Rare Gajalakshmi sculpture discovered in Goa’s Valvanti river

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Oct 24, 2025: A rare Gajalakshmi sculpture was accidentally discovered in the Valvanti River near Parje, Goa, and is of significant historical importance, according to Prof. T. Murugeshi, archaeologist and founder-director of the Udupi Adima Kala Trust.

The sculpture depicts Gajalakshmi seated on a high lotus pedestal with her hands in the abhaya (protection) and varada (blessing) mudras. She holds a lotus bud in her rear left and right hands, and wears makara-shaped earrings. The deity’s face, adorned with an attractive karanda-mukuta crown, exudes divine grace.

Behind the deity is a gandaberunda latakosthaka, with an ovoid halo and a lion motif at the center of the forehead. Gajalakshmi is adorned with a necklace, waist belt, and armlets, and two elephants on either side hold sacred kalashas. The sculpture measures approximately 50 cm in height and 61 cm in width and is considered a fine example of the 10th-century Kadamba sculptural style of Goa.

Historical Significance: Several Gajalakshmi sculptures can be seen in Goa in temple exteriors and sacred groves, often accompanied by battle scenes in a primitive style. However, this newly studied sculpture represents a refined tradition, with the gandaberunda motif clearly indicating its Vaishnavite heritage in Goa. The gandaberunda symbol is also the emblem of the Kadambas, Vijayanagara rulers, Mysore Wodeyars, and the present-day Karnataka government.

Prof. Murugeshi noted that the sculpture was safeguarded by Dr. Rajendra Kerkar of Goa, president of the Udupi Adima Kala Trust, and expressed gratitude for its preservation.