Acquired from the Royal Library of Mandi in 1969.

Sotheby's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 202.

Ex-private collection, Germany. 

Three illustrations in the group represent Dhumavati, one of the fearsome aspects of Devi. Amongst lay devotees, Dhumavati, lit. the smoky one, is also regarded as an inauspicious emblem and an embodiment of unfullfilled desire. Here she is seen seated with a winnowing basket in her hand on her vahana the crow, itself a carrion eater and an emblem of death. While the Goddess is most often portrayed as an old widow , the present group includes depictions of her in bridal finery and as a young woman, which are certainly rareꦅ.

The fourth illustration, pictured here, depicts Varahi Devi and Kurukulla, ⭕two tantric deities who are considered to be the male and female manifestations of Shakti. The red-skinned Goddess Kurukulla bearing her bow and petaled arrows, is worshipped for her magnetising qualities.