re: Nature of Lakshmi

[Guest guest]

Dear Srivaishnavas

 

here is an interesting excerpt from Vishnu Purana regarding the nature of

Periya Piratti that i want to share with you..

 

The Nature of Lashmi

Vishnu Purana 1:8:15 ­ 32

 

Parasara. Said ‹ Sri, the bride of Vishnu, the mother of the world, is

eternal, imperishable; in like manner as He is all-pervading., so also is

She, O best-of- brahmins, omnipresent. Vishnu is meaning (artha); she is

speech (vani). Hari is polity (Nyaya); she is prudence (Niti). Vishnu is

understanding (bodha); she is intellect (buddhi). He is righteousness

(dharma); she is moral action (satkriya). He is the creator; she is

creation. Sri is the earth; Hari the support of it. The deity is contentment

(santosha); the eternal Lakshmi is resignation (tushti) He is desire (kama);

Sri is wish (iccha). He is sacrifice (yajna); she is sacrificial donation

(Dakshina). The goddess is the ghee oblation (ajyahuti); Janardana is the

cake oblation (purodasha). Lakshmi is the pavillion where the females are

present (at a ceremony ­ patni-sala); Madhusudana the apartment of the males

of the family (pragavmsa). Lakshmi is the altar (citti); Hari the stake (to

which the victim is bound ­ yupa). Sri is the fuel (idhma); Hari the holy

grass (Kusa). He is the personified Sama-veda; the goddess, lotus-throned,

is the tone of its chanting. Lakshmi is the prayer of oblation (Svaha) ;

Vasudeva, the lord of the world, is the sacrificial fire (hutasana). Sauri

(Vishnu) is Sankara (Siva) and Sri is the bride of Siva (Gauri). Kesava, O

Maitreya, is the sun (surya) and his radiance (prabha) is the lotus-seated

goddess. Vishnu is the tribe of progenitors (Pitrgana) ; Padma is their

bride (Swadha ), the eternal bestower of nutriment. Sri is the heavens ;

Vishnu, who is one with all things, is wide extended space. The lord of Sri

is the moon ; she is his unfading light. She is called the moving principle

of the world (anapayini) he, the wind which blows every where Vayu). Govinda

is the ocean Lakshmi its shore. Lakshmi is the consort of Indra (Indrani)

Madhusudana is Indra [Devendra]. The holder of the discus (Vishnu) is Yama;

the lotus-throned goddess is his dusky spouse (dhumorna). Sri is wealth;

Sridhara (Vishnu) is himself the god of riches (Kuvera). Lakshmi,

illustrious brahmin, is Gauri ; and Kesava is the deity of ocean (Varuna).

Sri is the host of heaven (Devasena) ; the god of war (kartikeya), her lord,

is Hari. The wielder of the mace is resistance ; the power to oppose is Sri.

Lakshmi is the Kashtha and the Kala; Hari the Nimesha and the Muhurtta.

Lakshmi is the light: and Hari, who is all, and lord of all, the lamp. She,

the mother of the world, is the creeping vine ; and Vishnu the tree round

which she clings. She is the night ; the god who is armed with tile. mace

and discus is the day. He, the bestower of blessings, is the bridegroom; the

lotus-throned goddess is the bride. The god is one with all male ‹ the

goddess one with all female, rivers. The lotus-eyed deity is the standard

(dhvaja); the goddess seated on a lotus the banner (pataka). Laksmi is

craving (trshna); Narayana, the master of the world, is covetousness

(lobha), O you who know what dharma is, Govinda is love (raga); and Lakshmi,

his gentle spouse, is pleasure (rati). But why thus diffusely enumerate

their presence? ‹ it is enough to say, in a word. that of gods, animals:

and human beings, Hari is all that is called male Laksmi is all that is

termed female: there is nothing else than they.

 

Adiyen

 

Sri Rama