Antique Javanese Style Majapahit Simhavahini Durga Statue - 45cm/18"

Antique Javanese Style Majapahit Simhavahini Durga Statue - 45cm/18"

Measures (Height) 45cm/18"

An antique Majapahit style bronze Simhavahini Durga riding on a Lion, the mount of Parvati, Dawon.

A powerful Majapahit‑style bronze Durga, depicted in full warrior splendour riding her lion mount on a double lotus leaf pedestal. Here the goddess appears as Simhavahini Durga, the lion‑borne embodiment of divine strength and protection, rendered in dynamic Indonesian Javanese fashion. Her poised yet vigorous posture, multiple arms and richly detailed ornaments evoke the moment she rides into battle against the forces of chaos and ignorance.

Durga’s hands hold an array of weapons and attributes gifted by the gods: a trident, flame, axe, bow and arrows, and other emblematic weapons.

The trident (trisula) is closely associated with Shiva and represents the threefold powers of creation, preservation and destruction, as well as Durga’s ability to pierce and dissolve negativity at its root.

The axe speaks of cutting away attachments and obstacles, while the bow and arrows embody focused energy and righteous intent—energy directed precisely at the defeat of evil.

The flame she carries signifies transformative power, spiritual light and the burning away of illusion; in many traditions such fire is a purifying force that clears the path for renewal.

Around her torso hangs a necklace of skulls or severed heads, a stark reminder of Durga’s uncompromising role as destroyer of demons and vanquisher of ego. Rather than mere horror, this motif symbolises the cutting away of harmful tendencies and the triumph of wisdom over ignorance, showing that what is fearsome in appearance is ultimately protective in function.

Framing her head is an ornate aureole with a flaming rim, signifying her radiant, transcendent nature and marking her as a being of immense spiritual luminosity. The richly chased crown, layered necklaces and detailed belt and textiles are characteristic of Majapahit sculpture, where Durga is often shown both as beautiful and awe‑inspiring.

Durga rides side‑saddle on her lion, the vahana that expresses courage, royal authority and fearless advance into danger. The lion’s tense muscles and open jaws heighten the sense of motion and drama, while the double lotus leaf pedestal beneath them anchors the composition in symbols of purity, compassion and the joy that arises from enlightenment. The lotus, growing unstained from muddy waters, mirrors Durga’s own role: emerging from the combined energies of the gods to confront darkness and restore cosmic balance.

With its beautifully matured patina, fine casting and dense iconographic programme, this Majapahit‑style Durga is both a work of art and a visual scripture of divine protection. It is a statement piece for any collection or interior, bringing movement, strength and a vivid sense of sacred theatre—ideal for a home, office or meditation space where her presence can serve as a reminder of resilience, clarity and the ultimate victory of light over adversity.

Scholarly Reference:

Sotheby's - May 2007 - THE COLLECTION OF PAUL OTTO TAUBERT

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