One large part of the gable from a temple, which was demolished in 1874, shows the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, being lustrated from small ritual jars (lota) by a pair of elephants. Lakshmi is seated with her feet crossed, and is represented four armed, holding in her lower arms the conch (sangka) and discus (cakra), attributes of her consort Vishnu. In her upper pair of hands she holds two flowering lotus stems. She is flanked by two offering stands with covered jars – perhaps denoting jewel or money containers, and a mirror, an allusion to the feminine beauty and charm of this bestower of grace and good fortune. The elephants each wear bell-chains on their head, neck, and torso, celebratory of the goddess they honour. The siting of this panel is highly auspicious, as Lakshmi has a specific role in Vaishnava temples as the protectress of the entrance door to her husband’s sanctuary. Lakshmi is closely identified with Vishnu and is deemed to co-exist with him in each of his divine appearances (avatara).

This large panel served as the front gable for a Keralan temple or shrine entrance porch. Square mortice holes interrupting the scrolling design of the border mark where perpendicular roof struts had been fitted to support a roof. Undoubtedly this panel was originally richly polychromed, but, sited on a temple exterior, it has now lost all trace of colour.