Calcutta Art Studio Chromolithograph
Region / Date
Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India
1885–1895
Key Features
This rare and powerful dual composition presents two forms from the sacred tradition of the Mahavidyas-manifestations of the supreme divine feminine (Mahadevi), each expressing a distinct cosmic principle of शक्ति.
On the left appears Bhuvaneshvari, the Queen of the Universe, seated serenely upon a throne. She embodies cosmic knowledge, space, and creative power-the very matrix in which all existence unfolds. Her calm posture, open gestures, and regal presence convey sovereignty and nurturing expansiveness. In Tantric understanding, she is the living field of consciousness itself-the space within which all forms arise.
Contrasting her tranquil majesty, the right panel depicts Bagalamukhi, the fierce शक्ति who halts, paralyzes, and silences negativity. Caught mid-action, she subdues a demon, gripping his tongue while raising her club-an iconic gesture symbolizing control over speech, thought, and harmful intent. Her name literally means “the one who stops the mouth,” reflecting her role in stilling chaos and bringing mental mastery.
Together, the composition expresses a profound Tantric duality:
Bhuvaneshvari as the expansive field of creation, and Bagalamukhi as the शक्ति that restrains and controls it.
The theatrical staging-pillars, drapery, and ornate flooring-reflects the Victorian-influenced visual language of 19th-century Bengal prints, blending sacred iconography with contemporary aesthetics. Rich color palettes and intricate ornamentation heighten the symbolic contrast between serenity and शक्ति in action.
This artwork is part of a larger tradition depicting the Ten Mahavidyas, each representing a path to spiritual realization through different aspects of the Divine Feminine.
Philosophically, the image teaches:
true mastery lies not only in creation and knowledge, but in the ability to restrain, silence, and transcend.
Museum-Grade Poster Details
Size: 18 × 24 inches
Paper: 350 GSM archival matte paper
Print Quality: High-resolution reproduction preserving chromolithographic richness and fine detailing
Finish: Non-glare museum matte finish
Ideal For: Tantric practitioners, collectors of Mahavidya art, and seekers of deeper spiritual symbolism
Why You’ll Love It
A rare dual depiction of Mahavidya goddesses-balancing serenity and शक्ति in one powerful composition.
Order Now
Bring home Bhuvaneshvari & Bagalamukhi, a profound expression of cosmic knowledge and spiritual control.
Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.