Mandala of the Hindu goddess Durga

A mandala is a cosmic diagram used as an aid to meditation. The central deity represents the Hindu goddess Durga in her manifestation as Mahishasuramardini, slayer of the buffalo demon. She stands triumphant with her eighteen arms brandishing various weapons, while dispatching with her trident the demon Mahisha, who has just emerged from the decapitated buffalo. The lotus petals surrounding Durga contain the Eight Mother Goddesses. The Hindu Triad, consisting of Shiva (riding on the bull Nandi), Brahma (on the swanlike Hamsa), and Vishnu (on Garuda) surmounts the mandala. The gods are flanked by Surya (the sun on the left), and Chandra (the moon on the right). The rest of the planetary deities are shown on the bottom.