and the crescent. The former, who is logos (Sabda-Brahma)
incarnate, is identical with the illustration from Bagali given above- SarasvatI, when represented as the goddess Sarada (the form in which she is worshipped at Sringeri-matha, in Mysore) presiding over the sixty-four sciences (chatushsh- ashtikala), has five faces and ten arms. The worship of SarasvatI generally held on the ninth day of the Dasara is conducted by invoking her presence in a library of books and offering fruits, flowers, sandal and incense.
IV
The two consorts of Vishnu are Lakshml (Wealth) and LAKSHMI 01 PrithvT (Earth). The former is seated or standing on a red p* 1 an(1 . lotus pedestal, has four hands, holds two lotus flowers in MAHJ. her upper arms, the other two hands being either in the boon-giving and protecting postures or holding a vessel and a fruit. She is said to have sprung from the ocean at the time of its being churned for nectar. The latter, PrithvT, 1 has only two hands of which the right is raised in the abhaya posture and the left holds the fruit of the pomegranate. Her left leg is represented also as stepping upon a pot of treasures. When Lakshml accompanies Vishnu she has only two hands. Eight forms of Lakshml, known as Ashta-Mahalakshml, are recognized. Of these, Gaja-Lakshmi is the most popular. GAJA- She is generally found figured on the lintels of door-frames, LAKSH *. has four arms and is seated in the same posture as Vinayaka, on a full-blown lotus of eight petals. In her right hand she holds a lotus flower with a long stem which reaches her shoulder ring and in her left a pot of nectar. The two other hands of the goddess hold the bilva-ir. and the conch. Behind her are represented two elephants pouring water from two pots held by their trunks over the head of the goddess. The Manasara describes the same goddess with two hands as Samanya-Lakshml and says that she is figured SAMANVA- on door-ways- In the Silpasdra this goddess is called the two- iJ^? Ml ' handed Indra-Lakshml. A fine representation of Samanya- LAKSHMI. Lakshml comes from Mahabalipuram (fig. Il8). 2 The central figure of the group is seated on a pedestal of lotus flower, whose open petals are seen hanging down and decorating with their edges the rim of another lotus pedestal at the
1 Manasara describing her under the name Mahl says, that she is figured standing or seated to the left of Vishnu with a blue lotus in her right hand, the left hand hanging down or showing the varada posture.
2 MayurabhaHJa, Introduction, p. Ixvi.