Kamala [ Questions ]

[Guest guest]

Namaskar, Nora!

 

Your correspondent asks: "What is the difference between Kamala and

Lakshmi?" It's a very good question, and I hope that whoever sent it

to you will feel free to post directly to the Group for future

inquiries. We like lots of posts from lots of members!

 

Anyway, here are two passages on the interplay between Lakshmi and

Kamala -- the first is more factual, the second more mystical. But

both are very good, and each complements the other:

 

1. KAMALA AMONG THE MAHAVIDYAS

 

The name Kamala means "she of the lotus," and is a common epithet of

the goddess Lakshmi or Sri, who is said to adore lotuses and to be

lotus-eyed and surrounded by lotuses. Indeed, Kamala is none other

than the goddess Lakshmi. … [However,] Lakshmi is often portrayed as

Vishnu's loyal, modest and loving wife. She is described as being

occupied with domestic chores, such as cooking, and is typically

depicted as subservient to her husband. Iconographically, [for

example], she is often shown massaging Vishnu's feet and is much

smaller than he. …

 

It is striking, [therefore], that as a Mahavidya Kamala is never

shown iconographically or described in her dhyana mantras as

accompanying Vishnu. He may be mentioned, [for instance, to] say that

she has "glances that please Vishnu" or [that she is] "the beloved of

Vishnu," but for the most part he is absent. In this respect, [and

unlike Lakshmi,] Kamala is almost entirely removed from marital and

domestic contexts. Her central role [in Vaishnavism] as mediator

between devotees and Vishnu is completely missing in her Mahavidya

incarnation. She does not play the role of model wife in any

important way, and her association with proper dharmic or social

behavior (either as an example of it or as the rewarder of it) is not

important in the Mahavidya context. …

 

This is to be expected in the context of the Mahavidyas, where a

premium seems to be put on the independence of the goddesses. For the

most part, the Mahavidyas are seen as powerful goddesses in their own

right. Their power and authority do not derive from assoiation with

male deities. Rather, it is their power that pervades the gods and

enables them to perform their cosmic function.

 

Source: Kinsley, David. "Tantric Visions of the Divvine Feminine: The

Ten Mahavidyas," University of California Press (Berkeley), 1997.

 

2. KAMALA, LAKSHMI AND KALI

 

Kamala is a little different from Lakshmi. Kamala is the aspect of

Lakshmi that is part of the Wisdom Goddesses [Mahavidyas]. She is the

form of Lakshmi which relates specifically to the practice of Yoga.

Hence she is also a form of Kali.

 

Kali, or the Beauty of the Void, is also the basis of Kamala, or the

Beauty of Life. The spiritual lotus, which is the basis of the

Universal Energy, blooms in the void. It comes forth in the space of

pure consciousness. Hence to allow it to come forth we must first

make ourselves empty and clear. Only the non-attachment of Kali

enables us to enjoy life and find our fulfillment through Kamala.

 

Though Kamala is beneficent in form, she may appear as Kali and

remove our head is we become attached to Her delights. On the other

hand, if we redognize Kali and surrender our desires to the eternal

reality, then Kali appears as the beautiful and beneficent Kamala,

granting us all good things in the glory of [Devi].

 

Source: Frawley, David. "Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses,"

Passage Press (Salt Lake City), 1994.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe