Lakshmi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lakshmi | |
 Image of Goddess Lakshmi |
|
| Devanagari | लक्ष्मी |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Devi/Shakti |
| Consort | Vishnu |
| Mount | Owl |
Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation: [ləkʂ.miː]; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Representations of Lakshmi (or Shri) are found also in Jain and Buddhist monuments.
Lakshmi in Sanskrit is derived from its elemental form "lakS" meaning to perceive , observe (reference Monier-Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary). This is synonymous with lakSya meaning aim or objective. Lakshmi is thus goddess of the means to achieving objectives including prosperity in the life of Man.
She is the consort of Vishnu[1] and married Rama (in her incarnation as Sita) and Krishna (as Rukmini and Radha).
Contents |
[edit] Evolution and Legends
Deva and Asuras were both mortal (mrita) at one time. Seeking immortality they churned the ocean of milk. Vishnu incarnated as "kurma" the tortoise on which was placed a mountain and a great venom spewing serpent was wrapped around it and used to churn the ocean.
A host of divine celestial objects came up during the churning. Among these, importantly, was Goddess Lakshmi, the daughter of the king of the milky ocean. The last to come up was "amR^itam", the "nectar of immortality". With this the avatar of "kurma", the tortoise ended. Vishnu, then took up form of a beautiful maiden to distract "raakshasa" and gave immortality to the "deva". Sri Lakshmi, very much later married Shri Vishnu. Shri is a honorofic address that is probably derived from Lakshmi and is used till date for males all over India. The equivalent for females is "Srimati" if she is married.
The moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the 'moon' (chandra) making it her brother. Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, is Lakshmi's elder sister. 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 etymology and meanings of the word lakSmi is best given in Monier Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary compiled in the 19th century in British India.
1. lakSmIka meaning a mark , sign , token is in Rik Veda x , 71 , 2 and Nirukta iv , 10.
2. lakSmi ( with or without pAp'I ) is a bad sign or an impending misfortune referred to Atharva Veda and Apasthambha Shrauta Suutra.
3. In older Sanskrit language it is used used usually with "p'uNyA" meaning a good sign , good fortune , prosperity , success , happiness in Atharva Veda.
4. lakSmi personifies wealth, riches, beauty , loveliness , grace , charm , splendour , lustre in Mahabharata.
5. lakSmi as noun is goddess of fortune and beauty ( frequently in the later mythology identified with Śrī and regarded as the wife of Viṣṇu or Nārāyaṇa )
6. According to Sir Monier Williams, "Religious thought and life in India", 45 , 40-43 she sprang with other precious things from the foam of the ocean when churned by the gods and demons for the recovery of the Amṛta. She appeared with a lotus in her hand , whence she is also called Padmā.
7. Accord. to another legend she appeared at the creation floating over the water on the expanded petals of a lotusflower , she is also variously regarded as a wife of Sūrya , as a wife of Prajā-pati , as a wife of Dharma and mother of Kāma , as sister or mother of Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ , as wife of Datt^atreya , as one of the 9 Śaktis of Viṣṇu , as a manifestation of Prakṛti &c. , as identified with Dākshāyaṇī in Bharat^aśrama , and with Sītā , wife of Rāma , and with other women )
[edit] Explanation of 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. [2] She is known as Ashta Dasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi.
She is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both either side of Sri Venkateshwara or Vishnu. Bhudevi is the representation and totally 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 Param Prakriti. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Lakshmi. All the different goddesses in the Hindu pantheon are manifestations, or different forms of Lakshmi.[citation needed]
Mahalakshmi's presence is also found on Lord Sri Venkateswara (at Tirumala) or Vishnu's chest, at the Heart. Lakshmi is the embodiment of Love, from which devotion to God or Bhakti flows from. It is through Love/Bhakti or Lakshmi that the atma or soul is able to reach God or Vishnu. She is also the personification of the Spiritual energy within us and universe called Kundalini. Also, She embodies the Spiritual World or Vaikunta; the abode of Lakshmi-Narayana or Vishnu, or what would be considered Heaven in Hinduism. She is also the Divine qualities of God and the soul. Lakshmi is the embodiment of God's superior spiritual feminine energy or the Param Prakriti, which purifies, empowers and uplifts the individual. Hence, She is called the Goddess of Fortune.
[edit] Dasa Maha Vidya Kamalatmika
Mahavidya Kamalatmika, one of the Dasa Mahavidyas has the same iconography as Lakshmi. But here she is considered the ultimate reality.
[edit] Epithets
Lakshmi has many names. She is known to be very closely associated with the Lotus, and her many epithets are connected to the flower, such as:
- 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
Her other names include:
Rama
Indira
Manushri
Chakrika
Kamalika
Lalima
Nandika
Rujula
Out of these names, the two most popular names are Rama and Indira.
[edit] Iconography
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.
Goddess Lakshmi's traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl (Ulooka in Sanskrit), is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night.
[edit] Ashta Lakshmi
Ashta Lakshmi (Sanskrit: अष्टलक्ष्मी,Aṣṭalakṣmī, lit. "eight Lakshmis") are a group of eight secondary manifestations of the goddess Lakshmi, who preside over eight sources of wealth and thus represent the powers of Shri-Lakshmi. They are:
| 1) | आदि लक्ष्मी | Ādi Lakṣmī | [The First manifestation of Lakshmi] | |
| 2) | धान्य लक्ष्मी | Dhānya Lakṣmī | [Granary wealth] | |
| 3) | धैर्य लक्ष्मी | Dhairya Lakṣmī | [Wealth of courage] | |
| 4) | गज लक्ष्मी | Gaja Lakṣmī | [Elephants, symbols of wealth] | |
| 5) | सन्तान लक्ष्मी | Santāna Lakṣmī | [Wealth of continuity, progeny] | |
| 6) | विजय लक्ष्मी | Vijaya Lakṣmī | [Wealth of victory] | |
| 7) | विद्या लक्ष्मी | Vidyā Lakṣmī | [Wealth of knowledge and education] | |
| 8) | धन लक्ष्मी | Dhana Lakṣmī | [Monetary wealth] |
[edit] Celebration in Hindu society
Hindus worship Lakshmi the most on Divali, 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.
In Bengal, Lakshmi is worshiped during a night in Autumn when the moon is full, the brightest night of the year. It is believed that she showers wealth on this night.She, along with her mount, the great white owl, descends to earth and takes away the darkness of poverty, stagnation, anger, and laziness from our lives.
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. Any thing 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 Gupta" or "Srimati Mangeshkar".
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.
In the Sri Vaishnava philosophy however, Sri (Lakshmi) is honored as the "Iswarigm sarva bhootanam" i.e. the Supreme goddess and not just the goddess of wealth. This is an important distinction between Sri Vaishnavism and other materialistic philosophies.
In Uttarakhand, after the worship of the goddess on Diwali night, the Shankha or Conch is not blown. This is because the shankha is also from the ocean like the goddess herself, so it is given a day of rest.
Karaveera Nivasini Mahalakshmi is the patron goddess of Kolhapur city, Maharashtra.
[edit] Worship
Two of the most famous prayers for worshipping Ma Lakshmi are: Sri Lakshmi Stuti By Indra and Sri Sukta. There is another famous prayer pronounced by the great sage Agasti: Agasti Lakshmi Stotra. Although Mother Lakshmi is worshipped as the Goddess of fortune, when she is worshipped with Narayana not only wealth but also peace and prosperity never leave the home of the worshipper. They can be worshipped in various forms such as LakshmiNarayana, LakshmiNarasimha, SitaRam, RadhaKrishna, VithalRakhumai(VithhalRukmini).
[edit] Temples
- Padmavati Temple,Tirupati.
- Ashta Lakshmi Temple, Chennai.
- Mahalakshmi Temple,Kolhapur.
- Mahalakshmi Temple,Mumbai.
[edit] See also
- Ashta Lakshmi
- Hindu goddess
- Laxminarayan
- Brahmotsavam
- Doddagaddavalli - Lakshmi temple location
- Mantra
[edit] References
- ^ Atharvaveda 7.46.3
- ^ Sankaranarayanan, S., Glory of the Divine Mother (Devī Māhātmyam), Nesma Books, India, 2001. (ISBN 81-87936-00-2), P 148.
[edit] Further reading
- Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley
- Lakshmi Puja and Thousand Names (ISBN 1-887472-84-3) by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
[edit] External links
- The Online mandir of Mahalakshmi - Visit Mandir Daily & Get blessing & Prosper.
- Know about Goddess Sri Lakshmi - Know about Sri Lakshmi and Her other Forms.
- Devotional hymns and eulogies on Lakshmi
|
|||||||||||||||||
