Though slightly deviating from the established form that requires one of the legs laid parallel to the pedestal in ‘yoga-mudra’ – yoga posture, the deity’s right leg is upwards lifted as in ‘utkut-akasana’, the goddess is seated in ‘lalitasana’ with her left leg suspending down and the right, placed on the pedestal in a cross-legged posture.

Sensitively treated discovering not merely the fine details or aesthetic beauty of the image but in her form also the millenniums-old Shri-cult, the statue represents the four-armed goddess Lakshmi: her aggregate, beginning with how the Vedic seers perceived her, all through the Puranic era and ever since, though the basic contention that she bestows abundance, plenty of food, progeny… is the same as the Rig-Veda, the head-source of entire scriptural knowledge, associated with her in its Shri-Shuktas. The subsequent Atharva-Veda personalized the Rig-Vedic abstractionism giving the abstract principle a form, though still keeping to the same line that the Rig-Veda drew. Giver of plenty of food, progeny and abundance this universal mother, as the Atharva-Veda visualized Lakshmi, was large-breasted full of abundant milk and was thus the inexhaustible source of life. The Atharva-Veda condenses Lakshmi’s entire being in her power to feed and nourish and hence her entire physiognomy-anatomy, into her large breasts. Thus, while the Rig-Veda invoked Lakshmi for bestowing riches, prosperity, accomplishment, and sustenance, the Atharva-Veda saw her manifesting supreme beauty, absolute womanhood as also timeless motherhood: the source of endless life.

The goddess, as represented in this statue, has a highly balanced anatomy, perfectly modeled, rare in plasticity and fluidity of lines, and manifests great aesthetic beauty and absolute womanhood. As perceived in the Atharva-Veda for Lakshmi, the mother, and the Indian aesthetic tradition, for over two millenniums, for a youthful maiden, classified in aesthetic texts as ‘nayika’, the figure of the goddess has been conceived with well-swelled breasts elevated to rise across nose-line, the standard set for defining a maiden’s youthfulness and beauty, as well as her ability to feed and sustain, applicable alike to human and divine females. As usual, she has been conceived as four-armed carrying in the upper two a pair of lotuses, her principal attribute, while of the other two, the right is held in ‘abhaya’ – the gesture granting freedom from fear, and the left, in ‘varad’ – granting accomplishment. The palms of these two hands also have carved on them conventionalised lotus motifs, thus symbolically, the lotus goddess, as Lakshmi is sometimes called, has lotuses in all her hands.

The form of the goddess has been conceived with a tall slender figure, fine fingers, broad shoulders, well-swelled breasts, a recessed belly and a waist voluminous but well aligned to the belly and balanced with breasts’ volume and dimensions. Characteristic to South Indian iconography, the goddess has been conceived with an angular face, sharply pointed nose, cute small lips, meditative eyes, well-fed cheeks, pointed chin, a broad forehead largely covered under hair’s forepart and a small but well-defined neck.

Unveiling the Divine: Exploring the Symbolism and Significance of Lakshmi

Lakshmi Devi is one of the principal Goddesses in Hinduism. In the Vaishnava tradition, especially the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, Vishnu and Lakshmi are considered the Supreme or Absolute Truth. Mother Lakshmi is known as the Goddess of fortune who blesses the living entities in the material world with material wealth and prosperity. Our Vedic scriptures mention that Lakshmi Ji is the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He maintains and controls everything in the material and spiritual world. Goddess Lakshmi is also His internal potency and is thus always engaged in the loving devotional service of the Lord in His spiritual abode Vaikuntha, a place where there is no misery.

The transcendental form of Mother Lakshmi is extremely beautiful. She is the emblem of beauty and mercy. She sees every individual soul as her own child and whoever approaches her with faith and devotion, certainly gets the mercy of Lakshmi Devi. She is often depicted wearing a red saree and holding different items in her four arms. She holds a lotus flower in each of her two upper arms. With one of her lower hands, she holds a pot full of gold coins (representing wealth) while the other hand stays in a mudra that signifies charity.

Can we keep a Lakshmi statue at home?

As stated earlier, Lakshmi Ji bestows good fortune upon her devotees and takes care of them. She is full of compassion and therefore accepts anyone who comes to her even with ulterior motives. However, she not only gives material wealth to her devotees but those who approach her to know the real goal of human life or to know about the Absolute Truth, she blesses them with spiritual wealth (wisdom and mercy) by which they can come to a higher platform and consciousness. Thus, it is only by the mercy of Goddess Lakshmi that a living entity starts its spiritual journey toward Lord Vishnu.

If you want to attract this special mercy, you can keep the deity of Goddess Lakshmi at your home and worship her every day with an attitude of surrender. By doing so, you will develop a personal relationship with her and you will be able to experience transcendental happiness.

Which Lakshmi idol is good for home?

Lakshmi Devi expands herself into eight major forms (Ashta Lakshmi) that are Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Sanatana Lakshmi, Dhairya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi, and Aishwarya Lakshmi. You can keep any of the forms of Lakshmi in your home to bring material and spiritual auspiciousness. However, if you want her ultimate mercy, you may keep the deity of Goddess Lakshmi along with her master, Lord Vishnu.

Which material is good for Lakshmi idol?

The idol or deity of Goddess Lakshmi comes in various materials such as brass, wood, marble, copper, bronze, etc. If you are planning to keep a deity of Lakshmi Devi at your home, the best material would be either brass or marble. Brass is known for its exquisite appearance resembling gold and is also a strong material. Marble is preferred by most people because it lasts longer than any other material.