Lakshmi Maa

Lakshmi Maa Maa Lakshmi Maa Lakshmi or Laxmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity (both material and spiritual), light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Maa Laxmi also known as MahaLakshmi. Mahalakshmi is said to bring good luck. She is believed to protect her devotees from all kinds of misery and money-related sorrows. Lakshmi in Sanskrit is derived from its elemental form laks, meaning “to perceive or observe”.This is synonymous with laksya, meaning “aim” or “objective”. The Hindu Sacred Texts Vedas call Mahalakshmi as Lakshyayidhi Lakshmihi which means she is the one who has the object and aim of uplifting mankind. Goddess Mahalakshmi is called as Shri or Thirumagal (because she is endowed with six auspicious and divine qualities or Gunas and also because she is the source of strength even to Lord Narayana(Vishnu). She is the consort of Vishnu and married Rama (in her incarnation as Sita) and Krishna (as Radha and later Rukmini). In Hinduism Devas (gods) and asuras (demons) were both mortal at one time. Amrit, the divine nectar that would give immortality could only be obtained by churning the Kshirsagar (Ocean of Milk). The devas and asuras both sought immortality and decided to churn the Kshirsagar. With the devas on one side and the asuras on the other, the samudra manthan commenced. Vishnu incarnated as Kurma, the tortoise, on whom was placed a mountain as a churning pole, and Vasuki, the great venom-spewing serpent, was wrapped around it and used to churn the ocean. A host of divine celestial objects came up during the churning. Among these, importantly, was Goddess Lakshmi, the daughter of the king of the milky ocean. The last to come up was the Amrit. With this, the avatar of Kurma, the tortoise, ended. Vishnu then took up the form of a beautiful maiden to distract the asuras and gave immortality to the devas. Goddess Mahalakshmi has ever been in existence. Her appearance from samudra manthan is one of her main manifestation only. Goddess Mahalakshmi was also born to the great Sage Bhrigu and she is therefore also called as Bhargavi. Goddess Mahalkshmi is also the sister of the great Guru Sukracharya as well as the great planet Chandra. Each time Vishnu descends on earth as an avatar, He is accompanied by an avatar of Lakshmi. Lakshmi with Vishnu at Vaikuntha The moon (chandra) also appeared from the ocean during the churning, making it her brother. Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, is Lakshmi’s elder sister. According to the Vishnu Purana, Lakshmi is the daughter of Bhrigu and Khyaati and resided in Swarga, but, due to the curse of Durvasa, she left Swarga and made Ksheersagara her home. Maa MahaLakshmi, Devi Laxmi – Goddess of Wealth Mahalakshmi is the presiding Goddess of the Middle episode of Devi Mahatmya. Here, she is depicted as Devi in her universal form as Shakti. The manifestation of the Devi to kill Mahishasura is formed by the effulgences of all the gods. The Goddess is described as eighteen-armed, bearing a string of beads, battle axe, mace, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, water pot, cudgel, lance, sword, shield, conch, bell, wine cup, trident, noose and the discus sudarsana. She has a complexion of coral and is seated on a lotus.[6] She is known as Ashta Dasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi. She is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both either side of Sri Venkateshwara or Vishnu. Bhudevi is the representation and totality of the material world or energy, called the aparam Prakriti, in which She is called Mother Earth. Sridevi is the spiritual world or energy, called the Param Prakriti. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Lakshmi. Devi Lakshmi is the power of Lord Vishnu. Mahalakshmi’s presence is also found on Lord Sri Venkateswara (at Tirumala) or Vishnu’s chest, at the heart. Lakshmi is the embodiment of love, from which devotion to God or Bhakti flows from. It is through Love/Bhakti or Lakshmi that the atma or soul is able to reach God or Vishnu. Lakshmi plays a special role as the mediator between her husband Lord Vishnu and his worldly devotees. While Vishnu is often conceived of as a stern, easily perturbed patriarch, Lakshmi represents a more soothing, warm and approachable mother figure who willingly intervenes in the lives of devotees on his behalf. Often, it is Lakshmi who acts as the advocate for the request of a given mortal. When asking Vishnu for grace or the forgiveness of sins, Hindus often approach him through the intermediary presence of Lakshmi. She is also the personification of the spiritual energy within us and the universe, called Kundalini. Also, she embodies the spiritual world, also known as Vaikunta, the abode of Lakshmi-Narayana or Vishnu, or what would be considered Heaven in Vaishnavism. She is also the divine qualities of God and the soul. Lakshmi is the embodiment of God’s superior spiritual feminine energy, or the Param Prakriti, which purifies, empowers and uplifts the individual. Hence, she is called the Goddess of Fortune. Due to her motherly feelings and being the consort of Narayan (Supreme Being), she is believed as the Mother of the Universe. Jai Maa Vaibhav Laxmi Maa Vaisbhav Lakshmi has many names. She is known to be very closely associated with the lotus, and her many epithets are connected to the flower, such as: Prakruti – Goddess Mahalakshmi is the very personification of nature, the centre of all, the manifested and the unmanifested. Vikruti – Goddess Mahalakshmi is the Multi-Faceted Nature, who assumes many forms, known by numerous names, yet is attributeless. Vidya - Goddess Mahalakshmi is the very personification of Wisdom. Padma – Lotus dweller * Kamala: lotus dweller * Padmapriya: One who likes lotuses * Padmamaladhara devi: One who wears a garland of lotuses * Padmamukhi: One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus * Padmakshi: One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus * Padmahasta: One who holds a lotus * Padmasundari: One who is as beautiful as a lotus * Vishnupriya: One who is the beloved of Vishnu * Ulkavahini: One who rides an owl Her other names include: Rama, Indira, Manushri, Chakrika, Kamalika, Lalima, Kalyani, Nandika, Rujula, Vaishnavi, Narayani, Bhargavi, Sridevi, Chanchala, Bhumi Devi, Jalaja, Madhavi, Sujata, and Aiswarya. She is also referred to as Jaganmaatha (“Mother of the Universe”) in Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam. Rama and Indira are popular. Goddess Mahalakshmi is also known to preside over 16 forms of worldly wealth excluding Ashta siddhis, gnana and imparting gnana. They are as follows: (1) Fame; (2) Knowledge; (3) Courage and Strength; (4) Victory; (5) Good Children; (6) Valor; (7) Gold, Gems and Other Valuables; (8) Grains in abundance; (9) Happiness; (10) Bliss; (11) Intelligence; (12) Beauty; (13) Higher Aim, High Thinking and Higher Meditation; (14) Morality and Ethics; (15) Good Health; (16) Long Life. Maa Mahalaxmi worshiped as in Eight forms named Ashta Lakshmi. Ashta Lakshmi, also spelled as Ashtalakshmi are a group of eight Hindu goddesses, who preside over eight sources of wealth and thus represent the powers of Shri-Lakshmi (The Hindu goddess of wealth). Thus, the ‘Ashta Lakshmi’ are considered secondary manifestations of the goddess Lakshmi. “Wealth” in the context of Ashta-Lakshmi means prosperity, good health, knowledge, strength, progeny, and power. The Ashta Lakshmi are always depicted and worshipped in a group in temples. Ashta Laxmi The Ashta Lakshmi listed as per the prayer Shri Ashta Lakshmi Stotram are: - * Adi Lakshmi or Maha Lakshmi : an ancient form of Lakshmi and incarnation of Lakshmi as daughter of sage Bhrigu. * Dhana Lakshmi : for money and gold. * Dhanya Lakshmi : Giver of agricultural wealth. * Gaja Lakshmi : Giver of animal wealth like cattle and elephants Swami Chidananda interprets Gaja Lakshmi as giver of power of royalty. According to Hindu mythology, Gaja Lakshmi brought back the wealth lost by Indra (king of demi-gods) from the ocean. Vasudha Narayanan intrepret the name as “one who is worshipped by elephants”. * Santana Lakshmi : Bestower of offspring. * Veera Lakshmi : Bestower of valour in battles and courage and strength for overcoming difficulties in life. * Vijaya Lakshmi or Jaya Lakshmi : Giver of victory, not only in battles but also over conquering hurdles in order to beget success. * Vidya Lakshmi : the bestower of knowledge of arts and sciences. In some Ashta Lakshmi lists, other forms of Lakshmi are included: * Aishwarya Lakshmi : “Goddess of riches” * Saubhagya Lakshmi : “Giver of prosperity in general.” * Rajya Lakshmi : “She who blesses rulers (with secular power)” * Vara Lakshmi : “The lady who bestows Beautiful Boons”.

Devi Maa

Devi Mata Laxmi

Satya Samhita

Ancient Indians – Satya SamhitaSatya Sarada Kandula : Help yourself but please give credit and a linkback! Lakshmi Devi

Pujas and Festivals : Ksheerabdi Kanya – Sree Mahalakshmi – Ksheerabdi Dwadasi : Our darling Sri Lakshmi Devi, the Goddess of Light, is the daughter of the Ksheerabdi, the ocean of milk (the milky way.) (Kurma Puranam : 2 : Vishnu explains Lakshmi) She was born when the ocean of milk was churned and married Sri Maha Vishnu on the same day. The 12th day of of Karthika Masam is Ksheerabdi Dwadasi. Everyone in Bangalore is off buying or acquiring little branches of amla (gooseberry) branches. (Amla is very very rich in vitamin C and gives resistance to the colds and flus that winter might bring). Vishnu loves Amla and is glad to see it in every home!! And if that is not enough the lamps are made out of lemon rinds turned inside out! (Lots more vitamin C from the lemons!) And they are going to worship Devi with lamps. The festival of lamps that starts with Deepavali (Aswiyuja Amavasya) continues throughout the festive Karthika Masam – called Karthika Deepalu. Karthika Masam Mondays are favorite days to worship Siva. The first 6 days of Karthika Masam, there are festivals to Skanda (Kumaraswamy, Subrahmanya Swami, Shanmukha) in Tamil Nadu. In Andhra the 4th day of Karthika Masam is called Nagula Chavithi. Nagula Chavithi and Karthika Pournami (full moon) are days for fire-cracker burning. Karthika Masam in Andhra is also famous for Vana Bhojanalu – Moonlit Dinners. The spiritual seekers are up before dawn and turn to the east to pray. The brightest full moon occurs close to the winter solstice, which occurs in the month following Karthika Masam. (Margasira Masam). That is when the moon is nearest the earth (its perigee) and the earth is nearest the sun. The moon is closer (therefore bigger) and receives 7% more sunlight and is therefore brighter as well. Kartigai Deepam as related to Arunachaleswara, Ksheera Sagara Mathanam (Location) ; Ksheera sagara: Ocean of milk: The milky way; Nakshatras, Masas, Rtus, Varas, Rasis, Specialities Varamahalakshmi Vratam : The Bhavishya Puranam is full of interesting things. One of them is the procedure of performing the Varamahalakshmi Vratam and teh story behind it. One devout lady of Vidarbha called Charumati Devi once dreamed of Lakshmi Devi, who told her how to perform the Varamahalakshmi Vratam and when. When .. is the Friday before the s’rAvaNa mAsa full moon, every year. It as an all woman festival and all that guys get to do is eat. As in all our neighbouring households, people got ultra-clean, headbaths and all and cooked up a dream. Then they got down to the Puja. First the sankalpa which states our location in time as well as space and then the purpose as well as the deity of worship. I am not sure what NRI Hindus will say in place of Bharata Varshe Bharata Khande.. etc.. but the Vikruti Nama Samvatsara, Moola Nakshatra, Sukla Paksha , Sarvesheam Ekadasi, part should be common. Maybe they will just give the Julian Date and latitude and longitude. Devi can understand. Anyway, the first puja is always to Vighneshwara, a huge personal favorite of mine and then to the kalas’a. Into the kala’sa we invoke Brahma, Siva and Vishnu as well as all the waters of the world especially the saptasindhus. This is the pure water we offer Lakshmi Devi to wash her hands and feet, to bathe and to drink. We offer her a panchamruta snanam of water, curds, ghee, honey and sugar.. and all this becomes prasadam for us. We offer her sandalwood paste, and a lovely, sacred and well decorated place to sit. We offer her ghee lamps with 3 wicks, sweet scented incense as well camphor. We offer her lovely flowers, jewels and clothes. And all this becomes prasadam for us. Pleased with all our efforts, she blesses us with long life, good health, wealth, success of our families, sons and grandsons, our chosen wishes, dharma, artha, kama and moksha. And in case there is a lapse in our procedure somewhere, we can always rely on Sri Krishna, to fill in the gaps, cover for us and ensure that we get pUrNaphala or the full benefit of an apt service. We chant the names of the Devi and sing her songs. Since I now know the Sri Suktham with Vedic Swaras , I chanted that to please Her, the Divine Mother, the Light in us and outside us. Eventime, we went visiting all the neighbours who had a ‘perantam’ (telugu). Basically we have a darshan of the Devi in their houses and the ladies of that house load us with coconuts and soaked unhusked channal dal seeds (sometimes raw, sometimes sprouted and cooked). They give us bangles and betel leaves, areca nuts and kumuma and pasupu (turmeric). . There is singing in some houses. Temples : Travel : A golden temple of Sri Mahalakshmi at Sripuram, Vellore, Tamilnadu There is a Laksmi vigraha on the outside prakaras of the Thirupathi temple. Touching it is said to bring you wealth. It worked for me. Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur. Vedas : Sri Suktham : Lakshmi as Light Puranas : Kurma Puranam : 2 : Vishnu explains Lakshmi Lakshmi guides Indradyumna on attaining Moksha! Physics : While explaining the Sri Suktham.. I put forward my reasons for treating Lakshmi as light. In my posts on Time, Life and Consciousness I have explained why I hold that Devi, Sakthi is energy. Lakshmi is the “light” part of energy. I was interested to see that “lakshmIh” is one of the name attributes of Vishnu as given in the Vishnu Sahasranamam by Bhishma. We know of Lakshmi as sthoola and sookshma, both material and fine, maha sakti, the great energy.. Indians as a rule are comfortable with, This And That, we don’t insist on the exclusive Or. Why should I worship Lakshmi if she is “only” light? The Indian way is ancient. We worship parents, guests, trees, children, food, knowledge, rivers, light, darkness… everything! To me it seems that the bio electrical signals of my little brain (also Devi), that I call my heartfelt prayers, actually influence other little events in my life, which are really the energy (Devi) in other things. (Light : Lakshmi : Vishnu) All the pictures of Lakshmi Devi, show gold coins streaming from her hands. The Vedic Sri Suktham, tells us that Lakshmi is she who causes/is a stream (srajaa) of brilliant (rajata) good colour light (su-varna) and that she is herself the colour of hiraNya ( gold, deer). (Light : Bits of Light Energy (Photons) : suvarna rajata srajaa Lakshmi : mass energy equivalence, sat sakti equivalence, advaita, sat cit ananda) We have thus far identified Lakshmi Devi, who is an aspect of Devi, with Light. And we have learnt from physics, that Light is the fastest of all. We can’t catch up with light. Light is made up of massless particles called photons. The moment a photon is created, it quickly accelerates to c = 3*10^8 m/s. Nothing can go faster than a massless particle in vaccuum!! And thus Lakshmi Devi, Light, who “is never still in one place”, is the fastest one in the Universe., and also the ‘lightest’! Only “he who is everywhere”, Vishnu, can be her darling, Lakshmikantha. (Particles : The Very Small (sukshma) and The Very Fast (vega) : Photons : Lakshmi, Devi, Sarva Chaitanya, Atman) In Sri Suktham, we tell Agni, the one born of Vedas (jAtavEda) to bring Lakshmi! (lakshmIm jAtavedO ma Avaha). We tell fire to go bring us light. When electrons “jump” the “right” energy states photons can be emitted. We tell the electrons to release photons! (Fire : A chemical reaction : Agni : Electron Motion : Photon emission : Lakshmi : Sri Suktham) Lakshmi, anupagAminI, whose movement is incomparable, light, moves equally fast in your frame of reference and mine. She is not partial to you or me. Atoms are held together by the electromagnetic force carriers ie photons. The universe (Viswam, Vishnu) is held together by threads of light, by Lakshmi Mata! (Why should the speed of light be same in all non accelerating frames of reference?) At cosmological scales, Lakshmi takes time. It takes many earth years for light to reach from far away galaxies to the earth. But as far as Lakshmi is concerned, time hasn’t moved at all. At the speed at which Lakshmi moves, clocks stand still! Light is produced and absorbed as if it were a particle (ie that particle mathematical model works) and it travels as if it were a wave. (ie that wave mathematical model works). I have said that Light is an aspect of Sakthi Devi and that she is called Lakshmi, in the Vedas – Sri Suktham. However many people worship Lakshmi Devi to get money (Dhana). No less a person than Indra called Lakshmi as Mahamaya (the great illusion), Mahasakti (the great power/energy) and Jagan Mata (the mother of the world). People also worship for Siddhi, Buddhi, Bhukthi, Mukthi, Vijaya, Dhana, Dhanya for courage, illumination, metal stability, peace of mind and so on. I am a firm believer that even thinking of Devi will make problems of every kind vanish and bring every form of prosperity I understand Devi can be Lalita, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Durga, Parvati, Tripura Sundari, Kunda, Satya, Radha, Sarada, Ganga, Godavari, Narmada.. as well as Kaalika, Nidra, Krodhaa… and Chandi. And that in all of her aspects, she looks after us. I may have a particular love for Saraswathi and you for Durga, depending on our own natures. I understand that though Lalita and Kaalika are so different, they are descriptions of the same Devi. Much has to do with the observer and the circumstances of the observation. (Light : Stereotypes : Wave, Particle Duality (Dvaita) : Lakshmi Devi and Me) The universe, Viswam is a name-attribute of Vishnu as per theVishnu Sahasranamam. The entire structure of the universe is held together by residual electromagnetic forces, the force carrier particles of which are photons, particles of light,Lakshmi. And thus does She permeate the Vais’vanara and hold Him together. (Touch : ‘Untouchable’ Universe : Pushing : Colliding : Electromagnetic Force Carrier Particles : Photons : Lakshmi Devi holds the Universe together!) …. But how big is a photon? () “…….of the physical dimensions of a photon. On that topic, I must say that since the photon consists of changing energy fields, the photon encompasses that volume of space in which those energy fields have significant effect. Thus, if a photon from a radio wave passes close enough to a receiving antenna, it will transfer its energy to the antenna, giving rise to an electrical signal even as the photon itself ceases to exist. The “size” of the photon is that volume of space within which this phenomenon can occur. The higher the frequency of the photon, the higher its energy level. Therefore, such photons will have a correspondingly larger field of influence than their lower-energy counterparts…..” (Source :http://www.play-hookey.com/optics/photon_characteristics.html) “In the wave idea of light, colour is determined by the rate at which the wave wiggles; a rapid, energetic wiggle for blue and a more leisurely wiggle for red. You can measure the distance that the light travels for each wiggle, and this is the ‘wavelength’ – it appears to be less than a thousandth of a millimetre for light…. The apparent length (in the direction of movement) of a moving object gets smaller as its speed approaches the speed of light… Since a photon travels always at the speed of light then it will always appear to have no length at all. This is, of course, whilst it is on the move…

Mahalaxmi Devi nice pic

Story of grace of Godess Mahalaxmi

In a town, in South India, two farmer brothers, lived in their ancesteral house. The elder brother was blessed and was doing well in life, while the others lot was not so rosy, and he found it hard to make the ends meet. The Brothers were blessed with two daughters each, with time, they came to their marriageable age. Soon the elder brother's daughters were married well off while the younger brother's daughters did not find a ideal match. But as the days were getting on the younger brother, searched and got his daughters married to boys fit to his standards and stations. The youngest of the daughters called Rukmani, was a woman blessed with unparalleled beauty, delicately fair complexioned, doe eyed, docile and mannerred, she entered her husband's house and immediately took control of the household which everybody was happy to hand over to her. Slowly she managed and regulated the people and brought everything in a systematic order. Now everyone worked together, During the day when the menfolks away working in the fields the wives got together and went to the nearby forest to get Tendu leaves used to make hand rolled Beedees ( mini cigars) and rolled very high quality beedees which soon became famous all over the town. They had two square meals a day everyday, and enjoyed comforts they did not before Rukmani came. One day, as Rukmani was sitting, in the open inner-courtyard, cleaning the rice, suddenly a beautiful Gold Chain fell upon the rice heap, which she quickly picked up and hid it within the folds of her sari. After a while the kings announcer cameby, and announced, that the Queen had lost her Golden Necklace. Finders, who returns it in person, will suitably rewarded. Rukmani new the chain she had found, could belong to the Queen alone, and no one else. So she pondered and called the family together, and told them of the matter. Next day Rukmani along with her father-in-law and husband went to the Kings court and returned the necklace. Happily the King announced that he would give her anything her heart desired,only she had to ask for it. Rukmani then very humbly said, "Your majesty, on the comming Purnima (Full moon night) let not a single light burn in the entire kingdom, not even your own palace Sire. Only light will allowed to burn in my hut. Thats all l ask." King and his courtiers were taken aback, but having announced his gift, he ordered what Rukmani has asked. Returning home, she called the angry family together, and said. "My father, elder brothers, sisters and respected husband, I know you all are angry at me for asking such a silly request from the king, when we could have the riches of the seven worlds.But please bear with me and after the full moon night you all shall have blessings of Lakshmi Goddess on our house, forever. But you all will have to do what I say." Rukmani's father-in-law who knew her to be intelligent, ordered everyone to listen and do what she asked. "Not an Order, dear father, but a request. First we must apply white wash the house, pave the floor properly, shine all the brass utensils and clean the copper ones till they glitter like pure and burnished gold. Then on the full moon night father you, and appa (elderbrother) and Chechi (Sister-in-law) will stand the front door, and you brother, dear hushband and sister will stand at the rear enterance. I will be busy in performing worship. By midnight three ladies dressed in all the fineries come to the door, and demanding to enter the house, to which you must say, Okey we will allow you to enter our house but you must promise to forever stay in our house and never leaveit for a single moment. (this she said to her father-in-law) and turning to her husband, she continued, you will go the rear door and as soon the three beautiful ladies enter our house you will find three ladies dressed in old tattered saries, dirty and unkempt wanting to leave from the rear door. which you must not allow, when the insist then you must make them promise that they would not return to this house ever in there life time. and once they promise only then allow them to go saying go then and take all your belongings and go". So everybody got together and did what Rukmani directed and soon the hut began looking prosperous and brightly done up. The utensils glowed as if they belonged a gold merchant. On the night of the full moon, the entire kingdom was dark with not a single light burning anywhere, Soon at midnight, Goddess Lakshmi, in the company of her sister Prosperty and Good health, came to the doors of Rukmani's house, and demanded entry, the old man said then, "Mothers, we can allow you to enter the house only if you promise to stay in this house forever and never leave it for a moment." the three ladies willing promised, and they were allowed to enter, as soon as they entered, the three dirty unkempt ladies tried to run out of the rear door, but were stopped from doing so, till they promised never to return to the house even for a moment for the entire period of their life." the ladies quickly promised to do so, and the husband then said, "Ok you troublesome creatures, leave and take all your belonging with you. and never return." So hasitly, Poverty, ill-luck, and sickness left running out of the house in great speed. As soon Goddess Lakshmi entered the house, the entire house glowed with goodness, prosperity and good health. From following day, the conditions of Rukmani's house changed well being, seemed to glow out of each nook and corner of the house, soon their days of poverty hardship passed away. and they gained a very high place in the society. Rukmani glowed with pride and her family basked in its radiance.