The Goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Laxmi is the goddess of wealth, light, wisdom and fortune,
as well as (secondarily) luck, beauty and fertility.
In Puranic Hinduism Lakshmi is the Mother of the Universe and Vishnu's
Shakti. Lakshmi is married to Vishnu, and also married his
incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini)
and Venkateshwara (as Alamelu).
Goddess Lakshmi's origins are found in the great Sri Sukta ("Hymn
to Sri") that was added to the Rig-Veda sometime between 1000 and
500 B.C.E.
Physically, goddess Lakshmi is described as a fair lady, with four
arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in fine garments and precious jewels.
She has a benign countenance, is in her full youth and yet has a
motherly appearance.
The most striking feature of the iconography of Lakshmi is her
persistent association with the lotus. The meaning of the lotus in
relation to Sri-Lakshmi refers to purity and spiritual power. Rooted
in the mud but blossoming above the water, completely uncontaminated
by the mud, the lotus represents spiritual perfection and authority.
Furthermore, the lotus seat is a common motif in Hindu iconography.
Hindu gods and goddesses, typically sit or stand upon a lotus, which
suggests their spiritual authority. To be seated upon or to be
otherwise associated with the lotus suggests that the being in
question: god, human being-has transcended the limitations of the
finite world (the mud of existence, as it were) and floats freely in a
sphere of purity and spirituality. Shri-Lakshmi thus suggests more
than the fertilizing powers of moist soil and the mysterious powers of
growth. She suggests a perfection or state of refinement that
transcends the material world. She is associated not only with the
royal authority but with also spiritual authority, and she combines
royal and priestly powers in her presence. The lotus, and the goddess
Lakshmi by association, represents the fully developed blossoming of
organic life.
Lakshmi is worshipped the most on Diwali, the festival of lights.
According to tradition people would put small candles outside their
homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them.
Comments and faves
gothtwinz1 (70 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous!
Celeste33 (70 months ago | reply)
I think so too :¬)
"Gayatri", eclectic gipsyland, and carolina jolie added this photo to their favorites.
simon_ram (58 months ago | reply)
beautiful.. Jai Mata Di
ajeethkumar_01 and iofrah27 added this photo to their favorites.
melhelly (57 months ago | reply)
Beautiful pic for my beautiful Goddess!
Jay Jay Laxmi Mata
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