The fourteenth deity that we worship is Lakshmi Maa.
Latchmi Amma is the consort of Lord Vishnu. She is the Mother and Giver of spiritual and material wealth. Her divine light is represented by light of a diya (oil lamp); for She is the dispeller of all ignorance and darkness within. A very auspicious time to worship this divine form of Mariamma is Diwali.
Laxmi Ammaa is the manifestation of our inner light. We pray and ask her to bestow her eternal love and splendor on to us. In a Hindu household, females are always considered the Laxmi of the home.
About Goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi is revered by Hindus the world over as the Goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity. She is the wife and Shakti (energy) of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of The Universe. Goddess Lakshmi is also an important deity in Jainism and found in Jain temples. The Buddhist Goddess of abundance and good fortune Vasudhara also mirrors the attributes of Lakshmi. She is also the embodiment of Divinity endowed with six auspicious and divine qualities, or gunas.
Unique Traits of Goddess Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi is depicted with four hands each representing Dharma, Kama, Artha and Moksha. Seated on a lotus pedestal with a jar of money in her hand and draped in a red sari, bedecked with gold ornaments and flanked by white elephants, the image of Lakshmi adorns most Hindu homes and business establishments.
She is the Goddess of wealth, fortune, power, luxury, beauty, fertility, and auspiciousness. She also holds the promise of material fulfillment and contentment.
Incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi descended on this Earth to fulfill the wishes of her devotees and she is widely believed to have incarnated as:
- Vedavati: Previous birth of Sita, Born as the daughter of King Kushadhwaja.
- Sita: Known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage and purity.
- Rukmini: Symbol of devotion and humility worthy of a cultured and well-bought-up girl.
- Padmavati: Goddess who brings Auspiciousness in our life.
Mythology of Goddess Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi was born from the churning of the primordial ocean (Samudra manthan) and she chose Vishnu as her consort. When Vishnu incarnated on Earth as Rama and Krishna , Lakshmi descended as his respective consort – Sita (Rama’s wife) and Rukmini (Krishna’s wife). Ancient scriptures of India declare all women to be the embodiments of Lakshmi. Hindu wedding rituals and ceremonies also embody the marriage and relationship of the Divine couple Lakshmi and Vishnu. Lakshmi is also considered as another aspect of the same supreme Goddess of the Shaktism tradition.
Unique offerings to Goddess Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi epitomizes the symbol of married women. So, people never offer her white flowers as white symbolizes being a widow. Red roses are one of the favorite flowers of the Goddess. Hence, decorating the Puja scape with this flower and offering it to the Goddess is considered auspicious. Devotees also offer her Red Jasmine, Hibiscus, Jungle Geranium, Darba grass, Geraniums, Lotus flowers and Fragrant Screw Pine. She is also said to favor cleanliness and to propitiate her, one must keep their premises free of clutter. Lighting of lamps is also a ritual conducive to usher in Her grace and remove darkness, ignorance and evil.
Benefits of Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi does not favor the lazy and the greedy. She showers her blessings on those who work hard and strive for excellence in their daily life. Worshipping her would attract good fortune, abundance, fame, knowledge, courage and strength. Along with this, fertility, intelligence and beauty can also be attributed to her.
