Lajja-Gouri: Deity of Fertility and Procreation
by K.L.Kamat
First Online: March 01, 2008
Page Last Updated: February 17, 2024
K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri
A Stone Sculpture of Lajja Gowri
Sculpture near Mahakoota, near Badami
In certain remote valleys of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states, ancient earthen stone, wood and brick female forms or idol's are found in nude and with open stretched legs. Instead of the head there will be lotus. In some regions only the torso is found with lotus flower in both hands, and reffered as Aditi, Lajja Gauri, Lajja-Gouri, Renuka, and Nagna Kabambdha.
From pre-historical times female deities are worshipped in various forms.. Deities for forest (Banashankari), water (rivers Ganga and Kaveri) of earth (Bhudevi) also exist and Lajja-Gouri is presumed to be the goddess of fertility. (see: Elements) In the Tantra form of worship, the female torso represents each and the lotus represents water or rain. The deity is worshipped for better crop. In many ancient civilizations including Syria, when crops failed, it seems virgins in nude were asked to worship the rain god in the fields.
The ritual of Lajja Gouri could be similar (childless women worship Lajja-Gouri in certain regions of Karnataka).
Goddess of Fertility
kamat.com/Kamat's Potpourri
Rare Sculpture of Lajja Gouri
Lotus and Mother Goddess depicted in a sculpture
