Gaja Lakshmi, Vishnu’s wife and the goddess of wealth
Gaja Lakshmi
The image shows the west-facing pediment of the east gopura situated on the periphery of the middle enclosure of the Banteay Srei Temple located 16 miles northeast of Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The bas-relief depicts Gaja Lakshmi – one of the eight avatars of Lakshmi – seated on a lotus flower flanked by two gajas (elephants in Sanskrit) performing abhisheka (showering with water and food) and riding Uluka the Owl. Uluka (owl in Sanskrit) is often associated with Lakshmi, but not always as her vahana (vehicle).
Lakshmi is Vishnu’s wife and the goddess of wealth in Hindu mythology. She is known as Ashtalakshmi because of her eight avatars (manifestations), each of which symbolizes an aspect of wealth. The Gaja Lakshmi avatar symbolizes wealth through strength.
According to a legend, Gaja Lakshmi was a by-product of the Samudra Manthana (Churning of the Ocean of Milk).
Note: Angkor Wat has a bas-relief depicting the story of the Samudra Manthana carved on the eastern gallery located at the lower level of the temple.
Related Pages
– Banteay Srei, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Phnom Kulen, Tonlé Sap, Cambodia
– Bali, Prambanan, Prambanan Bas-Reliefs, Borobudur, Indonesia
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