Four Elephants Pouring Water on Gaja Lakshmi (Opening Page of Manuscript)

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Four Elephants Pouring Water on Gaja Lakshmi (Opening Page of Manuscript)

Artist Unknown

Culture Indian

Title Four Elephants Pouring Water on Gaja Lakshmi (Opening Page of Manuscript)

Date 1790–1800

Medium Opaque water color on paper

Dimensions Overall: 5 3/4 x 8 1/2 in. (14.6 x 21.6 cm)

Credit Line Gift of Mr. George Bickford in Honor of Herman B Wells, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 76.149.1

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About this Work

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of material and spiritual good fortune. She is always depicted wearing a red garment with gold embroidery, denoting activity and prosperity. Her four arms represent the four aims of life—righteousness, desire, wealth, and freedom from the endless cycle of rebirth. The attendant elephants symbolize ceaseless effort, informed by wisdom, leading to prosperity.

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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Four Elephants Pouring Water on Gaja Lakshmi (Opening Page of Manuscript) | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=76.149.1