Hindu Deities and Mythology
May 2026
These objects depict Hindu gods, goddesses, and mythological narratives, particularly featuring Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura, along with other deities like Ganesh, Krishna, and Brahma from various South and Southeast Asian traditions.
59 objects · 3 institutions

Agni, God of Fire
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1000

Altarpiece with the First Jaina Tirthankara Rishabhanatha Surrounded by Twenty-Three Other Tirthankaras
Art Institute of Chicago
1089 A.D.

Amorous Couple (Mithuna)
Cleveland Museum of Art
400s

Amorous Couple (Mithuna) Seated in a Chair
Art Institute of Chicago

Amorous Couple (Mithuna) with Parrot
Art Institute of Chicago
1st century B.C.

Bovendorpel
Rijksmuseum
c. 800 - c. 900

Brahma
Rijksmuseum
800 - 900

Brahma
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1890

Brahma-Shiva
Cleveland Museum of Art
late 900s–1000s

Child Krishna Protected by a Serpent
Art Institute of Chicago
c. 15th century

Durga Destroying the Buffalo Demon
Cleveland Museum of Art

Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon
Rijksmuseum
c. 1000 - c. 1100

Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon Mahisha
Cleveland Museum of Art
800s

Durga Slaying the Demon Buffalo
Cleveland Museum of Art
1500s

Durga as the Slayer of the Buffalo Demon
Cleveland Museum of Art

Eight Armed Shiva Dancing Between Two Pillars
Cleveland Museum of Art
900s–1000s

Emblem of God Shiva with Four Faces (Chaturmukhalinga)
Art Institute of Chicago
7th/8th century

First Jaina Tirthankara Rishabhanatha Standing in Meditation (Kayotsarga)
Art Institute of Chicago
10th/11th century

Four-Armed God Brahma Standing in Frontal Posture (Samabhanga)
Art Institute of Chicago
10th century

Four-Armed God Vishnu Holding Discus and Conch
Art Institute of Chicago
Vijayanagar period, 15th century

Frieze with Geese (Hamsa)
Art Institute of Chicago
Late 10th century

Ganesh
Cleveland Museum of Art

Ganesha
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1890

Ganesha
Cleveland Museum of Art

Ganesha-Janani (Mother of Ganesh)
Cleveland Museum of Art

God Krishna Dancing on the Head of the Snake Demon Kaliya (Kaliyadamana)
Art Institute of Chicago
Vijayanagar period, 14th century

Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon
Art Institute of Chicago
9th century

Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
9th/10th century

Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
6th century

Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
5th/6th century

Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
Kushan period, 2nd century

Goddess Durga Slaying the Buffalo Demon (Mahishasuramardini)
Art Institute of Chicago
Angkor period, 10th century or later

Hoyshaleshvara Temple Sculpture, Halebidu (Halebeedu)
Cleveland Museum of Art
1856–57

Jain Temple, Calcutta
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 1890s

Jaina Tirthankara Chandraprabha Standing in Meditation (Kayotsarga)
Art Institute of Chicago
12th century

Jaina Tirthankara Parshvanatha Seated in Meditation (Dhyanamudra) under a Snake Hood
Art Institute of Chicago
6th century

Jaina Tirthankara Seated in Meditation (Dhyanamudra)
Art Institute of Chicago
15th century

Kali
Cleveland Museum of Art
900s–1000s

Liggende stier
Rijksmuseum

Lovers (Mithuna)
Cleveland Museum of Art

Marriage of God Shiva with Goddess Parvati (Kalyanasundara)
Art Institute of Chicago
c. 11th century

Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance
Cleveland Museum of Art

One of a Pair of Manuscript Covers from the Glorification of the Great Goddess (Devimahatmya)
Art Institute of Chicago
18th century

One of a Pair of Manuscript Covers from the Glorification of the Great Goddess (Devimahatmya)
Art Institute of Chicago

One-Faced Linga (Ekamukhalinga)
Cleveland Museum of Art
600s–700s

Parshva
Cleveland Museum of Art
800s

Rama and Lakshmana Holding Bows, Seated under a Tree
Art Institute of Chicago
Gupta period, c. 5th/6th century

Ravana Shaking Mount Kailasa
Cleveland Museum of Art
700s

River Goddess Ganga
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 700

Savitri Triumphs over Yama, the God of Death
Art Institute of Chicago
12th/13th century

Shiva Nataraja
Rijksmuseum
c. 1100 - c. 1200

Shiva and Parvati
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 950–60

Shiva as Lord of Music
Cleveland Museum of Art

Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja)
Art Institute of Chicago
Chola period, about 10th/11th century

Shiva as Slayer of the Elephant Demon
Cleveland Museum of Art
1000s

Shiva met de maan in het haar
Rijksmuseum
c. 1000 - c. 1200

Standing Shiva Mahadeva
Cleveland Museum of Art
700s

Ten-Armed Goddess Durga, Seated on a Double Lion Throne
Art Institute of Chicago
11th century

Woman and Water Buffalo Rhyton
Cleveland Museum of Art
500–700