Lakshmi,
the power and consort of Vishnu. Like Kuan Yin in the Buddhist
Faith, she is the goddess of multiciplicity, wealth and
fortune, power and beauty in Hinduism. All of her blessings
are necessary for good-living; which makes her the most
worshipped femine diety in the Hindu faith.
The
descriptions of Sri or Lakshmi are very similar in Indian
literture. Some scholars believe that Sri was a pre-vedic
deity connected with fertility, water and agriculture. She
was later fused with Lakshmi, the vedic goddess of beauty.
According
to the Puranas, Lakshmi was incarnated as the daughter of
the sage Bhrigu and his wife Khyati. She was later born out
of Ksheer Sagar while being churned. Hence, her appellation,
Ksheera Samudra Raja Tanaya. As consort of Vishnu, she is
born as his spouse whenever he incarnates. When Vishnu appeared
as Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, she appeared as Padma
or Kamala, Dharani, Sita and Rukmini. She is as inseparable
from Vishnu as speech from meaning or knowledge from intellect,
or good deeds from righteousness.
Vishnu
represents all that is male and Lakshmi, all that is female.
Lakshmi is enchantingly beautiful, and is standing on a lotus
and adorned with a lotus garland. Often, elephants are shown
on each side, emptying pitchers of water over her, the pitchers
being presented by celestial maidens. She is variously described
as dark, pink, golden, yellow or white. If Lakshmi is pictured
as dark in complexion, it is to show that she is the consort
of Vishnu, the dark god. If golden yellow, that shows her
as the source fo all wealth. If white, she represents the
purest form of prakriti (nature) from which the universe developed.
As she is the mother of all, the pinkish complexion reflects
her compassion for creatures.
Lakshmi
Pooja is performed differently in the different parts of
India. In the North of India, Lakshmi is worshipped on the
occasion of Divali while in the South of India, she is worshipped
on Vara Maha Lakshmi Vratham day, the first Friday of the
month of Shravan.
