Lakshmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lak
Lakshmi is the wife of Vishnu. Also known as Mahalakshmi, she is said to bring good luck and is believed to protect her devotees from all kinds of misery and money-related sorrows. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments.
Lakshmi is called Sri or Thirumagal becau
Lakshmi is worshipped daily in Hindu homes and commercial establishments as the goddess of wealth. She is also worshipped as the consort of Vishnu in many temples. The festivals of Diwali and Kojagiri Purnima are celebrated in her honour.
Lakshmi in Vishnu purana :
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 her home. The reappearance of Lakshmi after Samudra manthan and her marriage to Vishnu thereafter, remain the same. Laxmi 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(धरती माता ). Sridevi is the wealth and knowledge of her which is seen with Narayan. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Laxmi.
Various Names of Lakshmi :
Lakshmi has many names. She is known to be very closely associated with the Lotus (कमल), and her many epithets are connected to the flower, such as:
Padma( पद्मा): lotus dweller.
Kamala (कमला): lotus dweller.
Padmapriya (पदम्प्रिया): One who likes lotuses
Padmamaladhara dev (पद्ममालाधरा देव)i: One who wears a garland of lotuses
Padmamukh (पद्ममुखी)i: One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus
Padmaksh (पद्माक्ष)i: One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus
Padmahasta (पद्महस्ता): One who holds a lotus
Padmasundar (पद्मसुंदर)i: One who is as beautiful as a lotus
Other names of Goddess Lakshmi :
Bhargavi (भार्गवी): One who is the incarnation of the daughter of Sage Bhrigu
Sridevi (श्रीदेवी): Goddess of wealth
Chanchala (चंचला): One who is fickle and does not stay at one place
Bhumi Dev ( भुमीदेवी)i: Earth goddess
Indira(इंदिरा): Beautiful goddess
Rama devi/Vaishnavi (रमादेवी/ वैष्णवी): Wife of Vishnu
Jalaja (जलजा): Born from sea.
Aiswarya (ऐस्वर्या): Wealthy.
Roma ( रोमा): Wife of lord Hari
How Goddess Lakshmi look in Hindu culture:
Physically, goddess Lakshmi is described as a fair lady, with four arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in fine garments and precious jewels. Her expression is always calm and loving. 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, completely uncontaminated by the mud, the lotus represents spiritual perfection and authority. Furthermore, the lotus seat is a common motif in Hindu iconography.
Vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi :
Goddess Lakshmi’s traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl (Ulooka in Sanskrit), is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night.
Time for Celebration and worshipping Lakshmi by Hindu’s :
Hindus worship Lakshmi the most on Diwali, the festival of lights. According to tradition people would put small oil lamps outside their homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them.
The prefix Sri (also spelled as Shri, pronounced as shree) renders as ‘one who takes delight in Sri’ Lakshmi, meaning wealth, wealth of any kind. Primarily eight kinds of wealth are established, associated with goddess Lakshmi. They are:
1) Adi Lakshmi ( आदि लक्ष्मी) [The main goddess]
2) Dhanya Lakshmi ( धान्य लक्ष्मी) [Granary wealth]
3) Dhairya Lakshmi (धैर्य लक्ष्मी) [Wealth of courage]
4) Gaja Lakshmi (गज लक्ष्मी) [Elephants, symbols of wealth]
5) Santana Lakshmi (संतान लक्ष्मी) [Wealth of progeny]
6) Vijaya Lakshmi (विजयलक्ष्मी) [Wealth of victory]
7) Vidya Lakshmi ( विद्या लक्ष्मी) [Wealth of knowledge]
8) Dhana Lakshmi ( धनलक्ष्मी) [Monetary wealth]
Anything that need be affluent gets the auspicious prefix or suffix ‘Lakshmi’, or ‘Sri’ like Rajya Lakshmi (Wealth of Empire), Shanti Sri (Wealth of Peace), etc. In modern India, common titles standing in for the English Mr. and Mrs. are Shri (also Sri or Shree) and Shrimati (also Srimati or Shreemati), as in “Sri Agarwal” or “Srimati Goyal”.
Where does Mata Lakshmi Live:
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 hard working. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy.
We clean and decorate our home to welcome Goddess Laxmi but do not attempt to clean our ANTHRATAMA (अंतर आत्मा) , where anger, jealousy, unlimited desires, and hatred reside. If we are able to eradicate them, then. GODDESS LAXMI surely and certainly will stay in our HEART as well as in our HOME for ever and thousands of lamps will light up in bliss.
Goddess Laxmi like those who make efforts after setting goal, believes in constructive approach, possess a vision, forms a ladder of cooperation, and eager to spend with pleasure. However Goddess Laxmi does not like and become angry on those persons, who are lazy, make excuses, having a habit of postponing work, afraid of change, ,avoid taking risk, fearful , suspicious and collect the wealth for himself only.
You will get real pleasure ( सुख) from the TRUTH ( सत्य) , But before it you may face DUKH ( दुःख) also
Goddess Laxami reside at a place where Wise man are not insulted, Fools are not respected, any needy man is never returned empty hand, kids are treated like angels, Husband –wife lives like two body but one soul and where is no family infighting or क्लेश.
Compiled by Dr. J. K. Garg