CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

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

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

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

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

Subject: Center portion, Vishnu and Lakshmi Enthroned

Subject: Vishnu and Lakshmi Enthroned

Subject: King to left, Legend not clear (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, Vikramadityah on right (REV)

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: 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: King to left, Legend not clear (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, Vikramaditya on right (REV)

Subject: King facing left, Deva Sri Maharaja (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, Blurred on right (REV)

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

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

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: Kalyanasundara: 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.

Subject: King facing left, circular legend faded (OBV), Lakshmi on lotus, left symbol indistinct (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. 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: 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. Back view of the object.

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