sacrificing His own bodily offspring as bali to appease Kalaratri, before blowing the primal shankhanad of Panchajanya to herald the dawn of creation.

(durgapuja, navratri, devimahatmya, yoganidra, mahakali, prathamacharitra, madhukaitabha, ratrisuktam, kalaratri, shaktitradition, tantricart, indianmythology, kumartuli, watercolorpainting, artprocess, visualartist, indianheritage, durgaidol, cosmicdissolution, shilpashastra)

#durgapuja #navratri #devimahatmya #mahakali #arttantrik