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Early 20th Century Pair GajaLakshmi* OIL Lamps 


A pair of finely cast Gaja Lakshmi* Vilakku Brass Metal Oil Lamps from South India.

  • Finely cast
  • the deep circular oil basin with a triangular outcropping
  • Encircled by beaded decoration
  • Supporting an arched backplate depicting a seated Goddess Lakshmi flanked by trumpeting elephants
  • Below a central kirtimukha
  • Approximate Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 3.5 inch

* The iconography of Lakshmi being bathed by elephants is derived from the story of the sea of milk being churned by the gods (devas) and demons (rakshas) to discover all its gifts. In addition to potions of immortality, the churning also produced other heavenly gifts, including a wish-granting horse and the Apsara damsels. Lakshmi also appeared, causing singing and dancing among the celestial beings and elephants to sprinkle her with holy water, thus giving her the second name Gajalakshmi.

This sculptural and usable lamp is of cast brass. The central sculptural element above the oil pan shows the goddess Lakshmi, lotus flowers in two hands, sitting cross legged on a lotus flower. This is a common depiction of Lakshmi in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India’s south.
Her lower two arms have a shower of gold coins
Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is associated with light, hence the association of her image with lamps. The festival of Divali (the ‘festival of light’) is staged across India each year in her honor.
The lamp here is of good size and heavy. It would have served as a focal point in a home pooja