any one know who this is ment to be I think it is the representation of the hindu earth mother bumih or the goddes of the tulusi tree. any one have any other ideas.

What leads you to think it's Tulsi, or Bhumidevi? I must admit, if it is either of those deities then I've never seen either of them in that pose. Also, when Bhumidevi is portrayed as having two arms rather than the usual four, she holds a blue lotus in the right and makes a mudra with her left (I think). I can't remember off the top of my head what Tulsi has in her hands. I've certainly never seen either deity bare-breasted, but then I'm not that familiar with their iconography.

Where did you find the image?

Caerthan

Well, Bhumidevi is sometimes pictured bare-breasted and holding a jar with an owl at her feet and i have a small yellow statue of her and she is in this pose she is also portrayed bare-breasted in bronz sculptures as Vishnu's second consort, (i think? there is a statue in the V&A of her with vishnu and lakshmi. ) but im more inclined to think its Talsi because every thing bar her torso is plant. I found her in the queen Elizabeth foundation charity shop here in epsom. she may just be a decrative wall plack.

This probably isn't any help, but she reminds me of the Starbucks logo. Mermaid with two tails.
We had a thread about that Starbucks thread post #24

I don't think she's bare breasted. If you look at the full size image she seems to be wearing the sort of top familiar in South Asian iconography.

she is bare-breasted with a necklace i will add a better pic later

Yup, Bhumidevi's a form of Lakshmi, and the consort of Varaha (the third avatar of Vishnu). Cool, I didn't know much about her iconography... I've only seen a picture of her in the four-armed form (holding herbs, vegetables and a jug - I think). What's the owl representative of?



You could be right. I've never seen any images of Tulsi, so you have the advantage over me

Caerthan

dont know what the owl represents? the pic of the shrine is of tulsi its not very clear

I think it is Lakshmi as she is often depicted with the owl. Apparently the Owl is a lathargic creature because is sleeps during the day and prowls at night so Lakshmi takes it for a ride.

http://www.exoticindiaart.com/lakshmiandsaraswati.htm