Goddess Lakshmi : Description

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(Who is Goddess Lakshmi)

 

Ø For obvious reasons, Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, is more sought after

then Sarasvati, the goddess of learning. Being the power and consort of Lord

Vishnu, the preserver, she is represented as the power of multiplicity and the

goddess of fortune, both of which are equally necessary in the process of

preservation.

 

Ø ‘Lakshmi’ as depicted in the Vedas is the Goddess of wealth and fortune,

power and beauty. In her first incarnation, according to the Puranas, she was

the daughter of sage Bhrgu and his wife Khyati. She was later born out of ocean

of milk at the time of its churning. She, being the consort of Vishnu, is born

as his spouse whenever he incarnates. When he appeared as Vamana, Parasurama,

Rama, and Krishna, she appeared as Padma, Dharini, Sita and Rukmini. She is as

inseparable from Vishnu as speech from meaning or knowledge from intellect, or

good deeds from righteousness. He reprents all that is masculine, and she, all

that is feminine.

 

Ø Lakshmi is usually depicted as enchantingly beautiful and standing on a

Lotus, and holding lotuses in each of her two hands. It is because of this,

perhaps that she is named Padma or Kamala.She is also adorned with a lotus

garland. Very often elephants are shown on either side, emptying pitchers of

water over her, the pitchers being presented by celestial maidens. Her colour is

variously described as dark, pink, golden yellow or white . She is shown holding

lotus, shanka(conch), Amratakalasa(pot of ambrosia) and Bilva fruit.

 

Symbology OF THE GODDESS

 

(What does the various hands, lotuses in a Goddess Lakshmi photo/idol mean)

 

1. If Lakshmi is pictured as dark complexion, it is to show that she is the

consort of Vishnu, the dark god. If golden yellow, that shows her as the source

of wealth. If white, she represents the purest form of Prakriti(nature) from

which the universe had develop. The pinkish complexion, which is more common,

reflects her compassion for creatures, since she is the mother of all.

 

2. Her four hands dignify her power to grant the four Purusarthas(ends of

life), Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama(pleasures of the flesh), and

Moksha( beatitude).

 

3. The lotuses, in various stages of blooming, represent the worlds and

beings in various stages of evolution.

 

4. The fruit stands for the fruits of our labours. However- much we may toil

and labour, unless the Mother is gracious enough to grant the fruits of labour,

nothing will be of any avail. If the fruit is a coconut- with its shell, kernel

and water- it means that from her originate the three levels of creation, the

gross, the subtle. If it is a pomegranate or a citron, it signifies that the

various created worlds are under her control and that she transcends them all.

If it is a bilva fruit- which, incidentally, iot is not very tasty or

attractive, but which is extremely good for health- it stands for moksha, the

highest fruit of spiritual life.

 

5. Amrtakalasa also signifies the same thing, viz. that she can give us the

bliss of immortality.

 

By Swami Harshananda, Ramakrishna Mission, Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore - Chennai