Spearhead 16th century Indian Early Hindu goddesses were usually perceived merely as the consorts of certain gods or as female expressions of their sacred energy (shakti). Later many goddesses developed into powerful, independent dieties, who became and remain the object of fervent devotion. One of the better known of these goddesses is Durgā, a fierce and invincible demon slayer, whose image on this ornate spearhead is shown astride a tiger and brandishing a trident and a sword.Durgā is often considered to be the wrathful manifestation of Mahādevī, the Great Goddess, also known simply as Devī. Through manifestations, or projections of their divine essence, the gods and goddesses created variations of themselves with different powers, attributes, and names, which were suited to meet the demands of specific crises or adventures. Devī is seen as the universal mother and by some accounts is the ultimate source of all Hindu goddesses. She is widely revered in her Durgā form and in her beni