Lakshmi Narasimha Thali

This is a rare and exquisite brass platter or thali from Mysore, made using repousse and engraving techniques. It can be used as a wall decoration. The platter depicts Narasimha and Lakshmi. Narasimha's face is made using the repousse technique, and protrudes out from the surface. Around the central figure are concentric floral bands, with a border of 40 hooded cobras at the rim. The subject, and its use as decoration, are extremely unusual.
Narasimha is the fourth avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu - one who incarnates in the form of part lion and part man, to destroy evil and end religious persecution and calamity on Earth. He symbolizes divine strength and valour. Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth, fortune, love, beauty, and prosperity. She is both the wife and divine female energy (shakti) of Vishnu. The cobras signify Shesha, the thousand-headed cosmic serpent; whose heads support the earth, the creatures on it, and the heavenly spheres.