Ancient Psychedelia: Alien Gods & Mushroom Goddesses
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Lajja (Lajjit) Gauri is a Hindu goddess whose early depictions can be seen on Indus Valley seals dating at least as far back as the second century AD. (29) Based on her depictions, she is regarded as a goddess of sexuality and in particular, pregnancy. In these scenes she has a plump belly and her head is revealed as a mushroom while scholars mistakenly attribute the mushrooms in her hands to lotus flowers (17f). Lotus flowers may be doubling as mushroom symbolism. The lotus is definitely a special flower, but its attributes do not lend themselves to the mysticism and spirituality of the mushroom.  (17f) Lajja Gauri India has quite a bit of mushroom art and history as we can see, and owing to the fact that they have never been fully conquered in ancient history, we get to see a complete history of the mushroom, as it evolved over time, which is the reason I started the book here. There are dozens of caves and complexes and covering them all would be impossible, for the scope of this book. Before we move onto the Rg Veda, I would like to present a couple important complexes with amazing mushroom art. One is the Udayagiri Caves in Vidisha, India, which include a stele of Samudra (ocean) personified in Cave 5, c. 500 AD, in which you can see a mushroom above her head (18b). |
 (18b) Samudra (ocean) personified Cave 5 Udayagiri Caves, Odisha, India c. 500 AD The Temple of the Sun in Konark, India, built in 1250 AD, hosts some amazing detailed engravings, including one which depicts a deity holding a mushroom and inspecting it (18d). The “Queens Stepwell,” in Gujarat, India, known as Rani ki vav, dated to 1000-1100 AD, has a beautiful display of engraved architecture. There is a lot of mushroom imagery here to choose from, but what is probably the most revealing, as to the mushroom itself would be an image of Ram Avarata holding a giant mushroom stem with an obvious cap at the top (18g).  (18d) Temple of the Sun, Konark, India c. 1250 AD (29) Aditi Uttanapada (Lajja Gauri): Creatrix and Regenrator Images of Indian Goddesses: Myths, Meanings, and Models, by Madhu Bazaz Wangu. Published by Abhinav Publications, 2003. ISBN 81-7017-416-3. Page 84-86. |
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