This ‘panchaloha’ bronze image, executed in the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ lost wax technique, uniquely captures the beauty and grace of the ornate principal goddess of the Tridevi of Hinduism – Lakshmi. Specifically, this manifestation of Lakshmi is of one of her most significant ‘ashtalaxmi’ aspect, that of the Gajalaksmi – meaning Lakshmi with elephants. We can identify this aspect of the Mother Goddess of abundance and love with the icons of two elephants flanking her along the resplendent archway under which Lakshmi sits. As is common of the iconography, the elephants are shown ‘lustrating,’ that is, pouring water from their trunks over the goddess. Such a showering is symbolic of showering prosperity and good luck.
