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ICONOGRAPHY OF THE HINDUS, BUDDHISTS AND JAINS
either Sri or Lakshmi. In the former form she appears more frequently. Independent sculptures of Lakshmi are rare. Lakshmi is the senior wife of Vishnu. It is difficult to understand why sculptures of Lakshmi and Sri should be differently portrayed though they are one.
The texts refer to her as Durga, Candi, Mahisha- mardini, Mahishasuramardini, Katyayani, ctc. If she is eight-handed, she holds in them javelin. sword, arrow, wheel, noose, shield, bow and conch. If she has four hands, two carry a wheel and a conch, while two are in the protec- tion and boon-giving attitudes or one of the four hands may exhibit the kataka mudra instead of the boon-giving mudra.
If she is ten-handed, she holds in them: spear (sakti), arrow, javelin, sword, whcelmoon (chandrabimba). shield. skull-cup, javelin and wheel.
If she is twenty-handed she holds: spear, mudgara (a kind of club), javelin (süla), thunder- bolt, sword, conch, arrow, goad, javelin, wheel, noose, drum, flag, bow, abhaya and tarjani mudrás, mirror, bell, shield and hair of rakshasa. If she has cighteen hands, she does not carry the javelin or drum or arrow.
5. MAHALAKSHMI
SRI
In her two-handed representations, he holds a srifala and lotus. She is accompanied by two female chauri-bearers (fly-whisk attendants) and two or four elephants carrying ghatas (pitehers).
LAKSHMI
If she is eight-handed, she holds in them: bow, mace, arrow, lotus, wheel, conch. wooden pestle, and goad.
if she is four-handed she holds: wheel, conch, lotus, and macc; or mahālunga (a lemon-like fruit), lotus, lotus and vessel of nectar; or lotus, bilwa fruit (wood-apple), conch and vessel of ambrosia.
If she is two-handed she holds: conch and lotus. Vidyadharas accompany her on two sides as also Rājasri, Svargalakshmi, Brāhmi, Lakshmi and Jayalakshmi.
Mahālakshni is associated both with Vishnu and Siva. In her four hands she holds a mahālunga (a fruit which resembles a lemon), macc, shield and a bowl of Icaves. She may also carry a lotus, dindima (big drum), and have one hand in the protection attitude, or may carry a vase, mace, shield and srifala (coconut).
LAKSHMI WITH VISHNU (Pls. 111-113)
If Lakshmi is two-handed she holds: lotus and srisala or lotuses in both. She sits on the left lap of Vishnu or on the serpent Ananta or on the Eagle.
6. BHŪ
THE SAPTA-MĀTRIKAS (Pls. 114-119)
Bhù never appears alonc in sculptures. When she appears in the company of Vishnu, the latter is always accompanied either by Sri or by Lakshmi. She is the junior consort of Vishnu; his senior consort is either Lakshmi or Sri.
When she is shown to have two hands, she carries in one a lotus, is shown seated or standing and wears a karanda mukuta. When she is shown with four hands, she holds in them a bowl of jewels, a bowl of corn, a bowl of medicine and a lotus.
7. SRI OR LAKSHMI (PI. 110)
The legend of the seven Divine Mothers is interesting. The account is an allegory which is aimed to emphasize a point, to draw a moral. In this world of men, Knowledge and Ignorance continuously battle for dominance. In this story Andhakāsura is the symbol of Ignorance and Siva the symbol of Wisdom. In this struggle, Wisdom ultimately triumphs over the Darkness of Ignorance.
Andhakasura, the grandson of Hiranyakasipu, had become very powerful by obtaining several boons from Brahma. He then began to harass the gods, who sought redress from Siva. In the meanwhile, the king of the demons himself appeared before Mount Kailasa to carry away Parvati, the consort of Siva. A fight ensued. A demon named Nila took the form of an elephant
Sri or Lakshmi is the goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. She appears either alone or with Vishnu. If Vishnu is accompanied by Bhù or Sarasvati, she inevitably keeps him company and is then called Sri. When she appears alone with Vishnu, she is called Lakshmi.
When she appears by herself she may be called
