Mahalakshmi - Kerala Mural Archive

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P014 — Lakshmi: full panel view

Detail Photos

Deity: Lakshmi Location: Kadavil Thrikkovil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple Theme: Non-narrative Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Yellow-skinned goddess Lakshmi with four arms. Her upper right hand holds the chakra. Her upper left hand holds the shankha or conch. She is wearing a crown on her forehead and ornate jewelry. Her legs seems to be folded in padmasana. She is sitting on top of a red lotus flower. There is a decorative arch around her that is green in color. She is being revered by a white-skinned bearded, mustached sage, wearing rudraksha strings around his wrists and neck. His hands are held up in Anjali mudra.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Lakshmi
Secondary Figures: Sage
Iconographic Form: Mahalakshmi
Iconographic Attributes: Though unclear, this might be the image of Mahalakshmi. She is golden-skinned with four arms, holding up the chakra, shankha in her two upper arms. She is seated on top of a lotus flower Her lower arms are damaged. She is wearing a green lower garment, or dhoti. She has long black hair decorated with flowers and an ornate crown. She is being worshipped by a white-skinned sage standing to her left.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 14
Adjacent Panels: Vamanan and Venugopala

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Mahalakshmi is considered as the goddess of wealth and power. She is considered as the consort of Vishnu and is believed to have been born when the Palari Ocean was churned by asuras and devas in search of the amrit or nectar.
Episode: Non-narrative

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Poor
Deterioration Type: Plaster loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple priest
Date of Documentation: 10/05/2025
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: KTK_P014
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.