Antique
Hindu Carving Lakshmi The
Vedic Goddess of Wealth Origin:
India. Circa: 18th - 19th Century H. 6.5 in. (16.5 cm), W. 2 in. (5cm) Condition:
very good! Private Collection This
hundred plus years old carving of the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi is lifelike and radiate
with spiritual energy. A find example of Indian ivory carving. It is a meticulously
carved art piece in great detail. The aged ivory has a wonderful gold tone which
graces the goddess. There is a small chip to her left wrist and other expected
tiny hairlines naturally occurred in antique ivory. Lakshmi,
the power and consort of Vishnu. Like Kuan Yin in the Buddhist Faith, she is the
goddess of multiciplicity, wealth and fortune, power and beauty in Hinduism. All
of her blessings are necessary for good-living; which makes her the most worshipped
femine diety in the Hindu faith. Lakshmi Pooja is performed differently in the
different parts of India. In the North of India, Lakshmi is worshipped on the
occasion of Divali while in the South of India, she is worshipped on Vara Maha
Lakshmi Vratham day, the first Friday of the month of Shravan. | | | | The
descriptions of Sri or Lakshmi are very similar in Indian literture. Some scholars
believe that Sri was a pre-vedic deity connected with fertility, water and agriculture.
She was later fused with Lakshmi, the vedic goddess of beauty. According to the
Puranas, Lakshmi was incarnated as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and his wife
Khyati. She was later born out of Ksheer Sagar while being churned. Hence, her
appellation, Ksheera Samudra Raja Tanaya. As consort of Vishnu, she is born as
his spouse whenever he incarnates. When Vishnu appeared as Vamana, Parasurama,
Rama, Krishna, she appeared as Padma or Kamala, Dharani, Sita and Rukmini. She
is as inseparable from Vishnu as speech from meaning or knowledge from intellect,
or good deeds from righteousness. Vishnu
represents all that is male and Lakshmi, all that is female. Lakshmi is enchantingly
beautiful, and is standing on a lotus and adorned with a lotus garland. Often,
elephants are shown on each side, emptying pitchers of water over her, the pitchers
being presented by celestial maidens. She is variously described as dark, pink,
golden, yellow or white. If Lakshmi is pictured as dark in complexion, it is to
show that she is the consort of Vishnu, the dark god. If golden yellow, that shows
her as the source fo all wealth. If white, she represents the purest form of prakriti
(nature) from which the universe developed. As she is the mother of all, the pinkish
complexion reflects her compassion for creatures. Lakshmi
Pooja is performed differently in the different parts of India. In the North of
India, Lakshmi is worshipped on the occasion of Divali while in the South of India,
she is worshipped on Vara Maha Lakshmi Vratham day, the first Friday of the month
of Shravan.
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