Site Plan of Tepe Sardar. Ghazni, Ghazni Province.

1981
In the three excavated chapels lining the south side of the main courtyard there was a totally unique composite statue of Durga, the consort of the Hindu god Shiva, killing Mahisha, the Buffalo Demon, who was shaking the universe by stamping his mammoth hoofs. The many armed Durga jumps on his back, thrusts her trident (symbol of Shiva) into his rump and decapitates him. Every one of the renditions of this poplar theme was dramatic. Surprisingly and uniquely, a large standing Buddha stood in the same chapel just across the room on the opposite wall from the Durga.
Photo: Louis Dupree from Nancy Hatch Dupree Afghanistan: An Historical Guide, 1971

Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: 81-581.jpg
Copyright: acku Afghanistan
Image Size: 4017x6112 / 5.8MB; 1981 Afghanistan Ghazni Tepe Sardar Site Plan Excavated Chapels Statue of Durga Shiva Mahisha Louis Dupree Nancy Hatch Dupree Slide LD 1981 02109
Contained in galleries: NATIONAL MUSEUM II: CE (Common Era)

1981<br />
In the three excavated chapels lining the south side of the main courtyard there was a totally unique composite statue of Durga, the consort of the Hindu god Shiva, killing Mahisha, the Buffalo Demon, who was shaking the universe by stamping his mammoth hoofs. The many armed Durga jumps on his back, thrusts her trident (symbol of Shiva) into his rump and decapitates him. Every one of the renditions of this poplar theme was dramatic. Surprisingly and uniquely, a large standing Buddha stood in the same chapel just across the room on the opposite wall from the Durga. <br />
Photo: Louis Dupree from Nancy Hatch Dupree Afghanistan: An Historical Guide, 1971