Lakshmi
Image of Goddess Lakshmi
Devanagari:	लक्ष्मी
Affiliation:	Devi
Consort:	Vishnu
Mount:	Owl

Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, love and beauty, the lotus flower and fertility. Representations of Lakshmi (or Shri) are found in Jain and Buddhist monuments, in addition to Hindu temples. Analogous to the Greek Aphrodite and Roman Venus - who also originated from the oceans - she is generally thought of as the personification of material fortune, beauty and prosperity. Lakshmi is a goddess in the Hindu religion. ... Image File history File links Ravi_Varma-Lakshmi. ... It has been suggested that Shri Vidya be merged into this article or section. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Bhavna says there are 300 million gods in Hinduism. ... For the 1934 film, see The Goddess (1934 film). ... For the business meaning, see Wealth (economics). ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Bhavna says there are 300 million gods in Hinduism. ... The Birth of Venus, (detail) by Sandro Botticelli, 1485 For other uses, see Aphrodite (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Venus (disambiguation). ...

She is the consort of Vishnu and married or romanced his incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita) and Krishna as Rukmini and the milkmaid Radha. Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... Lord Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ... In Hinduism, Srimati Rukmini was the first wife and queen of Krishna, the 8th avatar of Vishnu. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Legends

The appearance of goddess Lakshmi is related to an ancient story. Durvasa the short-tempered sage once presented Indra, the king of the gods (devas) with a garland of flowers which would never wilt. Indra gave this garland to his elephant Airavata. Sage Durvasa saw the elephant trampling the divine garland and cursed Indra, for he had shown disrespect to the sage. The sage cursed Indra that he and all the gods would lose their power because it had made them so proud and vain. Due to the curse, the demons vanquished the gods out of the heavens. In Hinduism, Durvasa (दुर्वास) is an ancient sage, who was known for his short temper. ... For other uses, see Indra (disambiguation). ... Deva can refer to: Deva (Hinduism), a Hindu deity. ... In Hinduism, Airavata (ऐरावत) is a white elephant who carries Lord Indra. ...

The defeated gods then went to seek refuge to the Creator Lord Brahma who asked them to churn the ocean of milk, Ksheersagar, to obtain the nectar of immortality. The gods then went to Lord Vishnu, to seek his assistance. Lord Vishnu took the Avatar Kurma (Tortoise) and supported the Manthara Parvata (mountain) as a churning rod, while the king of the serpents, Vasuki, became the churning rope. The gods and the demons (under the leadership of the pious and wise King Bali Chakravarti) both helped each other in churning the ocean of milk. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Ocean of Milk in Hindu mythology is the place where 13 precious treasures were lost. ... The ten avatars of Vishnu, copyright BBT In Hindu philosophy, an avatar (also spelt as avatara) (Sanskrit: , ), most commonly refers to the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of a higher being (deva), or the Supreme Being (God) onto planet Earth. ... A carving of the Kurma avatar on a pillar at the Vittala Temple, Hampi, India Kurma is also an alternative transliteration of korma. ... Vasuki is a naga, or one of the serpents of Hindu mythology. ... Bali is an Indonesian island located at , the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. ...

Amongst the host of divine gifts which appeared from the ocean, goddess Lakshmi appeared and then chose Shri Vishnu as her consort, as only He had the power to control Maya illusion. Because of this, Lakshmi is also called the daughter of the sea; since the moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is called her brother. Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, is Lakshmi's older sister. She is said to have also arisen from the sea of milk.^[1][2] Alakshmi is the older sister of Lakshmi and the Hindu goddess of misfortune. ...

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. 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. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Lakshmi. The Vishnu Purana is one of the oldest of the Puranas (dating to maybe the 5th century), containing some 23,000 shlokas, presented as a dialogue between Parasara with his disciple Maitreya. ... Bhrigu, a sage in indian mythology, was said to have stepped on Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu to test who of the three gods was the greatest. ... In Hinduism, Svarga (or Swarga) is an underworld, located on Mt. ... In Hinduism, Durvasa (दुर्वास) is an ancient sage, who was known for his short temper. ... In Hinduism, Samudra manthan (Devanagari: समुद्र मंथन) or The churning of the ocean of milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Puranas and is celebrated in a major way every twelve years in the festival known as Kumbha Mela. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being (i. ... Maya may refer to: // The Maya, Native American peoples of southern Mexico and northern Central America Maya peoples, the contemporary indigenous peoples Maya civilization, their historical pre-Columbian civilization Mayan languages, the family of languages spoken by the Maya Yucatec Maya language, specific and most widespread Mayan language, frequently referred... Bhuma Devi or Bhumi Devi or Bhu Devi is the divine wife of Lord Vishnu. ... Narayan may mean any of several things. ...

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. ^[3] She is known as Ashta Dasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi. THE PRIMEVAL ENERGY One of the unique features of Hinduism is the fact that it conceives Divinity also as Mother Goddess. ... It has been suggested that Shri Vidya be merged into this article or section. ... Lakshmi is a common aspect of Shakti Shakti meaning force, power or energy is the Hindu concept or personification of Gods female aspect, sometimes referred to as The Divine Mother. Shakti represents the active, dynamic principles of feminine power. ... A statue of Mahishasura in Chamundi Hills, Mysore In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was an asura (demon). ...

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. In Hinduism, the ten mahavidyas (Great Wisdoms) are aspects of Devi. ... Kamalatmika is the Goddess in the fullness of her graceful aspect. ...

Epithets

Vishnu with Lakshmi (Lakshminarayana) at Halebidu

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: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 395 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1176 × 1784 pixel, file size: 679 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photograph taken by self (Dineshkannambadi) at Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, Karnataka, India in June 2005 I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 395 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1176 × 1784 pixel, file size: 679 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photograph taken by self (Dineshkannambadi) at Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, Karnataka, India in June 2005 I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to... Halebidu (Kannada ಹಳೆಬೀಡು) is located in Hassan District, Karnataka, India. ...

• 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.

Iconography

Sculpture of Lakshmi

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. Download high resolution version (301x700, 44 KB) Description Popular image of Lakshmi Source Scanned by Yann Licence GFDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (301x700, 44 KB) Description Popular image of Lakshmi Source Scanned by Yann Licence GFDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Over the millennia of its development Hinduism has adopted several icons that are imbued with spiritual meaning based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions. ...

Goddess Lakshmi's traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl (Ulooka in Sanskrit), is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night.

Celebration in Hindu society

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. In Bengal,godess laxmi is worshipped during full moon night of the autumn, which is the brightest night of the year. It is believed that godess laxmi showers wealth on this night.She ,along with her abode, the great white owl,descends on earth and takes away the darkness of poverty, stagnation, anger and laziness from our lives. Diwali,or Deepawali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) (Markiscarali) is a major Indian and Nepalese festive holiday. ...

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:

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". An acronym SRI may refer to one of the following: Socially Responsible Investment. ...

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 Uttarakhand, after the worship of the goddess on Diwali night, the Shankh or Conch is not blown. This is because the shank is also from the ocean like the goddess herself, so it is given a day of rest. , Uttarakhand (Hindi: उत्तराखंड), known as Uttaranchal from 2000 to 2006, became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000. ... Diwali,or Deepawali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) (Markiscarali) is a major Indian and Nepalese festive holiday. ...

Karaveera Nivasini Mahalakshmi is the patron goddess of Kolhapur city, Maharashtra. Kolhapur   (Marathi:कोल्हापुर) is a city situated in the south west corner of Maharashtra, India. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA:  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ...

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 Strota To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Sri-Sukta of the Veda is recited with benefit especially on Fridays, together with formal worship of the [Goddess], for peace, plenty and all-round prosperity. ... This is a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi by the great sage Agasti. ...

Temples

• Ashta Lakshmi Temple, Chennai.

See also

• Hindu goddess
• Brahmotsavam
• Doddagaddavalli - Lakshmi temple location

Goddesses are an integral part of Hinduism, and the worship of goddesses is a significant aspect of Hindu religion. ... Brahmotsavam which is celebrated on grand scale for nine days in september, attracting pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country at tirumala. ... Doddagaddavalli is a village in Hassan District in the south India state of Karnataka, India. ...

References

1. ^ Pattanaik, Devdutt. Lakshmi: The Goddess of Wealth and Fortune-An Introduction. Vakils Feffer & Simons Ltd, 2003 (ISBN 8187111585)
2. ^ Pattanaik, Devdutt. Lakshmi: Or how my Kaamwali came to be named so?. Vakils Feffer & Simons Ltd, 2005 (ISBN 8187134385)
3. ^ Sankaranarayanan, S., Glory of the Divine Mother (Devī Māhātmyam), Nesma Books, India, 2001. (ISBN 81-87936-00-2), P 148.

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

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

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