Editor's Picks

Lotus Aureole Devi Lakshmi

The ones truly devoted to Devi Lakshmi are never lacking in prosperity. She is the deity that dispenses wealth where it is most needed, in proportions that are most apt. Her husband, Lord Vishnu, is responsible for the process of preservation (sthiti), to which affluence is indispensable. Hence His wife is the deity responsible for the same - a fine example of divine compatibility.

She is one of the most beauteous of the Hindu devis. Fair and lissome, She is carved out from a piece of indigenous wood, after the sculptural style of ancient South Indian temples. Seated in lalitasana, Her roopa adorned with gold and jewels, the chaturbhujadhari (four-armed) Devi raises Her anterior hands in blessing and the gesture of fearlessness; in Her posterior hands She holds up freshly blooming lotuses. Zoom in on that slender waist, those long limbs, and the sharp features of Her face in order to admire the skill and perfection with which She has been sculpted.

A gigantic pink lotus constitutes Her asana (seat). Around Her is an aureole carved with colourful lotus petals. An ornate, vibrantly hued kirtimukha is to be found at the crown of the composition, right at the mouth of which towers the Devi’s tall and multi-tiered Southern-style crown. The characteristic colour palette of the composition - rich pinks, greens, and oranges - is in keeping with the ethos of Devi Lakshmi.

Ganga Ghat at Varanasi

Ganga Ghats are stone embankments or steps that lead people to the Ganges Riverfront. This site in Varanasi, the most sacred city in Hinduism, has up to 88 ghats or steps visited for various functions such as bathing, puja, and even cremation. As an important religious hub, Varanasi is also known for its various ghats and its appearances in many forms of art throughout history.

This Batik Painting on Cotton depicting Ganga Ghat tastefully depicts the site in its spiritual and aesthetic glory. Like the Goddess it is personified with, the Ganges River is a symbol of life, purity, and power since time immemorial. it is often depicted in art as a serene yet impactful scene, showing how the religious live up to and with the holiness of the river. In this painting, the palette used involves shades of red, purple, and yellow in signature Batik finish renders the image to look like it’s in the evening. But a closer look on the painting shows the Ghat bustling with activities as seen on the people on boats, taking a dip, or simply staying under parasols on the steps, which is a good depiction of the Ganga Ghat and the Ganges being part of the Hindu life no matter the time of day.

Ganga Ghat is often the subject of both religious and societal art in India and beyond. It will always be a focus of many art forms for as long as there is birth, living, and death, the very circle witnessed by the river itself. Exotic India has this painting and hundreds of others curated for anyone who wishes to have a piece of the culture in art. The Gange is perhaps the holiest witness to the life going on beyond its banks, and for as long as people live, it will remain a dear place of worship, life, and farewell for those who believe.

Poppy-Red Paithani Sari with Hand-Woven Peacocks on Pallu

The beauty of the Paithani variety of Indian sarees lies in the weave. The technique having been preserved through generations of weaver-families in the Maharashtrian village of Paithan, it is employed exclusively on pure homegrown silk. What you see on this page is a fine example of the results - a one-of-a-kind number, replete with an appeal that is feminine, regal, and powerful.

The rich vermillion colour is the most statement-making aspect of this saree. It is the colour of prosperity and fecundity, a distinctly bridal hue, which makes it a great one to add to your trousseau for those post-wedding family meetings. Note the miniscule booties of solid gold hue against the foundation colour. The thick gold-woven border goes well with the panel of solid gold layered on the end piece.

Note the hints of pastel blue, purple, and red superimposed on the same. Team this with your favourite pieces from your newest batch of gold jewellery, and you would be set to make a memorable impression.

7" Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi In Brass | Handmade | Made In India

Lord Vishnu is a preserver of the world. It is the energy of Lord Vishnu that regulates and maintains the cosmic order. He incarnates to benefit humanity and to get rid of evil as he is ordained with the responsibility of maintenance and he gets the support from his eternal consort Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and fortune. Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped together so that devotees can seek their blessings for a prosperous and healthy life. Gradually the virtues and attributes of the deities start manifesting in their devotees.

Young Maiden Paints Her Soles

A young maiden sits in the privacy of her chamber. She has had a long day, perhaps spent in the kitchen in order to welcome the evening guests. They would arrive any moment now, and her mother has sent her beautiful daughter to her room in order to do her hair and paint her palms and soles with alta. As such, the freshly applied dye would give off the most vibrant colour against her roseate skin.In parts of India, it is customary for young ladies to don the alta on the occasion of having prospective grooms visiting her with their respective families.

Made from the crushed petals of the hibiscus flowers, the organic dye has a rich red colour and is symbolic of youth and fecundity. There is a particular way of applying it - along the edges, a solid circle at the centre, at the tips of the digits - as could be gleaned from the gesture of the subject.

She has chosen a green bootidar saree for the occasion, teamed with a pink low-cut blouse. Languidly she traces her fingers dipped in alta along her soles, her minimal gold ornaments motioning in accordance with her gently tilting head. A soft lilac cushion lies next to her. Within moments she is going to finish off the alta and, whilst putting her ample tresses in a bun, wait for it to dry.

Porcelain-Rose Prachi Kameez with Floral Printed Skirt and Embroidered Chiffon Dupatta

Deep peach colour, check. A regal flowing silhouette, check. A luscious embroidered dupatta, check. If distinctive and feminine are words you would use to describe your signature look, this traditional lehenga-suit is just the dress for you. The understated, minimalist embroidery makes for an unusual statement. On the solid-coloured kameez are to be found carefully arranged proportions of gold along the collar, the long loose-cut sleeves, and the hemline together with the thinly lined edges.

The lehenga skirt comes in a paler orange colour. It features a diamond pattern in alternating shades and tints of the same colour, superimposed rosebush motifs and vines. It is a voluminous number, one that will sway around you as you walk, turning heads from every direction. A long, luscious dupatta completes the ensemble. Its chiffon make couples well with the silken fabric of the rest of the dress, not to mention the new-age motifs of the embroidery thereon.

Haloed Devi Gajalakshmi, Rich In Shringar

Chaturbhujadhari Devi Gajalakshmi is seated in lalitasana on the back of the majestic elephant (gaja). She is clad in the finest fabrics that befit a devi and is covered head to toe in jewels, the very picture of plenty. Indeed She is the deity that presides over wealth and resources, which are prerequisites to the preservation aspect of the creation-preservation-destruction process. As the wife of Lord Vishnu, the deity that presides over preservation, She is indispensable to Him.

Zoom in on every aspect of the Deviroopa to take in the beauty of Her iconography. From the minute shringar of Her fingers to the layered kamarband that holds Her dhoti in place; from the gorgeous karna-kundalas that flank Her delicate neck to the tall bejewelled crown that towers over Her curly-haired head. Her face is as fresh and expressive as the two pink lotuses She holds up in Her posterior hands, an integral element of Her iconography.

So is the elephant, to the Devi Gajalakshmi. A richly adorned elephant translates to abundance and prosperity, which makes it the ideal companion to Devi Lakshmi. Its soft slate-coloured body bears a world of silks and ornaments, which are a match to His Devi’s shringar. From the large halo that forms an aureole behind Her figure to the temple-carving motifs in the background and border, this composition is a fine example of the kalamkari painting tradition.

Slate-Gray Handloom Sari from Bengal with Jute Weave on Pallu

The rough-hewn fabrics of Bengal make for statement additions to one’s saree wardrobe. Woven from pure homegrown cotton, this one is a fine example of the everyday saree of the region. The colour palette is a bold, almost powerful one. The field is a dense gray colour; and the border, panels of deep black and rich red of varying thickness. In fact, this number seems to capture the devi-worship ethos of the eastern delta region.

The signature jute weave on the endpiece is a kind of fashion homage to the largest produce of the region. Zoom in on the cream-coloured panel, sandwiched by a panel of red interwoven with the foundation grey of the saree. The motis are minimalistic, done in basic unassuming pastels such as red and white. This is a great saree to wear to a pooja or a havana. Team it with some distinctive ethnic jewellery to make the most of its appeal.

Four Armed Standing Lakshmi

Devi Lakshmi is the most widely loved of Hindu devis. As the wife of Lord Vishnu, Lord of creation, She presides over resources and wealth, both of which are indispensable to the process of creation. She is tall, fair, and curvaceous, in keeping with the highest standards of Indian devi aesthetics. In this supersmooth marble sculpture She is depicted in a saree of orange silk, draped North Indian style and teamed with red-and-gold brocade.

Her iconography is unmistakable. Chaturbhujadhari (four-armed), with the palms of the anterior hands turned outward in blessing. Zoom in on the same to take in the beauty of the vivid vermillion-coloured mehendi tattooed against her milk-white skin. Matching red mehendi is to be found on the precisely sculpted toes of Her delicate feet. In each of Her posterior hands She holds a pink, green-stemmed lotus, picked fresh off the waters.

The gorgeous gold shringar on Her person fits Her divine queen status - streams of gold down Her torso, cinching Her waist, tinkling at Her wrists and ankles. As She stands on a simple pedestal carpeted with the soft green of a lotuspad, She looks straight ahead of Her, Her large eyes brimming with wisdom and maternal goodwill. A bejewelled gold crown on Her black hair and a halo of lotus petals complete the picture of the divine.

Barberry-Pink Floor-Length A-Line Suit with Zari-Embroidery and Chiffon Dupatta

This Indian suit is just the thing to wear to a wedding, especially if you are the bride’s or the groom’s sister. It is a bridal red colour, a rich sindoori hue which is set off by the coat of gold zari along the sleeves, neckline, and hems. The silhouette is irresistible - loosely fitted bust, long sleeves, and a voluminous skirt in imitation of the classic western ball gown. The layers are made from fine, translucent georgette.

Zoom in on the gorgeous zariwork that peters down the bust. Gleaming sequins arranged in a pattern of florals and vines that make for an ultra-feminine look. The motifs along the ample hemline are unusual - slender temple-pillars and lamps, a statement of light and spiritual aesthetics. A delicate chiffon dupatta completes this three-piece Indian suit, which adds a bit of the fashionable to the traditional. Team this with your mother’s choicest gold and jewel hand-me-downs.