The Deities of Wealth and Wisdom: Ganesha and the Ashta-Lakshmi

About the Workshop

Create a traditional style Kerala Mural painting of ‘The Ashta-Lakshmi with Lord Ganesh’ with master native artist Mr. Saju M.P

Paint this mesmerizing painting in a traditional art form. Mr. Saju M.P, will take you through the process of creating this beautiful painting using the right traditional motifs and techniques.

"The Deities of Wealth and Wisdom: The Ashta-Lakshmi with Lord Ganesh" :The presence of Ganesha alongside the Ashta-Lakshmi (the eight forms of the Goddess of Wealth) in a Kerala mural is a profound synthesis of spiritual concepts and is a significant theme in traditional Indian art, including the distinctive traditional Kerala mural style.

This intricate Kerala mural painting showcases a vibrant pantheon of deities, centered around Lord Ganesha, emblematic of the region's rich spiritual and artistic heritage. The dominant golden hues, accented by blues, greens, and pinks of the lotus flowers, create a visually stunning and harmonious composition. Lord Ganesha is prominently featured in the central circular motif, surrounded by multiple divine figures, likely various forms of goddesses, each seated on a lotus and holding symbolic attributes. The meticulous detailing in their adornments, expressions, and the surrounding patterns, including stylized clouds and floral elements, highlights the characteristic finesse of Kerala mural art.

Ganesha (God of Wisdom): In the Kerala mural tradition, Lord Ganesha, or Ganapathi, is depicted with his characteristic elephant head, symbolizing wisdom, intelligence, and a discriminating intellect. He is the Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles. His worship is traditionally sought at the beginning of any new venture to ensure success.

Ashta-Lakshmi(Eight Forms of Wealth and Prosperity):

The Ashta-Lakshmi represent eight specific manifestations of wealth:

Aadi Lakshmi: The primeval Goddess, source of all creation.
Dhana Lakshmi: Wealth in the form of money and gol.
Dhanya Lakshmi: Wealth of food grains and nourishment.
Gaja Lakshmi: Wealth of power, royalty, and majestic animals (often depicted with elephants).
Santana Lakshmi: Wealth of progeny (children).
Veera/Dhairya Lakshmi: Wealth of courage, valor, and strength.
Vijaya Lakshmi: Wealth of victory and success.
Vidya Lakshmi: Wealth of knowledge and education.

Saju's artwork serves as a catalyst for deeper cultural understanding and appreciation, inviting viewers to reflect on the significance of Kerala's diverse heritage and the ongoing contributions of its tribal communities to the region's cultural landscape.

In this 4-week workshop create your masterpiece learning the techniques and history of this beautiful art form. You can attend live Zoom sessions where you interact with the master artist and other participants, learning not only the art form in depth but also more about the culture of the region. A structured classroom with step-wise instructions, pictures, and recorded videos will be available after the session on Google Classroom

This is a great opportunity to learn the motifs, techniques, and history of this ancient art form. Sign up for the workshop today!

Theme:The Deities of Wealth and Wisdom: Ashtlakshmi with Lord Ganesh
Dates: 6th Oct to 1st Nov. 2025
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM IST (Mon to Sat.)
Duration: 24 sessions (30 Hours Approx)
Original Price: ₹6000

Materials Needed

Material Needed:
-29*29 Inches approx. or A2 size Thick Paper/Canvas
- Pencils / Eraser / Sharpener
- Black Color Pen / Thin Marker
- Acrylic Colors - Indian red, Scarlet Lake, Vermilion hue, Pression blue, Black, White, Yellow ochre, Permanent yellow medium, Sap green, Olive green, Burnt umber, Burnt Sienna
- Long Hair Brushes: 000, 2, 5,4,6,8
- Pallet
- Bowl of Water
- Old Cloth

(Basic Sketch Would Be Provided As Pre-Work For Tracing/Sketching)

Note: The artist will give an individual output in this painting, with variations in the colours and detailings of the costumes .

About the Master Artist

Mr. Saju. M.P. comes from a lineage of Kerala Mural artists. His work can be seen in the temples (Guruvayoor) and churches of Kerala. He is also actively involved in the restoration work of Kerala Murals to preserve this heritage art.

Image Source and Disclaimers

Disclaimer for the art workshop:

The artist will make the painting in the standard size, and it is recommended to use the same size. However, participants may choose other sizes as per their convenience and seek artist guidance in live sessions to manage the artwork in their chosen size of canvas.
Artist typically the brushes at their convenience as they have years of experience. Participants may choose the brush size as per their convenience and level of expertise, and seek artist guidance in the live sessions.
Artists use the sample image as a reference image for teaching purposes only. They typically provide their interpretation and variations to make a unique artwork. Sample image is not copied as it is and Catterfly provides the due credit to the original artist (wherever available) in our marketing communications.

*Source*