Antique Lakshmi Oil Lamp, India (9508B PBE)

Description

Hindus use brass or mixed metalwork votive oil lamps (diya) for daily prayer rituals (puja). As light is the absence of darkness where evil forces dwell, lighting a lamp on a home altar signifies purity and goodness to convey good luck and power over evil. They are also used to honor arrival of a guest, mark the passing of a loved one and celebrate important life events. Some diyas honor specific deities with recognizable symbols or images and those depicting Lakshmi (Laxmi,) are called gajalaxmi diya. In this traditional Indian-folk-art diya Lakshmi sits on a lotus throne (padmapitha), with four arms, her upper ones hold lotuses and the lower ones are in the gestures of fearlessness (abhaya) mudra with a hand up in protection and compassion, charity and the other in wish-granting (varada) mudra. The elephants (gaja) are mythical animals whose raised trunks pour water over her symbolizing her ability to provide abundance, prosperity, good luck and fertility. The bowl that holds oil is shaped as a yoni, the female womb, the ultimate symbol of fertility and generative power. She promises devotees material and spiritual attainment and personal charm and is particularly favored during Diwali, the festival of light which celebrates the victory of light over darkness or good over evil and the third and most festive day is dedicated to Lakshmi. There are traces of red powder (kumkum) probably placed under her by a devotee during traditional prayers. Red is the color of the goddess Shakti who personifies divine feminine creative power. This piece is part of the VA  Hindu-Cultural-and-Ritual Art Collection.

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Sources

Sean Anderson, Flames of Devotion: Oil Lamps from South and Southeast Asia and the Himalayas, Los Angeles, UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 2006.

J. Leroy Davidson, The Art of the Indian Subcontinent from Los Angeles Collections, Los Angeles, Regents of the University of California, 1968.

James A. Santucci, A Loan Exhibit at The Library, California State University, Fullerton: April-July, 1986, Fullerton, California State University, 1987.