Gajalakshmi - 02

This is a striking Thanjavur reverse glass painting of Gajalakshmi, or Lakshmi with elephants (gaja). Gajalakshmi is an enduring and auspious theme in Indian art. This is one of the most significant aspects of the goddess Lakshmi, where she is depicted flanked on both sides by white elephants. She is shown as seated in a yogic posture in a beautiful lotus, and has four arms. In each of her upper arms, she carries a lotus, and the lower hands are shown in abhaya and varada mudra. The elephants flanking her are shown pouring water from pots they hold in their trunks over her. This is probably referring to the puranic texts that said when Lakshmi was born, ‘elephants of the skies taking up their pure waters in vases of gold, poured them over the goddess, the queen of the universal world’. Above Gajalakshmi is a prabhavali, with yalis (protective force) at either side and in the centre. Hung around this is a white garland that echoes the lines of the elephants’ trunks, giving the painting a wonderful sense of symmetry. At the very top corners are pillar capitals in the shape of hamsas. This aspect of Lakshmi is representative of prosperity, good luck, and abundance.