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Goddess Laxmi (महा लक्ष्मी)
Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi is the goddess of wealth, material fortune, beauty and prosperity. Goddess Lakshmi in Hindu iconography is described with four arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in fine garments and precious jewels. Her expression is always calm and
loving. The four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma (righteousness), kama (genuine desires), artha (wealth), and moksha (liberation from birth and death). The front hands represent the activity in the physical world and the back hands indicate the spiritual activities that lead to spiritual perfection.
The most striking feature of the
iconography of Lakshmi is her persistent association with the lotus. The meaning
of the lotus in relation to Shri-Lakshmi refers to purity and spiritual power.
Rooted in the mud but blossoming above the water, the lotus represents spiritual perfection and authority.
Goddess Lakshmi's Vahan ( vehicle) is Owl. The owl (Ulooka in Sanskrit),
is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night.
Hindus worship Lakshmi on Diwali (दीपावली ), the festival of lights.
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by those who wish to acquire or to preserve
wealth. It is believed that Lakshmi (wealth) goes only to those houses which are
clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which
are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy. |
Goddess Laxmi (महा लक्ष्मी)
या देवी
सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरुपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै
नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || |
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The legends related to goddess Lakshmi
are:
According to the Vishnu Purana, Lakshmi is the daughter of Bhrigu and Khyaati
and resided in Swarga but due to the curse of Durvasa, she left Swarga and made
Ksheersagara (Sea) her home. The reappearance of Lakshmi after Samudra manthan and her
marriage to Vishnu thereafter.
Lakshmi is the power and Maya of Lord Vishnu. In some places She is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both
either side of Vishnu. Bhudevi is the fertility form in which She is Mother
Earth. Sridevi is the wealth and knowledge of Her which is seen with
Narayan.
Mahalakshmi
Mahalakshmi is the presiding Goddess of the Middle episode of Devi
Mahatmya. Here she is depicted as Devi in her universal form as Shakti. The manifestation
of the Devi to kill Mahishasura is formed by the effulgences of all the gods.
The Goddess is described as eighteen armed bearing string of beads, battle axe,
maze, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, water-pot, cudgel, lance, sword, shield,
conch, bell, wine-cup, trident, noose and the discuss sudarsana. She has a
complexion of coral and is seated on a lotus. She is known as Ashta Dasa
Bhuja Mahalakshmi. |
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In Hindu mythology, Laxmi, also called Shri, is the divine spouse of Lord Vishnu and provides him with wealth for the maintenance and preservation
of the creation. Goddess Lakshmi has many names:
Padma:
lotus dweller.
Kamala:
lotus dweller.
Padmapriya:
One who likes lotuses
Padmamaladhara devi: One who wears a garland of lotuses
Padmamukhi:
One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus
Padmakshi:
One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus
Padmahasta:
One who holds a lotus
Padmasundari:
One who is as beautiful as a lotus
Bhargavi:
One who is the incarnation of the daughter of Sage Bhrigu
Sridevi:
Goddess of wealth
Chanchala:
One who is fickle and does not stay at one place
Bhumi Devi:
Earth goddess
Indira:
Beautiful goddess
Rama devi/Vaishnavi: Wife of Vishnu
Jalaja:
Born from sea.
Aiswarya:
Wealthy.
Roma:
Wife of lord Hari
Some pictures of Laxmi show two elephants standing next to the goddess, to symbolize the name and fame associated with worldly wealth. The idea conveyed here is that a true devotee should not earn wealth merely to acquire name and fame or only to satisfy his own material desires, but should share it with others in order to bring happiness to others in addition to himself.
The spraying of water denotes activity. The golden vessels denote wisdom and purity. |
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