Gajalakshmi

Gajalakshmi, that is Lakshmi with elephants, is one of the most significant Ashtalakshmi aspects of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. In this aspect, the goddess is depicted seated on a lotus, flanked on both side by an elephant (gaja). She is shown as seated in Padmasana yogic posture, and has four arms. In each of her upper pair of arms, she carries a lotus, and the lower hands are generally shown in abhya and varadamudra. The elephants flanking her are shown as pouring water from their trunk over the goddess. This aspect like most other aspects of Lakshmi is representative of prosperity, good luck, and abundance; and the Gajalakshmi motifs are very common in Hindu and Buddhist iconography.

Gajalaxmi medallion from Bharhut stupa railing pillar, sand stone, 2nd Century BCE, Indian Museum, Kolkata.

The earliest available depiction of Gajalakshmi appears on a coin (3rd century) from Kausambi. One or two elephants depicted alongside a woman symbolized the birth of Gautam Buddha.

Gajalakshmi is worshiped in many places in Goa as a fertility goddess,mostly under the names Gajantlakshmi,Gajalakshmi,Kelbai or Bhauka devi.^[1]

Citations

↑ "Gajalaxhmi: The goddess of Rain" (Buzz). Navhind times. August 7, 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2016.

References

Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola

Hindu deities and texts

Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Rama Krishna Shiva Ganesha Kartikeya Hanuman Indra Surya more

Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Adi Parashakti Sati Durga Shakti Kali Sita Radha Mahavidya Navadurga Matrikas more

Texts	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more

Hinduism Hindu mythology

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