Bhadrakali, Destroyer of the Universe

Gouache with gold, silver, and beetle-wing case on paper.

This powerful esoteric Tantric image represents one of the most terrifying iconic forms of Devi (the Goddess), imbued with the destructive ferocity of her darker side. Standing on a corpse, Bhadrakali (‘Auspicious Kali’) consumes dead bodies while holding a massive sword, the severed heads of the creator god Brahma, and the limp corpses of Shiva and Vishnu.

To view a high-resolution version of this image and for further information please visit the Yousef Jameel Online Centre at the Ashmolean.