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BOUNTEOUS SRI MAHALAKSHMI
Vengrai Parthasarathy
(This article was published in the Bhavan’s Journal dt.15 June 2015)
Sri Mahalakshmi, is the divine consort of Maha Vishnu in whose right chest she abides always. She is known as Sri / Mahishi ( in Sanskrit ) to indicate her exalted status as blissful queen and chief consort of Sri Narayana, and as the gentle goddess of wealth and prosperity, benevolence and radiance and plenitude. She is worshipped as Sridevi, and Bhoodevi –and also as NeeLa Devi—an incarnation of Bhoo Devi. Lakshmi is called Srivathsa Mahalakshmi The word Lakshmi is derived from ’Lakshya’, meaning laudable aim or ideal / goal.
In our family relationships it is the mother who claims the prime place , mother-child relationship being the most sacred. Lakshmi as the Universal Mother, nurtures and nourishes her children with wordly riches and spiritual food and enables access to Sri NarAyana..
In sloka-s or holy psalms on Mahalakshmi, the recurring references are to her permanent dwelling in Sri Narayana’s right chest, her association with the Lotus, her emanation from the cosmic ocean of milk, her kinship/co-birth with nectar and the moon . The Lotus, with which she is associated symbolizes Spiritual love, Supreme beauty, Divinity and connotations of Idealized Femininity. She symbolizes the spiritual mother, a picture of tranquility.
What is Wealth for which Lakshmi is worshipped ?
The concept of wealth as being fiscal wealth is a narrow view. It is much more than that. Here is a quote: “Mother Lakshmi is the source and provider of the following enumerated well-known sixteen types of wealth and many more. (1) Fame (2) Knowledge (3) Courage and Strength (4) Victory (5) Virtuous Children (6) Valour (7) Gold and other gross properties (8) Grains (9) Happiness (10) Bliss (11) Intelligence (12) Beauty (13) High Thinking (14) Morality and Ethics (15) Good Health (16) Long Life”.
Emergence from cosmic ocean
Lakshmi is believed to have emerged in the aftermath of the great deluge and ocean-churning —(Samudra Manthan.). from the primordial ocean of milk ensconced in a Lotus flower. It is believed that the moon (Chandra) and Ambrosia (Amruth) also emanated conjointly from the Milk ocean and hence she is called Chandra Sahodhari and Amruthodhbhava .She has appellations like Ksheerabhdhi Thanaya (Daughter of the Ocean of Milk), Padma (Lotus)and Padmavathi (Lotus-bearer), In the Ithihasa-s and PuraNa-s Lakshmi figures
as divine companion of Sri MahaVishNu.
In the Vishnu Purana it is stated that Lakshmi is the daughter of Bhrigu maharishi – of khyati before she made Ksheersagar her home.
Universal Mother—Benign Intercessor
Mahalakshmi is worshipped as Universal Mother (Jagan Mata) and patroness who imbues her adherents with devotion and takes them by the hand along virtuous paths to the Lord’s feet. She is the sovereign Goddess and has been a part of Hindu tradition. She is referred to as Matha (Spiritual Mother of the entire creation). The great saint Sri Ramakrishna known for his worldly wisdom and stern moral strength saw divinity in every woman and devoted himself to the worship of Holy Mother and propagated his doctrines. He says:“Whenever we see or think about the manifestation of the Mother,we think of the primordial energy, the primal consciousness, creation, preservation and destruction”.
Sri Lakshmi and the Lotus
Lotus is – is the most common metaphor used to associate her with. because Sri Lakshmi had emerged from the heavenly Lotus. It recurs like a
leit motif in all references. The Lotus symbolizes Spiritual love and connotations of Idealized Femininity.
Her association with the Lotus flower—has several symbolic meanings as indicative of supreme beauty and purity as well as ‘divine nature and’ idealized feminine uniquity’. She is for this reason referred to in Tamil as Malar-magaL — (i.e., daughter of the lotus),. The lotus calls to mind it’s colour,soft texture and mild smell—attributes with which she is associated.,In short, the Lotus carries connotations of feminine attributes.The Tamil word for Lotus is Centhamarai (Red Lotus). Lakshmi , the embodiment of gentle grace, has many appellations associating her with the lotus, to wit, Padmini,Padma, Padmalayae,Padma Dayalathakshi, Padmapriya, Padmakshi to name a few of them.. She is accepted as the female energy of the supreme VishNu and has other names too, like Pankajam, Indira, Ambujam. Vaishnavi, Jalaja, Aishwarya, Kamala and many more. Her traditionally accepted vehicle (Vahana) is the Owl— Ullooka in Sanskrit. ). In illustrations she is depicted as being showered with flower offerings, by elephants on either flank.Hence her appellation Gajalakshmi.
Leaves of certain plants are used to pay obeisance to deities-. For Lakshmi it is a kind of grass called Arukkam Pullu (Tamil). According to the Agni purana,Lakshmi is installed in temples as an idol carrying a lotus in her right hand and Bilva fruit in her left. VaishNava-s worshipTulasi as sacred. During pooja, Tulasi leaves are offered to the feet of the Lord. In temples Tulasi leaves are invariably added to the holy water (theertham) that is offered to devotees as Tulasi is considered as symbolizing Lakshmi Heself. So are cows which are held sacred by all Hindus and Go-pooja (Cow-worship) is an essential part of the rituals. Among Hindus eating Beef is considered as a sin.Both Tulasi and the cow are spoken off as embodying Sri Lakshmi.
The Benign Intercessor
Sri Narayana and his consort, SRI are inseparable but each has a distinct function.. Like fragrance to a flower Lakshmi is to Sri Narayana, She ensures that the Karmic cycle of the Jiva is tempered by the Lord’s redemptive mercy and benignity.
Lakshmi is the mediatrix who intercedes on behalf of her children—a bridge between the stern God (Sri MahaVishNu) and the devotee (Sadhaka)Lakshmi transforms the Lord’s desire for stern justice (Nigraha Shakthi) into Anugraha Shakti (redemptive grace) The concept of Lakshmi as enabling Mediatrix is one of the landmark doctrines of Sri Vaishnavism.
Sri Suktham
This composition is a companion but separate suppplement to Rig Veda.It deals with Lakshmi as VishNu pathni and deals with her divine attributes like compasson and as the Goddess who banishes poverty.hunger, thirst. Lakhmi is depicted as one of shining golden mien, delicate like a doe, cool like the moon and adorned with garlands of gold and silver.
Sri Vachana Bhushanam – of lyrical sweetness
This much-revered composition (known also as PurushAkara Vaibhavam) is in praise of Sri Mahalakshmi, the divine Mother who acts as nexus between the Lord and His devotees. Her attributes as the intercessor between the Paramathma (supreme soul- Sri NarayaNa) and the Jeevathma are brought out. Quoting from the RamayaNa, Sri Pillai Lokacharya cites examples of Sri Sita’s mediatory role during her marriage and then during her forced separation from the Lord. She employs all the womanly graces including her looks and bearing to persuade the Lord to grant salvation for the transgressing jeevathma-s while at the same time bringing them back to the paths of spiritual discipline.
Sri Sthuthi—Psalms of Praise
Swamy Vedanta Desikan, Vaishnavite philosopher and Preceptor (often eulogized as the worthy who gave cadence to Sanskrit) , says that Lakshmi manifests herself in countless forms but her three primary forms are as Sri Devi (Kriya shakthi—creative potency), Bhu Devi(Bhuti Shakti—power behind physical Universe) and NiLa Devi (Icha shakti—as a desire to overlook and redeem the repentant Jeeva for his faults. One can feel the punch of consonants in his Sri Sthuthi, a pastich of 25 beautiful and powerful sloka-s that are believed- to confer ‘sarva mangalam’ (all-embracing ’auspiicousness) and ‘ishta Kaamya Siddhi ( fulfillment of desires ) to the one who recites it.
Swamy Desikan emphasizes that Sri known for her compassion and benevolent qualities assumes the role of mediatrix (purushakaaram) to shield devotees from the consequences of their Karmic sins. He says that She, is one who with her forgiving love (Vaatsalya ) intercedes with the stern and just Lord as mediatrix on behalf of her devotees to save them for their Karmic transgressions… She not only hears but makes the Lord to hear the prayers of the devotees, under-playng their faults.The Lord and Sri are engaged in the act of releasings jivathma-s from the dizzying maelstrom of samsara.
The NarayaNi Sthuthi and Sri Sthavam emphasize her role as the power behind Sri Vishnu. . She ensures that the Lord’s reign of righteousness and strict justice is tempered by His redemptive mercy. She is the conduit and the Lord’s grace is the prize.
Sri Lakshmi —Alvars and Acharyas
In her well-researched and commendable Tamil book.”Dhivya Prabhandhathil ThirumagaL” Smt Sushila Padmanabhan says that all the Alvars had praised Lakshmi only as a consort or as adjunct of Sri Narayana, not as an entity by Herself; There is no known pasuram by any of the Alvars devoted to Lakshmi as a Goddess on her own divine merits.
The subsequent Acharyas had made up for this rather strange omission. Sri Lakshmi has been extolled for her noble graces and excelling divinity by the Acharyas. – Among these are Alavandhar’s Chathussloki, Swamy Desikan’s Sri Stuthi, Swamy Kuresar’s Sri Sthavam. Besides, there are the popular Ashothram and Sahasra Nama. In the first slOka of the ChathusslOki beginning with (KaanthasthE) AlavandhAr alludes to the PurushOtthama aspect of the Lord. He states that PurushOtthama is Lakshmi’s Lord. Adhi Sesha the cosmic snake is the couch and seat for both the Lord and Lakshmi.
Even in the Veda-s there is one place in which there is a direct and pointed reference to Sri Lakshmi. This canticle beginning with Kruthavathi and ending with VishNu pathni carries the following import::
“ In every direction in which I abide there shall be abundance of ghee,
milk, and other necessities and provide the required capacity to protect
friends and relatives, bringing all round cheer and happiness. Sri Lakshmi is
the, patroness of the world and consort of VishNu who imparts patience and
mental fortitude and is worshipped by the devout. She blesses those who
live in every direction. May She abide for ever. May Brihaspathi and the
winds and the devatha-s do only good for me “.
. VaishNava-s worship Tulasi as a sacred plant. During pooja, Tulasi leaves are offered to the feet of the Lord.. In temples Tulasi leaves are invariably added to the holy water (theertham) that is offered to devotees as Tulasi is considered as Lakshmi Heself. Again cows are held sacred by all Hindus and Go-pooja (Cow-worship) is an essential part of the rituals.
. In the first slOka of the ChathusslOki beginning with (KaanthasthE) AlavandhAr alludes to the PurushOtthama aspect of the Lord. He states that PurushOtthama is Lakshmi’s Lord, Adhi Sesha is the couch and seat for both the Lord and Lakshmi.
“I supplicate before your feet”
Sri Lakshmi, whose eyes glow with divine light, is endowed with three in-born qualities She is the means and the end to reach the Lord’s feet viz., upAyathva and upEyathva. Her outstanding quality is purushAkAra ( as divine intercessor). Like Sri Narayana she too has a thousand names, many of them being epithets praising her demure serenity and spiritual attributes and association with the lotus.
It is said that there are Eight Nidhi-s/Shakthi-s (forces of nature) called Ashta-mahanidhi-s. Of these the Padma Nidhi, is presided over by Sri Lakshmi, Devotees attaining this Nidhi are enabled not only to acquire but also to enjoy wordly wealth.
His Holiness Adhi Shankaracharya.had composed many slokas, of which Kanakadhaara Stotram viz., (Cascade of Gold) is one of the most popular.
In Saranagathi Gadhya,,Sri Ramanuja had composed sloka-s in praise of Sri Ranganayaki Nachiyar who is none other than Goddess Lakshmi. Her Kalyana guna-s (auspicious qualities), her identification with the Lotus and the concept of Universal Mother are brought out in it. In the 6th stanza of the Ashta sloki, Parasara Bhattar speaks of the importance of taking refuge in Sri Lakshmi to purge one’s self of egoistic feelings of I, My, Mine, in order to inculcate daasya attitude which is congenial for liberation from worldly tethers.
Sri Suktham, a hymn, appended to the Rig Veda, is a famous Vedic chant praising Sri Lakshmi identifying her in particular with Lotus and the elephant. It is unparallelled in extolling Sri Lakshmi where her qualities of accesssibility and plenitude and comely grace are highlighted. Sri Mahalakshmi, showers her devotees with riches- ‘sarva soubhagya’ (all worldly fortunes) Ashta aishwarya-s(-eight treasures) and ashta siddhi-(eight accomplishments.)
Mahalakshmi in the Avatars
During the Lord’s descents ( incarnations) on earth (Avatar-s) the divine Mother is constantly mediating with Lord on behalf of the erring jivas. In Ramayana, considered as a Holy Writ, she is Sita Devi..While Lakshmi appears in all the avatars of the Lord it is only in the Krishna Avatar that she figures in all her three manifestations i.e., as Sri Devi, Bhoo Devi and Nappinnai (the cow-herd Krishna’s beloved)
The Janaki Panchakam is in praise of Sita Devi ( incarnation of Mahalakshmi in Ramayana) It speaks of Sri Lakshmi’s association with the Lotus flower—as a garland, as an adornment. On the full moon night following Dasara, Sri Lakshmi is worshipped in Hindu homes. Fridays are considered as auspicious for Lakshmi Puja.
In Dvaya of ThiruMantra
Sri Lakshmi is known for her excelling attractiveness of face and form. Parashara bhattar says that in Dwaya Mantra, Lakshmi as Sri figures twice—‘in Sriman’ and ‘SrimathE’– emphasizing her role as spiritual link with the Lord (Paramathma).
In Stotra Rathna she is given special attention by Yamunacharya, also known as AlavandAr. In Chathus Sloki he extols her splendour, beauty, auspiciousness, prosperity and majesty. In major temples dedicated to Sri Narayana she has a separate shrine and worshippers pay obeisance to the sovereign goddess Sri Lakshmi first and then only to Sri Narayana.
Exclusive Shrines of Sri Lakshmi
Mahalakshmi has been enshrined in exclusive temples in Kolhapur, in Mumbai and in the Golden temple in Sripuram (near Vellore) to mention but the popular ones. Nachiyar koil in Thiru Naraiyur is one of the Divya Desams where Goddess Lakshmi has prominence over the Lord Himself and hence the name Nachiyar Koil. Here special privileges and first rights are reserved for her.. She leads the way in the processions. Even food is offered first to Vanjulavalli thayar. This holy place is one of the Divya Desams where the temple is named after her viz., Nachiyaar Some of the other Divya Desam-s where she holds a privileged position over the Lord Himself are Srivilliputhur, Uraiyur and Thiruvellarais, to mention the renowned three.
Kanakadhara Stotra ( Torrential shower of Gold).
A tale hangs behind this stotra of Adi Sankaracharya. In compliance with
prevailing practice among ascetics he ( as a young lad), went begging (Uncha vrtti) to an impoverished Brahmin’s house where, for want of food he was offered but just a gooseberry by the lady of the house. Touched to the core by their impecunious state, Sankaracharya composed the Kanakadhara stotra, an anthem to Sri Mahalakshmi. She responded with a bounteous stream of golden gooseberries, to enrich and redeem the poor Brahmin.
Varalakshmi Vratham
To overcome the after effects of Karmic sins and to obtain the blessings of long life, health, wealth and progeny, Vratham-s (Severe penance) are observed invoking the grace of Sri Mahalakshmi.To this category belongs the celebrated Varalakshmi vratham which is observed every year on the Friday before Pournami in the Tamil months of Adi/AavaNi. This Vratham is observed by married women to propitiate the pure and bounteous Sri Lakshmi as the grantor of boons-Vara.
The Varalakshmi Vratham/ penance is observed for the well-being of the husband and the family and general welfare This puja is deemed as equivalent to worshiping Ashta Lakshmi, representing the eight aspects of of Her attributes, i.e., Primeval Lakshmi (Adhi Lakshmi in Sri Vaikunta–Celestium)(Dhairya Lakshmi -Grantor of Infinite courage), (Dhanya), Food Grains, Santhana (Virtuous progeny) Vijaya (victory) Vidya ( learning/educational skills) and Dhana
(Riches and abundance)