Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped as the symbol of wealth, prosperity and good fortune in Hinduism. She is also the consort of Vishnu and appears in every one of his avatars. Goddess Lakshmi appeared from the stirring of the primordial milky ocean during the war between gods and demons. She emerged from the sea of clarified butter wearing white clothes and was a perfect embodiment of peace.
Origin
Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, fortune and beauty. She is the wife of Vishnu and appears with him in every incarnation. She is inseparable from him, just as speech is inseparable from meaning and good deeds from righteousness.
According to the Puranas, the ancient Hindu chronicles of gods, kings and sages, Goddess Lakshmi rose from the churning of the ocean of milk. She is often depicted with a golden yellow or white color and seated on a lotus flower, her hands holding a lotus seed or blossom.
The story goes that both the gods (devata) and the demons (asuras) were mortal at this time. They desired immortality and sought the nectar Amrita from the Ocean of Milk (Kshirasagara). Lakshmi emerged as a result of this churning along with many boons, among them, one that bestowed wealth and immortality on the gods. She also chose to marry Vishnu. This is the reason that Dhanteras, two days before Diwali, are celebrated to seek Lakshmi’s blessings for wealth and prosperity.
Characteristics
She emerges from the churning of the ocean and chooses Lord Vishnu as her husband, which restored balance in the universe. She is always by her husband’s side and appears in every incarnation of Vishnu.
She is also known as the Goddess of good fortune, so her image often appears in the form of a jar of gold coins. She is portrayed in a variety of ways, but her hands are always holding the symbols of Dharma, Kama and Artha. She is depicted as wearing a pink or blue sari and is seated on a lotus pedestal. She is usually adorned with gold ornaments and jewelry. She is worshiped at home and in temples, especially on Fridays. Her sacred name is Shri, which is written atop most documents and spoken before addressing a god, a teacher or a revered person.
Devotion
In Hinduism, Lakshmi is worshiped as the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. She is depicted in art standing or seated on a lotus flower and holding a water pot, conch and a pot of amrita in her hands. She is dressed in a pink or blue sari and she is often surrounded by traditional symbols of good fortune.
The gods and humans honor her by praying, chanting and singing her praises like Laxmi Chalisa. They also clean their homes and businesses to welcome her and offer her gifts of fruits, grains and jewels. Diwali is a particularly important holiday for her devotees. The celebrations are a tribute to her powers of prosperity and protection.
Meaning
In the Hindu tradition, Lakshmi is seen as a source of spiritual and material wealth. She represents the fecundity of the universe, as well as personal prosperity and inner joy. She is often depicted with the symbols of wealth like a pot, pile of gold coins, a lotus flower, a throne, a conch, a fish, a fly whisk and a parasol. She is also a symbol of abundance and prosperity, especially for women. She is a powerful woman who has mastered the art of achieving success in any endeavor, be it work or love.
The story of Goddess Lakshmi is filled with the kind of power plays and romance that one expects to find in Hindu mythology. She came out of the churning of the ocean, full of poison and war between demons and gods, and chose her soul mate, Vishnu to be her husband for all eternity. Her name evokes grace, affluence, abundance, and the force that keeps incarnated beings from seeing the truth of reality.
