A carved relief sandstone Panel North or Central India, 8th/9th Century

A carved relief sandstone Panel North or Central India, 8th/9th Century carved in high relief, the columns divided into niches, the left column depicting four seated matrika goddesses, with boar-headed Varahi and the fearsome Chamunda identifiable in the second and fourth niches; the central column with a gana or attendant holding up a seated female deity, a yakshi or river goddess below; right-hand column with seated Ganesha above, a male deity possibly Shiva as Gajasamhara slaying an elephant, and a vyala below, on stand 68 cm. high, 128 cm. including stand Footnotes: Provenance Private UK collection since circa 1960. Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 6th October 2015, lot 100. Private UK collection, 2015-present. The matrikas are 'mother goddesses' usually depicted as a group of seven - Indrani, Brahamani, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Varahi, Vaishnavi and Chamunda. They embody the energies of male gods and were created by Devi, the Great Goddess, to combat demons. They are usually seen on temple doorways, depicted with a form of Shiva and his son, Ganesha. For further discussion, see V. Desai, D. Mason (ed.), Gods, Guardians and Lovers: Temple Sculptures from North India AD 700-1200, New York 1993, pp. 246-247, no. 62. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing