South Indian Cast Bronze Lakshmi Dipa Lamp

This puja or prayer lamp has been cast in the form of a celestial female attendant, identifiable with Lakshmi, the goddess of light and wealth. It holds a tear or leaf-shaped oil well or wick pan.  The offering of lit lamps to deities is one of the nine essential Brahmanic forms of worship. The pan is quite big relative to the image. This is consistent with the Hindu precept of akhanda jyot – that a lamp offered to a deity should burn without interruption.

Donating lamps to a temple is also considered a sacred act which confers merit on the owner. Usually such a gift will be accompanied by a stipend for the ongoing purchase of ghee or oil to be used to fuel the lamps.

The deity wears a long dhoti with side ribbons. Her hair is pulled back in a sharp manner and falls in a long plait down her back to her waist. She wears prominent conical earrings, anklets, bracelets and multiple necklaces.

The lamp has a superb patina with ample signs of use and wear. It is sculptural, sit evenly, and is usable.