Vageesh Express

July 2006 Edition

Diety of Month

Mahalakshmi

Mahalakshmi, or lovingly called Lakshmi is the one goddess, whose blessings are sought by all devotees without exception. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Even her casual glance (kadaikkan paarvai) bestows happiness, wealth and prosperity. She is described as very beautiful, pleasant looking (priya darshani), calm, and peaceful.

Her birthplace is the ocean of milk. When Asuras and Devas churned the ocean of milk for nectar (amrutham), she appeared in a red lotus. She was so charming and beyond comparison, Lord Vishnu took her as his wife and gave her a place in his heart. As Vishnu's Shakti, or feminine energy counterpart, she transforms Vishnu's dormant energy into action. She is always the smiling wife, supporting him to preserve and sustain the world with her wealth and abundance.

She is called Sri Devi, Padmasani (one who is in the lotus), Hema, Kamala, Gauthami, Gomathi, Thirumagal and various other names. Lakshmi has eight forms. They are – Adi Lakshmi (origin of everything); Dhana Lakshmi (wealth); Dhaanya Lakshmi (food); Dhairya Lakshmi or Veera Lakshmi (courage); Santhana Lakshmi (offspring); Vidya Lakshmi (knowledge); Gaja Lakshmi (royalty) and Vijaya Lakshmi (victory). These eight forms denote how her blessings are vital to everybody and how integral she is for our lives. In addition, in the form of Mahalakshmi, she has all the weapons Durga Devi has in her hand and she is considered equivalent to Durga.

There are many legends about Lakshmi. According to one legend, when Goddess Kamakshi did penance in Maangadu, the entire world trembled, as the heat that emerged was unbearable for all living beings. Then Goddess Mahalakshmi took the form of the celestial cow, Kamadhenu, and pacified Goddess Kamakshi. As a result, the intensity of the heat reduced and the entire world heaved a sigh of relief.

There are many temples dedicated to Lakshmi. In India, one such temple is in Karveera, near modern day Kolhapur. Puranas say that she vanquished the demon Kolhasura there. Hence she is also called ‘Kolhasura Bhayankari’.

Another large city in India named after Her is ‘Mumbai’. As ‘Mumba Devi’, Mahalakshmi is the guardian goddess of ‘Mumbai’. Mahalakshmi Temple of Mumbai is very beautiful and Lakshmi’s face is worshipped as the deity. Her beauty is so overwhelming and peaceful the devotees can forget themselves looking at her face. It is believed that because of her presence in Mumbai, even the poorest who come to Mumbai can come up in life and earn wealth with their drive and motivation. Many millionaires in Mumbai arrived there without any appreciable amount in their hand and yet made a life for themselves.

Outside of India, famous temples for Lakshmi are in London (UK) and Boston (USA). Other religions also worship her as Lakshmi or in some other form. Jains worship Her as Lakshmi, in Eastern Europe she is worshipped as Slatababa, ‘golden goddess’; in Feng-Shui, she is called ‘Choy San Poh’; as Ahurani (wife of Ahura Mazda) in Persia of Pharsi religion, to name a few.

Let us pray for her blessings to keep us in peace and plenty in this world.

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