Book Title: Jain Temples of Rajasthan
Author(s): Sehdav Kumar
Publisher: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Art Abhinav Publications

Previous | Next

Page 142
________________ eyed', padma-mālinī - 'adorned with lotus garlands', padma priya 'to whom the lotus is dear'. She has even been called as 'the one who reveals the nature of the lotus'. Laksmi, 'the lotus goddess', is the embodiment of beauty and splendour, of dignity and glory, of good fortune and wealth, of graciousness and prosperity. She is certainly the most popular and venerated deities in India. Her auspicious nature and her reputation as representing Kamană devi, 'the goddess that fulfils all wishes', attracts devotees everywhere. "All of India's back country is the dominion of Lakṣmi, the goddess of the lotus...She accompanies every mile travelled through central India, every visit to a temple... Her likenesses are omnipresent on the walls and pillars, lintels and niches of sanctuaries, regardless of the deity of their specific dedication.""2 In Kalpasūtra, cited above, there is a reference to her appearing to the mother of tirthankara Mahāvīra in an auspicious dream, foretelling her about his birth. In Jain and Hindu art and icons, Lakṣmi (or Śri) appears generally with four hands; she holds lotuses in two hands, and in other two, she has either a kalasa (vase) or a citron, or they are shown in varada or abhayamudra or resting in the lap, with palms crossed, in the posture of meditation. Gaja-Lakṣmi 'Lakṣmi with the elephants showering her with rain' has its association with Indra riding an elephant and bringing down the rain to fertilise the earth. - The goddess Laksmi is also depicted in a similar form among the dream symbols in the centre of the door lintels of temples and domestic shrines. In a bay ceiling in south portico adjoining the rangamaṇḍapa in the Vimalavasahi temple, the four-armed goddess Gaja-Lakṣmi is seated in padmasana on a pedestal supported by stemmed lotus and water vases. She holds lotus plants with elephants in the upper hands; her lower hands are in dhyanamudra. On top of the panel are two hovering vidyadharas bearing garlands. On the gateways at Sañchi, Laksmi is depicted at several places. At one place she is shown standing on a full-blossomed lotus with folded hands, while two elephants, standing on the lotuses springing from the same spray, shower water over her from upturned jars held in their trunks. On the middle section of the front architrave of the southern gateway at Sanchi, 1st century B.C., Lakṣmi stands on a fully blossomed lotus in her right hand, being anointed by two Parávanatha temple, elephants, standing on two lotuses. On page 125 Dancers and musicians, the Ranakpur. 124

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225