The Hindu deity Durga killing the buffalo demon

During the eighteenth century, Bikaner artists developed a distinctive compositional formula for depicting the goddess Durga engaged in one of her greatest battles. As in this painting, the goddess is shown astride her pouncing lion, which digs its teeth and claws into the back of the buffalo demon. Her multiple arms carry weapons, such as Shiva's trident, that were given to her by the gods. With one of her left arms, Durga draws back the sword that will deliver a decapitating blow to the head of the demon.

Several Bikaner paintings of this battle depict the same climactic moment: when the demon emerges from the buffalo form that he has assumed in order to elude the goddess. It is only at this time that she is finally able to slay him. The battle is recounted in a narrative text known as the Devi Mahatmya (The Glories of the Goddess), which may have been written as early as the sixth or seventh century CE.