Goddess Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, beauty and auspiciousness. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, and accompanies him in his various incarnations on earth. She is also worshipped as an independent deity and as the mother of all living beings. She is revered as the embodiment of grace, charm, generosity and compassion.
The origin of Lakshmi is mentioned in several ancient scriptures, such as the Vedas, the Puranas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. According to one legend, she was born as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and his wife Khyati in the beginning of creation. She was endowed with divine qualities and virtues, and was admired by all the gods and sages. She was also known as Shri, which means auspiciousness, glory and splendor.
According to another legend, she emerged from the ocean of milk when it was churned by the gods and demons to obtain the nectar of immortality. She appeared as a radiant goddess, adorned with jewels and flowers, and holding a lotus in her hand. She chose Vishnu as her husband, and became his eternal companion. She also bestowed boons to the gods and sages who participated in the churning.
Lakshmi has taken various forms and incarnations along with Vishnu to assist him in his divine mission of maintaining order and harmony in the world. Some of her most prominent avatars are:
- Sita: She was the incarnation of Lakshmi who accompanied Vishnu in his avatar as Rama, the prince of Ayodhya and the hero of the Ramayana. She was the epitome of loyalty, devotion, purity and sacrifice. She endured many hardships and trials during her exile with Rama and her abduction by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. She proved her chastity by undergoing a fire test, and was finally reunited with Rama after he defeated Ravana.
- Rukmini: She was the incarnation of Lakshmi who accompanied Vishnu in his avatar as Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead and the protagonist of the Mahabharata. She was the princess of Vidarbha and the first wife of Krishna. She was a devoted and faithful consort who loved Krishna unconditionally. She eloped with Krishna to avoid marrying Shishupala, a wicked king who was chosen by her brother as her suitor. She bore Krishna many sons and daughters, and lived happily with him in Dwarka.
- Radha: She was another incarnation of Lakshmi who was associated with Krishna in his avatar as a cowherd boy in Vrindavan. She was a simple village girl who fell in love with Krishna at a young age. She was his most beloved consort who shared his divine love and bliss. She was also his eternal companion who followed him wherever he went. She is considered as the supreme goddess of devotion by many sects of Hinduism.
- Satyabhama: She was yet another incarnation of Lakshmi who accompanied Krishna in his avatar as a king and warrior. She was the daughter of King Satrajit and the third wife of Krishna. She was a proud and haughty princess who often quarreled with Krishna over his other wives. She also accompanied him in many battles and adventures, such as killing Narakasura, the demon king of Pragjyotisha, and retrieving the Syamantaka jewel from Jambavan, the king of bears.
- Padma: She was the incarnation of Lakshmi who accompanied Vishnu in his avatar as Vamana, the dwarf brahmin. She was a pious and humble woman who supported Vamana in his mission of subduing Bali, the generous but arrogant king of demons. Vamana asked Bali for three steps of land as a donation, but then expanded himself to cover the entire earth and sky with two steps. He then asked Bali where he should place his third step, to which Bali offered his own head. Vamana then placed his foot on Bali’s head and pushed him down to the netherworlds.
- Dharani: She was the incarnation of Lakshmi who accompanied Vishnu in his avatar as Parashurama, the warrior sage. She was a virtuous and dutiful wife who followed Parashurama in his crusade against the corrupt and oppressive kshatriyas (warrior class). Parashurama killed many kshatriyas who had violated dharma (righteousness) and donated their lands to brahmins (priestly class). He also taught martial arts to many disciples, such as Bhishma, Drona and Karna.
- Alamelu: She was the incarnation of Lakshmi who accompanied Vishnu in his avatar as Venkateshwara, the lord of Tirumala. She was the daughter of Akasha Raja, the king of Tondaimandalam, and the wife of Venkateshwara. She was a devoted and generous consort who helped Venkateshwara in fulfilling his vow of paying a huge debt to Kubera, the god of wealth. She also blessed many devotees who visited the Tirumala temple with wealth and prosperity.
Other forms of lakshmi
- Gaja Lakshmi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who is associated with elephants, symbolizing her royal power and majesty. She is depicted as four-armed, sitting on a lotus and flanked by two elephants who shower her with water from their trunks. She represents the wealth and prosperity that comes from hard work and perseverance. She is also the patron goddess of the Pandyas, a south Indian dynasty that ruled over Tamil Nadu and Kerala
- Santan Lakshmi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who grants the boon of offspring to her devotees. She is depicted as six-armed, holding two pitchers, a sword, a shield, a lotus and a child in her lap. She represents the joy and happiness that comes from having a family and children. She is also the goddess of fertility, childbirth and motherhood
- Vijaya Lakshmi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who bestows victory and success to her devotees. She is depicted as eight-armed, holding a discus, a conch, a bow, an arrow, a trident, a sword, a noose and a lotus. She represents the courage and confidence that comes from overcoming obstacles and challenges. She is also the goddess of valor, strength and courage
- Vidya Lakshmi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who imparts knowledge and wisdom to her devotees. She is depicted as four-armed, holding a book, a rosary, a lotus and a veena (a musical instrument). She represents the enlightenment and intelligence that comes from learning and education. She is also the goddess of arts, music and culture.
- Dhanya Lakshmi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who provides food grains and nourishment to her devotees. She is depicted as eight-armed, holding two lotuses, a mace, a sheaf of paddy, a sugarcane, a banana bunch, a bunch of chillies and a pot of rice. She represents the sustenance and abundance that comes from agriculture and nature. She is also the goddess of harvest, crops and vegetation.
- Aishwarya Lakshmi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who confers wealth and luxury to her devotees. She is depicted as six-armed, holding two lotuses, a kalasha (a holy pitcher), a bilva fruit (a sacred fruit), a coconut and a mango. She represents the opulence and splendor that comes from enjoying the material comforts of life. She is also the goddess of fortune, luck and auspiciousness.
- Varalakshmi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who fulfills all the wishes and desires of her devotees. She is depicted as four-armed, holding a lotus, a conch, a pot of gold coins and showing the abhaya mudra (the gesture of fearlessness). She represents the generosity and compassion that comes from granting boons to others. She is also the goddess of varas (boons) and vratas (vows).
- Bhudevi: She is the incarnation of Lakshmi who personifies the earth as the mother of all living beings. She is depicted as four-armed, holding a blue lotus, a pomegranate, a water vessel and showing the varada mudra (the gesture of giving). She represents the support and stability that comes from living in harmony with nature. She is also the goddess of ecology, environment and conservation.
These are some of the avatars of goddess Lakshmi since her origin and their significance. There are many more forms and names of Lakshmi that are worshipped by different sects and regions of Hinduism. She is the universal mother who bestows her grace and blessings on all her children. She is the source of all abundance and happiness in life.
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