Two
giant dwarapalas, carved in the best manner of earl), sculpture, welcome the visitor at
the entrance of the Mahalakshmi mandap. These were repaired on occasions, references from
the Maratha period alone indicating that such repairs were needed at least thrice during
some fifty years between 1760 and 1800. The image of the goddess has an extremely pleasant
appearance. It is carved in black stone, is about three feet in height and has four arms.
The typical ayudhas of the devi are as follows. In the lower right hand is the matulinga,
a fruit not unlike the ordinary lemon, but much larger in size. In the upper right hand is
a large mace, kaumodaks, and its head touching the ground. The upper left hand holds the
shield or khetaka, the lower one holding a bowl i.e. panpatra. On the ’crown of the
devi are a cobra-hood and a Shiva-ling with a yoni around it. Standing behind the devi is
her vahana-a lion. The iconographical descriptions of the goddess, going back to the
thirteenth century or even earlier according to some authorities, resemble most of the
lakshanas of the present image. The earliest mention comes from the Vishvakarmashastra as
quoted by Hemadri in his Chaturvargachintamani. It refers specifically to the Karvirvasini
Mahalakshmi.
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