The ‘Gajalakshmi’ sculpture is represented as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Surrounded by elephants
The sculpture shows a woman surrounded by lotuses and elephants, which seem to sprinkle water on her as in a consecration; some historians identify her with Gajalakshmi, the goddess of good fortune associated with elephants.
NCERT (2026-27): “9.3 Popular traditions … Another motif is that of a woman surrounded by lotuses and elephants (Fig. 4.19), which seem to be sprinkling water on her as if performing an abhisheka or consecration. While some historians identify the figure as Maya, the mother of the Buddha, others identify her with a popular goddess, Gajalakshmi – literally, the goddess of good fortune – who is associated with elephants. It is also possible that devotees who saw these sculptures identified the figure with both Maya and Gajalakshmi.…”
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