Indian Bronze Shakti Sakti

Bronze Image of Shakti (Sati)

This unusual rendering of Shakti (or Sati) – the Hindu Divine Mother, the original consort of Shiva, and the sacred embodiment of femininity – shows the goddess seated with one leg folded and the other hanging down from a square lotus pedestal. Her front arms are in varada-mudra and abhaya-mudra. The back arms hold attributes – a conch and a goad engraved with a six-pointed star. Another such star is engraved to the protuberance at the back of the head.

The downward triangle of the star symbolises Shakti and her femininity, and the upward triangle symbolises Shiva, and his masculine aspects.

The goddess embodies the active feminine energy of Shiva. The branch of Hinduism that worships the goddess is called Shaktism.

The bronze is in fine condition and has a chocolate-brown patina.