Lakshmi

On Varamalakshmi vrata Pooja eve I wanted to share some facts and thoughts on Lakshmi .Lakshmi in Sanskrit is derived from the root word ‘laks ‘or lakshya  meaning goal,aim . In Hinduism Lakshmi is the goddess who leads to one’s goal hence her name Lakshmi. While she is the goddess of fortune its not so much about luck,but about effort and the pursuit of goal. Effort and endeavour and striving in the pursuit of the goal is important to seek the support of the goddess. It was through the churning of the ocean by asuras  and devas who had to put in a lot of effort that Lakshmi appeared, the churn had to be there for Lakshmi  the goddess of fortune to appear. Lakshmi  is not just about material prosperity but abundance in all aspects, so firstly you have to have goals, secondly you can interpret the churning as an effort you need to put in these endeavours to attain Lakshmi. It’s only through emotional introspection and churning that you achieve emotional well-being or wealth. It’s only through churning of new ideas for wealth creation that you attain wealth. It’s only through spiritual churning and spiritual soul seeking that you gain spiritual wealth. Its about goals, efforts and the transformation that has to happen through the churning to attain Lakshmi. 

         For mankind there are 8 types of goals necessary According to Hinduism — spiritual enlightenment, food, knowledge,resources,progeny, prosperity, patience and success. Hence Lakshmi is worshipped as Ashtalakshmi. We have first the Aadi Lakshmi who is the primeval mother goddess across. We are one of the very few remaining feminine worshipping cultures and we give utmost importance to Aadi Lakshmi who supports us to seek the wealth of self realisation, wealth of understanding our own consciousness. So aadi Lakshmi gives you in abundance the ability to concentrate and meditate without distractions, so she will lead you in the pursuit of moksha. Then you have Dhanlaxmi who keeps her hand up from which, the gold coins keep pouring. More than the devotees seeking the gold coins, it is also about emulating the goddess in terms of being generous when we ourselves give wealth.

                    Then we have Dhanya Lakshmi who is the goddess of nourishment and nurturing. She is also closely associated with bhudevi. She is earth goddess who gives bountiful harvest, so she ensures abundance in agricultural wealth. So, just like the earth which bears the weight but in turn gives bountiful harvest goddess Lakshmi also bears the weight of devotees and gives bounties.

                     Then we have Santana Lakshmi. Like most ancient cultures who typically used to worship the fertility goddess we also have Santana Lakshmi who helps in your duty towards society in terms of nurturing the next generation as well as enriching your emotional life.

                     Then we have dhairya  Lakshmi who bestows courage to pursue righteousness so helping you in the goal of dharma because to establish dharma you need courage.

                  Similarly Vijayalakshmi gives you her blessings to achieve victory in the battle of dharma.

                   Then we have Vidyalakshmi who bestows you with knowledge which you will use across different domains in endeavour to pursue Dharma,artha, Kama, moksha.and then we have GajaLakshmi who helps in giving abundance, good luck and prosperity. So you have Lakshmi in her various forms giving you various bounties to pursue the four pursuits of human endeavour (dharma,artha,Kama,moksha)

           Lakshmi is always depicted in Indian art as elegantly dressed in red and gold saree with 4arms representing the 4 pursuits of human endeavour in Hindu culture (dharma,artha,Kama,moksha)   Goddess Lakshmi is not just about material and financial prosperity but abundance in all aspects of human endeavours which give meaning and purpose to human life. She is the goddess of enrichment not just materially but spiritually, emotionally and also in terms of ethics.

       In terms of other symbols the goddess is typically shown standing or sitting on a lotus pedestal while holding a lotus in her hand symbolising fortune, self knowledge and spiritual liberation. Lotus inspite of being in water never gets wet but  is detached from it and remains ever beautiful .it is not bothered about its surroundings but it blooms and performs its job., it reminds us that artha may be our goal but we should pursue it with detachment , so when you are subjected to the vagaries of fortune and characteristic of Lakshmi being fickle, you need to accept that to achieve material prosperity. You need to accept the fickleness and how do you make peace with the fickleness - by being detached from the fruits of the goal.

             Lakshmi’s vehicle also symbolises the same. The owl is blind by day meaning to say you shouldn’t be blinded by wealth and fall prey to the maya of wealth and become blinded by it. Owl also signifies the ability to move, work and prevail in confusing darkness.

               In her avatars as Sita she has exemplified how you should remain detached from the vagaries of fortune because despite being a queen she left all her material abundance and went into exile and embraced exile willingly and that shows she was immune and detached from the wealth which she grew up with, that exemplifies how we should be in our approach to fortune or misfortune. Lakshmi as bhudevi is very giving and exemplifies that giving nature while shouldering the burden of earth, similarly Sita is very giving while she shoulders the burdens of family obligations.

                 Let’s bow down to the Mahalakshmi and take her blessings to attain our  goals our Lakshya.

              Namastestu mahamaye Shree peethe sur poojithe