This is a beautiful palm-leaf manuscript of the Devimahatmya, a Sanskrit hymn extolling the Goddess as the Supreme Principle of the Universe. It was copied in 'Newari' script in 1549 and illuminated in Nepal with thirty-two miniatures and painted covers in the reign of Jayapranamalla of Bhaktapur (1523 - ? 1550) for the use of the king.

Hinduism is widely thought of as a religion with a multiplicity of gods and goddesses, but in fact the vast majority of Hindus worship only one of these (normally either Vishnu or Siva) as the Supreme Principle of the Universe, while duly acknowledging a selection of the others for personal worship. Some worship the Goddess (Devi, under various names) as the Supreme Principle, and this Glorification of the Goddess, the most important text in her worship, acknowledges her as encompassing all the other divinities. The Goddess is widely worshipped by adherents of the other great Hindu divinities, especially in eastern and southern India and Nepal; at her great festival in the Autumn, the Dasera, her victory over the demons who have been oppressing the gods is celebrated.

Shown here are the opening folios. The upper one shows the donor and his family worshipping the Goddess in the act of killing Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. The lower folio shows Vishnu asleep on the cosmic ocean with Brahma seated on a lotus emerging from his navel; the newly-manifested Goddess raises the sleeping god to kill the demons menacing Brahma. On the right, the merchant Samadhi is attacked by robbers hired by his family, and King Suratha rides into exile. The story of the goddess is explained to both of these by the sage Medhas over the course of the hymn.