At first glance, the ancient Lajja Gauri idol at Siddhanakolla in Karnataka can look unusual, even startling. The goddess is shown with her legs raised in uttanapada, a posture associated with childbirth, while a fully opened lotus appears where her head would normally be. But this unusual form was not created simply to shock the viewer. Its symbols connect the female body, fertility, creation and the life-giving power of nature. The tradition surrounding Lajja Gauri has survived for centuries, and the Siddhanakolla image is still associated with prayers for fertility.
