Radha-Krishna with Gopi: Bengal Pattachitra by Manoranjan Chitrakar

In the artwork, artist Manoranjan Chitrakar depicts Goddess Lakshmi seated on an owl. Goddess Lakshmi is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism and is considered the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Her presence signifies the aspiration for material and spiritual abundance. The owl, in the context of Goddess Lakshmi, represents wisdom and the ability to see through the darkness or ignorance. It symbolizes the idea that wealth should be accompanied by wisdom, knowledge, and the ability to discriminate between right and wrong. The owl’s nocturnal nature suggests the idea of prosperity that is not limited by time or space. This representation of Goddess Lakshmi on an owl is culturally significant in Bengal, where the fusion of artistic expression and symbolism conveys a unique message about the interplay of material and spiritual aspects of life. It reflects the cultural values of wisdom, knowledge, and a holistic approach to prosperity.