MAA DHUMAWATI
54 x 45.5 inches
Acrylic and ink on canvas
2021

The seventh Mahavidya, Goddess Dhumavati, bears a pale complexion and an austere countenance, exuding a fearsome yet enigmatic aura. It is believed that she swallowed her own husband, Shiva, to satiate her hunger, symbolizing the devouring and transformative power of time. As the widow goddess, she embodies quarrelsomeness and is often depicted riding a crow or seated upon a chariot, shrouded in a veil of smoke. She creates an illusionary smokescreen of old age and death, representing the burdensome aspects of life and the transient nature of worldly existence. Beyond her ominous appearance, she signifies the raw, unmanifest potential of the cosmos.