Lakshmi is described as bestowing coins of prosperity and flanked by elephants signifying her royal power. However, in some texts, she has an owl as her vahana. Her expression is always calm and loving. The lotus also symbolizes the fertile growth of organic life, as the world is continually reborn on a lotus growing out of Vishnu's navel.
Lakshmi is depicted as a beautiful woman of golden complexion, with four hands, sitting or standing on a full-bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty, purity and fertility.
Her four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma or righteousness, "kama" or desires, "artha" or wealth, and "moksha" or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The front hands represent the activity in the physical world and the back hands indicate the spiritual activities that lead to spiritual perfection.
Cascades of gold coins are seen flowing from her hands, suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth. She always wears gold embroidered red clothes. Red symbolizes activity and the golden lining indicates prosperity.
(source)
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Beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing with us! *HUGS*
ReplyDeleteOh wow she's gorgeous. x
ReplyDeleteShe is stunning!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Natasha! Love the hips...and the flow of her gown!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing piece and great description!
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely goddess, glad you give the background details, too, very interesting! Valerie
ReplyDeleteShe's my fave!! Love the colors you used!!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Goddess!!...is,'t it surprising how many of the Hindu Goddesses have multiple arms? Wonder if they started that way, or if they became manifest as people tried to explain the multifacets of their power? :D XXX
ReplyDeleteOh gorgeous! Another goddess for sure!
ReplyDeleteI think your goddess is beautiful Natasha and a nice story to read.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think, we are goddesses in our own right...I wonder how we would paint ourselves as a goddess! I like comment above - I think she has so many arms cause she is always multitasking!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I think you really captured her grace in this one!
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing Goddess from you! Fantastic! Can you believe, this challenge is almost over? Take Care ;o)
ReplyDeleteOh she is gorgeous natasha!!! I really love how you manage to draw such delicate hands!!!! Beautiful work!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW!Beautiful and simple rendition Natasha! Usually we see her in all her power and wealth and immensely ornate which I do love very much. Here, I see a lovely, elegant and simplistic aspect of Goddess Lakshmi. We do pray her for all life's spiritual and material prosperity :)
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