Goddess Lakshmi is the annihilator of darkness, poverty, and inauspiciousness, who with her loving and generous presence transforms the life of her devotee. Where Lakshmi resides, all residents and events become virtuous and pious and that place becomes a Mandir (temple). This exquisite brass goddess Lakshmi statue depicts the mother goddess as seated on an inverted lotus platform which is decorated with multiple etched lines. Maa Lakshmi is in her divine four-armed form, holding lotuses and gesturing her devotees to have faith (Abhaya mudra) for she is here to nurture them (Varada mudra), with her primary right and left hands respectively. The goddess is adorned with fine ornaments and draperies whose intricacies are included in this brass Devi Lakshmi statue with skilled sculpting. Near the goddess’s feet that dangle gracefully sits an owl, her companion, and vahana, which is rarely included in popular icons but eternally associated with her. The reasons for the owl’s association with the goddess Lakshmi are manifold. Some argue that the owl is an intelligent creature and can foretell death or misfortune. According to other religious beliefs, the owl is the embodiment of Alakshmi or Jyeshtha, the elder sister of Lakshmi who is the goddess of misfortune. The rationale behind her inclusion in the Lakshmi images is that one must always be aware of the possibility of ill luck to avoid it. All the legends and beliefs converge on one point, that the owl is a bearer of bad luck, and goddess Lakshmi has the potential to keep a check on it.
