Goddess Lakshmi is the wife of supreme god-Lord Vishnu who is the preserver of Hindu Dharma and our Universe. She is the goddess of Wealth and prosperity who is worshipped
to be blessed with an abundance of wealth and materialistic goods. She has same importance as same as Goddess Saraswati. It is said
that Goddess Lakshmi bestows upon them those who have a high degree of devotion and honest. Not just
wealth. Goddess Lakshmi also blesses oneself with good health and positivity. Therefore, whenever one is
suffering from a diseases they worship Goddess Lakshmi to evoke them with good health. Regular chanting
her names and the holy mantras could bless one with wealth and good fortune. As wealth is one of the key
survival elements. Goddess Lakshmi is greatly worshipped.
Lakshmi is also called Sri or Thirumagal because she is endowed with six auspicious and divine
qualities, or gunas, and is the divine strength of Vishnu. In Hindu religion, she was born from the
churning of the primordial ocean (Samudra manthan) and she chose Vishnu as her eternal
consort. When Vishnu descended on the Earth as the avatars Rama and Krishna, Lakshmi
descended as his respective consort. In the ancient scriptures of India, all women are declared to be
embodiments of Lakshmi. The marriage and relationship between Lakshmi and Vishnu as wife and
husband is the paradigm for rituals and ceremonies for the bride and groom in Hindu weddings.
Lakshmi is considered another aspect of the same supreme goddess principle in
the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism.
She is known as the preserver, provider, nurshished by giving the essence of life to her true devotee.
Incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi- It is said that whenever Lord Vishnu incarnated on Earth in human
form, Goddess Lakshmi takes birth along with him to restore the distorted Dharma. She incarnated as Sita
when Vishnu came as Rama and later as Rukmini when Vishnu took the form of Krishna. In each and
every formation and incarnation Goddess Lakshmi comes forward as the sole supporter of Vishnu in his
restoration of Dharma.
The image, icons and sculptures of Lakshmi are represented with symbolism. Her name is derived
from Sanskrit root words for knowing the goal and understanding the objective. Her four arms are
symbolic of the four goals of humanity that are considered good in Hinduism - dharma (pursuit of
ethical, moral life), artha (pursuit of wealth, means of life), kama (pursuit of love, emotional
fulfillment) and moksha (pursuit of self-knowledge, liberation).
In Lakshmi's iconography, she is either sitting or standing on a lotus and typically carrying a lotus in
one or two hands. The lotus carries symbolic meanings in Hinduism and other Indian traditions. It
symbolically knowledge, self-realisation and liberation in Vedic context, and represents reality,
consciousness and karma (work, deed) in the Tantra (Sahasrara) context. The lotus, a flower that
blossoms in clean or dirty water, also symbolizes purity regardless of the good or bad circumstances
in which its grows. It is a reminder that good and prosperity can bloom and not be affected by evil in
one's surrounding. Below, behind or on the sides, Lakshmi is sometimes shown with one or two
elephants and occasionally with an owl. Elephants symbolize work, activity and strength, as well as
water, rain and fertility for abundant prosperity. The owl signifies the patient striving to observe, see
and discover knowledge particularly when surrounded by darkness. As a bird reputedly blinded by
daylight, the owl also serves as a symbolic reminder to refrain from blindness and greed after
knowledge and wealth has been acquired.
In some representations, wealth either symbolically pours out from one of her hands or she simply
holds a jar of money. This symbolism has a dual meaning: wealth manifested through Lakshmi
means both material as well as spiritual wealth. Her face and open hands are in a mudra that signify
compassion, giving or daana(charity).
Lakshmi typically wears a red dress embroidered with golden threads, symbolism for and wealth.
She, goddess of wealth and prosperity, is often represented with her husband Vishnu, the god who
maintains human life filled with justice and peace. This symbolism implies wealth and prosperity is
coupled with maintenance of life, justice, and peace.
Countless hymns, prayers, shlokas, stotra, songs and legends dedicated to Mahalakshmi are recited
during the ritual worship of Lakshmi.
Lakshmi is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both at the sides of SriVenkateshwara or Vishnu.
Bhudevi is the representation and totality of the material world or energy, called the aparam Prakriti,
in which she is called Mother Earth. Sridevi is the spiritual world or energy called the Prakriti.
Lakshmi is the power of Vishnu.
Inside temples, Lakshmi is often shown together with Vishnu. In certain parts of India, Lakshmi plays
a special role as the mediator between her husband Vishnu and his worldly devotees. When asking
Vishnu for grace or forgiveness, the devotees often approach Him through the intermediary
presence of Lakshmi. She is also the personification of spiritual fulfillment. Lakshmi embodies the
spiritual world, also known as Vaikunta, the abode of Lakshmi-Narayana or what would be
consideredheaven in Vaishnavism. Lakshmi is the embodiment of the creative energy of Vishnu, and
primordial Prakriti who creates the universe.
Many Hindus worship Lakshmi on Diwali, the festival of lights. It is celebrated in autumn, typically
October or November every year. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness,
knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair.
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