Dimensions: Height 8,5 cm Wide 7,5 cm Depth 2,5 cm

Weight: 244 grams

Carved from dark stone, this compact relief depicts Gajalakshmi, the goddess of fortune and prosperity, enthroned in lalitāsana beneath an architectural frame. She holds lotus blossoms in her hands, while richly adorned with a beaded necklace, armlets, and a tall crown. At either side, elephants rise up, flanking her and anointing her with sacred water from their upraised trunks — a defining feature of the Gajalakshmi iconography.

Despite its small scale, the sculpture is finely detailed, with sharp facial features, almond-shaped eyes, and robust yet elegant modeling typical of the Kashmiri school of the 10th century. The back is carved with supporting architectural motifs and stylized animals, enhancing the sacred presence of the goddess within the composition.

Such portable stone shrines were intended for personal devotion or for placement in small sanctuaries, embodying Lakshmi’s auspicious power as bringer of abundance and well-being. The Kashmir region produced a distinctive corpus of goddess imagery during this period, blending Gupta-influenced elegance with local stylistic vigor, as seen here in the compact proportions and intricate jewelry.