This temple hanging or kalamkari depicts Durga as Mahishasura Mardini seated on a yali or lion, surrounded by various musicians and male and female attendants. She carries distinctive symbols such as a sword and a parrot. Below her lies the bull-headed demon, Mahisha. The lion is usually seen in the Mahishasuramurti images of Durga throughout the south, east and north India where Durga is often seen fighting evil in the shape of Mahishasura and kills the demon with the help of her leonine vehicle.Kalamkari were meticulously drawn with a pen and then stencilled and dyed with vegetable dyes. The tradition of kalamkari was a dying art until recently. There are several centers of production such as Shrikalahasti, Masulipattan etc. The religious themes such as life of Krishna, Rama and Shiva are popular in kalamkari. Even forms of Durga in local indigenous form such as Mariamman are depicted. The mainstream themes of Hinduism are interpreted with stories from local lore. Those kalamkari made after 1970s have experimental compositions and contemporary motifs in them.The influence of mura (tradition) is evident in the way a typical kalamkari painting unravels. The scroll painting tradition of paper and cloth painting is also seen contributing to the making of kalamkari. It is usually hung in temples on special occasions to tell mythological stories.
