Indrakshi Image

[Guest guest]

Hi Len:

 

You wrote: *** What a lovely painting! Where did you download it

from, DB? ***

 

Actually, it's a scan of an original that hangs on my office wall at

home. Well, I probably shouldn't say original -- as you see, it's an

actual, finely executed painting (which I purchased thru the Exotic

India website); and not a print. But it's a modern copy of one of

the 16 surviving works of the spectacular "Tantric Devi" series,

painted at Basohli in the Punjab Hills, during the 17th century.

 

*** Also, I find it ironic that Indrakshi/Aindri is portrayed

holding Saraswati's vina, Vishnu's conch, Shiva's trident and damaru

drum, Lakshmi's lotus, but NOT Indra's vajra (lightning weapon). ***

 

In context, it makes sense though. Here, Indrakshi is presented s

Mahadevi -- with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva performing pooja at Her

feet, holding none of their characteristic weapons. As the Power who

animates each of these deities, it is She who holds their weapons.

It's also important to distingush that She is *not* Indrani, i.e.

Indra's consort. She is specifically Indrakshi; that is, "Indra's

eyes" -- His ability to see all. The iconography of the painting

having established Her superiority over the traditional Hindu

Trinity of gods, I guess including the vajra may have struck the

artist as a kind of overkill that might also visually muddle Her

identity.

 

All of that is just a guess, tho. The truth may be considerably

simpler: As our beloved Sri Bhasurananda loves to point out,

religious painters are -- like all creative types -- prone to emplot

artistic license as they please, which sometimes makes even popular

images unreliable from the standpoint of authentic dhyana. For

example, I think it was Kochu who once mentioned to me that many

popular images of Lakshmi mix up her hand gestures, showing gold

coins flowing from the abhaya (assurance) mudra, while nothing flows

from the varada (giving) mudra! Maybe he'll clarify?

 

*** And what the heck is the item in her lowermost right hand? ***

 

I really don't know! :-p I had always assumed it was a mala, or mala

pouch; but looking closely now, I am not at all sure. *lol*