Devi Of Bounty

Lakshmi is one of the supreme manifestations of Adya Shakti , primal cosmic energy. She resides where truth, charity, valour and dharm prevail. Shri Sukta of the Rigveda alludes to Her existence by as many as 70 names, such as Vriddhi, growth, Matrirupa, like mother, and Vasudha or Vasundhara, the earth. Taittiriya Samhita of Yajurveda calls Her Aditi, mother of gods.

Lakshmi is dear to Vishnu as evident from Her names such as Madhavapriya, Vishnupriya and Madhavi. She followed Her spouse in all His incarnations. When Vishnu incarnated as Ram, She assumed the form of Sita, when He came as Krishn, She arrived as Rukmini, and so on.

It is believed that She will reappear as Kali when Vishnu incarnates as Kalki .

However, the origin of Lakshmi is shrouded in legends. Vishnu Purana describes Her as the daughter of sage Bhrigu and his wife, Khyati. In the Ramayan , She springs from the froth of ocean; and in Devi Bhagavat, from the kshirasagar, ocean of milk. In Shatapath Brahman, She emerges from the very being of Prajapati, and renders bounties to gods and goddesses-food to Agni, kingdom to Soma, Varuna and Mitra, power to Indra, glory to Brihaspati, prosperity to Pusha, and beauty to Tvashta.

Brahmavaivarta Purana refers to eight forms of the Goddess, each unique in itself. Mahalakshmi sprang from vaikunth, Vishnu's heaven, Lakshmi from swarg, Indra's paradise, Radha Lakshmi and Saurabh Lakshmi from goloka, cow's world, Rajya Lakshmi from the earth and nether regions, Griha Lakshmi from home, Dakshin Lakshmi from a yajna, fire ritual, and Chandra Lakshmi from an orb of the moon.

In view of Her popularity, the Goddess figures on historical seals, artifacts, coins and inscriptions denoting royalty, spirituality, prosperity or success. Her most popular form is where elephants, by their raised trunks, pour water on Her from amrit kalash, a pot of nectar. Gajalakshmi figure of the golden-complexioned, four-armed Goddess has been one of the favourite motifs of artists.

The earthly representation of Lakshmi is in the form of lotus, an emblem of the human heart, symbol of detachment, and a perfect example of beauty and symmetry. In iconographic representations, she sits on a lotus or is encamped on a number of lotuses. She is called Padmavarna, lotus-coloured, Padmakshi, having the eyes of a lotus, Padmini or Pushpakarni, abounding in lotuses, Padmamalini, decked with lotus ornaments, and Padmahasta, having lotus in her hands. She stands for purity, like the lotus that remains untouched by muddy water in which it flowers.

Mantra is said to be the sound-body of divinity just as yantra is its linear body. Beej mantra, seed-syllable, of the Goddess is shrim. If repeated along with the prescribed mode of worship of the deity-as explained in the Lakshmi Tantra, Saubhagya Lakshmi Upanishad and other texts-it is believed to fulfil wishes and bring prosperity.

Shaktas regard Shri Yantra , geometrical form of Lakshmi, as a chart of 'the evolution of the cosmic scheme.' Each triangle in it represents an aspect of Shakti, that is invoked by concentrating on the great seed-point in the centre, and then turned into an instrument of psychic power.

Agastya Samhita says that Lakshmi attracts the devout by Her beauty and grace 'as pollen attracts the bee.' She is pleased by deep-aradhana, worship with lamps, and visits illuminated houses on Deepawali , in the month of Kartik, October-November, to bestow good luck and fortune. She is cherished in Hindu homes for Her powers of prosperity and compassion.

Authored by: Satish K Kapoor