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Lakshmi is described by Visnudharmottara Chapter 82 as the mother of the whole world and the wife of Lord Visnu. Lakshmi is a popular symbol of beauty and prosperity. She is the daughter of the ocean, depicted every whereas a beautiful woman standing in a lotus pond and bathed with heavenly waters by two or four elephants, holding inverted jars in their trunks. The worship of Lakami as the goddess of prosperity became invariably popular. She, the goddess 'par excellence' is depicted on the reverse of the gold coins of the Guptas. According to the Vianudharmottara, she is matchless in beauty (hupenapratima bhuvi). When depicted with Hari (Visnu) she has two hands, carries lotus in her hand and is adorned with all sorts of ornaments. "If depicted separately she should have four hands and seated on a beautiful Simhasana, on which a lotus with beautiful pericarp and eight petals should be made. On this she sits like Vinayaka. Her right hand should hold a lotus with a big stalk and her left hand, a charming nectar pot. The other two hands should carry a Hilva and a conch. Behind her back there should be a pair of elephants bending down the pots as if in the act of pouring." Such a figure of Gaja-Laksmi is known in the art of

- 223 Bharhut, Sanchi, Bodhagaya and Udayagiri. At Mathura this ancient typical figure of Lakshmi is depicted as standing or seated on lotus. The worship of such an image was spread far and wide. It is still very popular among the Hindus. In many medieval temples this motif was often described over the doorway of the main structure. Kailasa temple at Ellora depicts one such elaborate figure. Another beautiful figure of the medieval period is to be found at Kitching in which the goddess is shown seated gracefully on a Visvapadma; there are usual elephants bathing her with upturned jars; her right hand is in the Varada pose and the left hand holding a full blossomed 51 lotus. The Agni Purana in Chapter 49 depicts Lakshmi in the left arm of the divine Boar, the third incarnation of Lord Visnu and she is represented as resting on his elbow. In verse 18 of the same Chapter goddess Laksmi is represented as sitting at his feet. She is also represented as standing on the left side with her own emblem of a lotus flower. In the Sankaraka Manifestation of Hari, goddess Laksmi is shown pressing a leg of the god. The Visnudharmottara also depicts her with the god Padmanabha sleeping on sea with one of the legs of the god placed on the lap of Laksmi. The Agni Purana mentions in Chapter 45 that the images of Lakshmi and other goddesses shall measure eight talas in length.