Taking inspiration from the Master Artist Ravi Varma’s paintings whose talent is unmatchable, I tried to create my own version of it in a Tanjore Painting. An interesting fusion I would say, this 15 x 12 inch painting is gemset and gilded with 18 ct gold leaf.
The images that we deduce and worship as per our vedic texts have very beautiful significance if you delve deep and try to understand.
So, if you understand Lakshmi in this particular depiction, she is standing on a lotus which is actually floating on the surface of mucky water. With Her hand in the Varada and Abhaya Mudra which can also be understood as a position to maintain balance and stay afloat, untouched by the filth of samsaara.
Another comprehension(as told to me by mt dear Venkatajja) is one where the hands of Lakshmi generally explains how one should be very careful in handling Her. i.e: maintaining a balance in your income and expenses, And it is only if you have such sort of a respectable living, will the people around you acknowledge you; just like how the elephant is moving towards the Goddess with a garland.
So She explains and sets by example that a successful or happy person is one who is independent, knows to maintain that balance and has absolutely no worries or stress and lives a decent living without begging, borrowing or stealing.
For a closer look at the painting, you can have a look at the reel below:
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