In this episode of Storytelling with Shweta, we hear the story of the Indian Goddess of Misfortune. She’s known by many names but mostly Alakshmi - the goddess of all things miserable and unlucky, and a literal translation to the opposite of Lakshmi - the goddess of all things wealthy and prosperous.
The piece that inspired this story from Indian mythology is currently housed in the South-Asian Galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, and there’s a slightly sordid backstory about how it got there.
Legend says that you pray to Alakshmi so that she stays away and hearing her story is akin to that too. This story is best for children who enjoy Indian folk tales and fairytales and adults of all ages.
Shownotes
Most Indians are familiar with the hanging of green chillies and lemons in the front of their houses to ward off the evil eye and bad luck.
Green chillies and lemons are actually Goddess Alakshmi’s favorite snack and it said that offering it to her, keeps her away.
The sculpture that served as inspiration for this episode is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can see it and read about it here.
The Museum lists the piece as being gifted by Doris Weiner, who later became notorious as an Antiquities traficker who had looted precious pieces from countries Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Pakistan, and Thailand. You can read more about her here.
This particular piece was created during the Chola empire - an age known for its art and architectural excellence. More on that here.
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