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Orissa, 19th Century
Bronze
Height: 5.5 in (14 cm)
Width: 4 in (10 cm)
Depth: 3.25 in (8 cm)

NON-EXPORTABLE

A folk bronze image of Gajalakshmi. The goddess of wealth and plenitude is seated on an hourglass-shaped pedestal in what appears to be lalitasna. She is four-armed and holds a spherical object in her lower right hand and a conch in her lower left hand. She holds two elephants in her upper hands, as the elephants bathe her. Her exaggerated bodily proportions are represented by a rather large face, prominent breasts, and a very thin waist. She wears a three-leaf crown, necklace, earrings, armbands, bangles, a wide girdle, and anklets.

The elephants are said to have two meanings attached to them. Firstly, they are equated to clouds by poets and are said to shower the earth with rain wherever they go and make the land fertile.

The flanking, showering elephants emphasize Lakshmi’s association with the fertility of crops, and the grains are regarded as a form of Dhanya-Lakshmi. Secondly, elephants are indicative of royal authority. Here, their presence performing the abhisekha may be interpreted as bestowing the qualities of fertility and royal authority on Lakshmi herself, the source of these very qualities. The feature of the elephants being supported by the Goddess as they stand on the lotuses held in her upper hands is not seen in Gajalakshmi images from other regions and is unique to Odisha.

Orissa, 19th Century
Bronze
Height: 5.5 in (14 cm)
Width: 4 in (10 cm)
Depth: 3.25 in (8 cm)

NON-EXPORTABLE

A folk bronze image of Gajalakshmi. The goddess of wealth and plenitude is seated on an hourglass-shaped pedestal in what appears to be lalitasna. She is four-armed and holds a spherical object in her lower right hand and a conch in her lower left hand. She holds two elephants in her upper hands, as the elephants bathe her. Her exaggerated bodily proportions are represented by a rather large face, prominent breasts, and a very thin waist. She wears a three-leaf crown, necklace, earrings, armbands, bangles, a wide girdle, and anklets.

The elephants are said to have two meanings attached to them. Firstly, they are equated to clouds by poets and are said to shower the earth with rain wherever they go and make the land fertile.

The flanking, showering elephants emphasize Lakshmi’s association with the fertility of crops, and the grains are regarded as a form of Dhanya-Lakshmi. Secondly, elephants are indicative of royal authority. Here, their presence performing the abhisekha may be interpreted as bestowing the qualities of fertility and royal authority on Lakshmi herself, the source of these very qualities. The feature of the elephants being supported by the Goddess as they stand on the lotuses held in her upper hands is not seen in Gajalakshmi images from other regions and is unique to Odisha.