“Padmini” or “Padmavati”- the lotus lady, is one of the many names used for the great mother goddess Lakshmi, to highlight her eternally youthful and divinely pure persona in Hinduism. Inspired by the immeasurable opulence of Devi Lakshmi, this Tanjore painting presents her in the most mesmerizing form.
The goddess is housed inside a four pillared hall of a royal palace with all its architectural elements profusely layered with gold. The golden arch of the palace of Devi Lakshmi is adorned with floral and vegetal patterns and tiny cut glass pieces in red and green colors.
The background for this Devi Lakshmi Tanjore painting is a deep red, a shade that is traditionally used in the backdrop of Tanjore art. The central image- Devi Lakshmi, sits on a golden royal throne that is decorated with lines of lotus petals and foliage, interspersed with glass pieces. A small pink lotus serves as the footrest for the goddess who sits in Lalitasana (the beautiful posture) or the posture of royal ease.
A high raising Kiritamukuta is placed on her head and various ornate ethnic ornaments adorn her divine presence in this Tanjore painting of goddess Lakshmi. A pair of stylized Makara-kundala (Makara- a mythical animal that represents royalty) with lotus embellishments frame the enchanting countenance of Devi Lakshmi, which is slightly elongated and beautified with a traditional South Indian Bindi (auspicious mark on the forehead) and nose ornaments.
The four-armed mother goddess carries two blossomed lotuses in her hands, a Purnaghata (a symbol of abundance), and has her primary right hand raised in the “Abhaya Mudra” or the gesture of fearlessness. Unlike most representations of the Devi where she has her hair tied in a bun, in this Tanjore painting Maa Lakshmi has her hair open, falling splendidly on her back. The sari covered in flowing foliage marked with layers of gold over a red-tinged background perfectly fits the goddess and her popularity as the bestower of luxuries.
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