MOTHER GODDESS
Worship of a mother goddess has been a part of Indian tradition since its earliest times. Lakshmi is one of the mother goddesses and is addressed as mata (mother) instead of just devi (goddess).
As a female counterpart of Lord Vishnu, Mata Lakshmi is also called 'Shri', the female energy of the Supreme Being. She is the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.
On the full moon night following Durga Puja, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings, and invite neighbors to attend the puja. It is believed that on this full moon night the goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth. A special worship is also offered to Lakshmi on the auspicious Diwali night.
THE STORY OF CREATION
The birth of goddess Lakshmi, is related to an ancient story. Durvasa the short-tempered sage once presented Indra, the king of the gods with a garland of flowers which would never wilt. Indra gave this garland to his elephant, Airavata. Sage Durvasa saw the elephant trampling the divine garland, and short tempered he was, cursed Indra for he had shown disrespect to the sage. The sage cursed Indra, that he and all the gods would lose their power because of which they had become so proud and vain. Due to the curse, the demons vanquished the gods out of the heavens.
The defeated gods then went to seek refuge to the Creator Lord Brahma who asked them to churn the ocean of milk, to obtain the nectar of immortality. The gods then went to Lord Vishnu, to seek his assistance, who took the Avatar Kurma (Tortoise) and supported the Mandarachal mountain as a churning rod, whereas the king of the serpents, Vasuki became the churning rope. The gods and the demons (under the leadership of the pious and wise King Mahabali) both helped each other in churning the ocean of milk.
Amongst the host of divine gifts which appeared from the ocean, goddess Lakshmi appeared and then chose Shri Vishnu as her consort as only He had the power to control Maya (illusion). Hence she is also called as the daughter of the sea and since the moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is also called to be her brother.
Goddess Lakshmi is incorrectly connected only with money, popular public perception is that she is the goddess of money. This however is incorrect, as the holy goddess is also the goddess of prosperity, of divinity and purity. She is also the goddess of Brahma-vidya (divine knowledge) and one of her name is "Vidya" - which literally means knowledge.
THE LADY OF THE LOTUS
The most striking feature of the iconography of Lakshmi is her persistent association with the lotus. The meaning of the lotus in relation to Shri-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. 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.
THE OWL
Goddess Lakshmi's traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl (Ulooka in Sanskrit), is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night. In a humorous vein it is said that owing to its lethargic and dull nature the goddess takes it for a ride! She could be obtained only by those who know how to control it; how to make best use of her resources, like the Lord Vishnu. But those who blindly worship her are verily the owls or Ulookas.
TRUE PROSPERITY
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by those who wish to acquire or to preserve wealth. It is believed that Lakshmi (wealth) goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She leaves places which are unclean or where the people are lazy. The forms of prosperity, or weath, she can bestow are wealth of:
First ~ Crops ~ Courage ~ Animals ~ Children ~ Victory ~ Knowledge ~ Riches
In Uttaranchal, after the worship of the goddess on Diwali night, the Shankh or Conch is not blown. This is because the shank is also from the ocean like the goddess herself, so it is given a day of rest.
THE WEBSITES ;-)
hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa100900a.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi
Om Shri Mahalakshymaye Namah
Lotus Flowers
Red and Gold Candles
Coins - Charity Dontations
Insense
Rice
Journey to meet Lakshmi-Mata and learn more of what she offers, and her lessons for you in life through a guided meditation.
THE GODS & GODDESSES
