CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Kalyanasundara Shiva, Vishnu detail. Kalyanasundara or The Wedding of the Charming One depicts the marriage of Shiva and Uma Parvati. The theme of divine wedding has a very special significance in Tamil Nadu. As Minakshi (Fish-Eyed), Uma is the patron goddess of Madurai, the capital city of the Pandyas and married to Shiva. Shiva also has a different name in Madurai-Sundara, or the Handsome One. This is re-enacted there and at other temples each year as part of the annual Panguni Uttiram temple festival, performed with processional icons of the couple. The god Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi are often pictured as giving away Parvati to Shiva. This image shows detail of Vishnu.

Subject: To left, King standing facing right, wearing waist cloth and jewelry, holding bow in left hand and arrow in right hand. In center, a Garuda-dhvaja; to the left, Lakshmi standing facing left, holding lotus and degenerate diadem [Gold Dinar, Obverse]

Subject: King to left, Moharayada-Chandragupta (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, Vikramadityah on right (REV)

Subject: King to left, Candra under left arm (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, Sri Vikrama on right (REV)

Subject: King to left, Khitim... kramadityah (OBV), Lakshmi on left, Vikramaditya on right (REV)

Subject: Vishnu Triad (Vishnu, Lakshmi and Saraswati); Manjuvara Vadiraj

Subject: Lakshmi on Elephant. A figure of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi on an elephant who represents wealth and good fortune and is consort of Lord Vishnu, made in cow dung. Cow dung, over centuries, has been used for making toys and figurines as an inexpensive alternative to wooden and metal figures. A lump of mixture of clay and cow dung is shaped and smoothened with a coat of chalk and then painted. These lightweight figures are generally coarse in design and lack detailing and ornamentation. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Lakshmi. A figure of the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi who represents wealth and good fortune and is consort of Lord Vishnu, made in cow dung. Front view of the object. Cow dung, over centuries, has been used for making toys and figurines as an inexpensive alternative to wooden and metal figures. A lump of mixture of clay and cow dung is shaped and smoothened with a coat of chalk and then painted. These lightweight figures are generally coarse in design and lack detailing and ornamentation. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Padma (Lotus). A lotus flower made of paddy that is a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi. Paddy craft uses un-husked rice or paddy which is strung together using cotton thread to create chains, idols of deities, animal figures, garlands and floral arrangements and other votives. Paddy is a symbol of prosperity, so images of Lakshmi are particularly popular when created with paddy.

Subject: Lakshmi incorporates the iconography of Kushan Ardoxsho, a goddess of apparent Iranian origin. The scepter-like object between Lakshmi and the legend is probably the rudimentary vestige of the back of Ardoxsho's throne.; Lakshmi seated on wicker chair, holding diadems and cornucopias [Gold Dinar, Lyrist type, Reverse]

Subject: Sana Mana (Pot). Paddy craft uses un-husked rice or paddy which is strung together using cotton thread to create chains, idols of deities, animal figures, garlands and floral arrangements and other votives. Paddy is a symbol of prosperity, so images of Lakshmi and utilities for Manabasa Gurubar puja are particularly popular when created with paddy. A mana is a pot made of bamboo canes used in the olden days for measuring paddy or pulses and cereals. A mana is also filled with freshly harvested paddy grains and worshipped as an icon of Goddess Lakshmi.

Subject: Lakshmi-Narayana: The word Narayana is an epithet of Vishnu having several meanings ('abode of man', 'moving on the waters', etc). Vishnu sits on a tiered base with Lakshmi seated on his left knee. He holds a chakra in his upper right hand and an openwork shankha (conch shell) in his upper left hand. His lower left hand encircles the goddess's waist and the right hand now broken, was probably lifted in the abhaya mudra (gesture of fearlessness).

Subject: King facing left, circular legend faded (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, left symbol indistinct (REV)

Subject: King facing left, Sri Maharajadhira (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, On right: Sri Vikrama (REV)

Subject: Kalyanasundara Shiva, Lakshmi detail: This is a detail of Lakshmi from the image of Kalyanasundara or The Wedding of the Charming One that depicts the marriage of Shiva and Uma Parvati. The theme of divine wedding has a very special significance in Tamil Nadu. As Minakshi (Fish-Eyed), Uma is the patron goddess of Madurai, the capital city of the Pandyas and married to Shiva. Shiva also has a different name in Madurai-Sundara, or the Handsome One. This is re-enacted there and at other temples each year as part of the annual Panguni Uttiram temple festival, performed with processional icons of the couple. 

Subject: Kalyanasundara Shiva, Lakshmi detail: This is a detail of Lakshmi from the image of Kalyanasundara or The Wedding of the Charming One that depicts the marriage of Shiva and Uma Parvati. The theme of divine wedding has a very special significance in Tamil Nadu. As Minakshi (Fish-Eyed), Uma is the patron goddess of Madurai, the capital city of the Pandyas and married to Shiva. Shiva also has a different name in Madurai-Sundara, or the Handsome One. This is re-enacted there and at other temples each year as part of the annual Panguni Uttiram temple festival, performed with processional icons of the couple. 

Subject: King facing right, Candra on left (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, Sri Vikrama (REV)

Subject: King facing left, Candra on left (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, Sri Vikrama on right (REV)

Subject: Lakshmi. A figure of the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi who represents wealth and good fortune and is consort of Lord Vishnu, made in cow dung. Back view of the object. Cow dung, over centuries, has been used for making toys and figurines as an inexpensive alternative to wooden and metal figures. A lump of mixture of clay and cow dung is shaped and smoothened with a coat of chalk and then painted. These lightweight figures are generally coarse in design and lack detailing and ornamentation. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Vishnu, Lakshmi and Garuda, in Malla Temple, Mandala of Vishnu

Subject: Pitala Kaudi. A set of three of kausi. Kaudi or cowrie shell is of significance in Hinduism as it is used in the worship of Goddess Mahalaxmi and Lord Vishnu. As per Hindu mythology, Kaudi was obtained during the churning of the ocean along with Lakshmi and other holy objects.

Subject: Lakshmi Thakurani. Paddy craft uses un-husked rice or paddy which is strung together using cotton thread to create chains, idols of deities, animal figures, garlands and floral arrangements and other votives. This is an image of Goddess Lakshmi. Paddy is a symbol of prosperity, so images of Lakshmi are particularly popular when created with paddy. A khatuli is a low table, on which newly harvested paddy grains are spread for the Manabasa Gurubar puja for Goddess Lakshmi.

Subject: Pitala Kaudi. A set of three of kausi. Kaudi or cowrie shell is of significance in Hinduism as it is used in the worship of Goddess Mahalaxmi and Lord Vishnu. As per Hindu mythology, Kaudi was obtained during the churning of the ocean along with Lakshmi and other holy objects.

Subject: King facing left, Candra, Sri Candragu.. (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, To right: Sri Vikrama (REV)