Ojas Art presents Dasa Mahavidya, an exhibition that brings together the extraordinary works of two pioneering Mithila artists—Krishnanand Jha (1947–2018) and Santosh Kumar Das (b.1962)—united by their interpretation of one of Hinduism’s most potent spiritual traditions: the Ten Wisdom Goddesses. The exhibition runs from 23 August, 202 to 21 September, 2025.
The Dasa Mahavidya– Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala are ten forms of cosmic feminine power. Rooted in Tantric philosophy, they embody transformation, wisdom, and the many paradoxes of existence; both fierce and nurturing, chaotic and ordered, transcendental and accessible. This show brings these goddesses into vivid presence through two distinct yet complementary artistic vocabularies.
Krishnanand Jha: Tantric Lineages in Mithila
Born into a family of tantric priests in Mithila, Jha carried within him the esoteric knowledge of ritual and mantra. Choosing to translate this inner inheritance into art, he became one of the very first male artists in the otherwise women-led Mithila painting tradition. His works pulsate with latent energy—figures alive with symmetry, geometry, and the tantric color triad of red, black, and white. Among his central themes was Chhinnamasta, his family deity and one of the most complex Mahavidyas, who represents self-sacrifice, energy, and transcendence. Jha’s bold interventions in the 1980s won both national and international recognition, and his works today reside in major museum collections across the United States.
Santosh Kumar Das: Stability and Sacred Stillness
Das, one of Mithila’s most acclaimed artists today, bridges traditional aesthetics with a contemporary intellectual rigor. Having trained at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, he carries the visual language of Mithila forward with thoughtful innovations and a deep philosophical sensibility. Known especially for his Krishna Series, Gujarat Series, and works on Buddha and Yoga, Das has devoted the past two years to rendering the Dasa Mahavidya. His compositions are meditative—goddesses rendered in frontal symmetry, radiating a still, yantra-like power that holds the gaze of the viewer. While Jha’s works move with ritual dynamism, Das’ paintings rest in timeless equanimity.
Masculine Perspectives in a Feminine Tradition
As Paul Abraham of the Sarmaya Arts Foundation notes, Mithila art has historically been a women’s practice—a household rite extended onto mud walls and later paper. In this lineage, the works of Jha and Das mark a radical expansion: male artists interpreting Shakti, the supreme feminine force. Their interventions are not ruptures, but reverential continuations that honor the sacred while offering fresh visual vocabularies.
Goddess in Motion, Goddess in Stillness
Dr. Katie Lazarowicz, in her curatorial commentary, observes:
- “In Jha’s work, the goddess traverses space as if in procession—gestures, glances, trajectories unfolding in sequence.”
- “In Das’ hands, she assumes her throne—symmetrical, composed, radiating a steady presence akin to the pull of a yantra.”
Together, the two artists embody the paradox of the divine feminine: dynamic energy and still-point serenity.
A Gathering Long Awaited
For over a decade, curator Anubhav Nath, Director of Ojas Art, envisioned a show that would bring together these two masters. That vision finds fulfillment now in Dasa Mahavidya. As Nath remarks, “To showcase Santosh Kumar Das’ complete rendering of the Mahavidyas alongside Krishnanand Jha’s tantric goddesses is an unprecedented moment. This is not only an exhibition but a spiritual encounter.”
Exhibition Highlights
- Rare works of the late Krishnanand Jha, recognized internationally for his tantric interpretations in Mithila painting.
- Santosh Kumar Das’ newly completed Dasa Mahavidya series, produced over two years.
- A dialogue between motion and stillness, ritual procession and meditative yantra, feminine energy viewed through uncommon masculine lenses.
Dasa Mahavidya invites viewers into a world where geometry, symbolism, and devotion intertwine—reminding us that the goddess Shakti is not simply depicted but invoked, present, and eternal.
Exhibition Details
- Title: Dasa Mahavidya
- Artists: Krishnanand Jha & Santosh Kumar Das
- Dates: 23 August, 2025 to 21 September, 2025
- Venue: OJAS ART, Mehrauli, New Delhi
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