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Lakshmi
is also called Sri[1] or Thirumagal because she is
endowed with six auspicious and divine qualities, or
gunas, and is the divine energy/Shakti of Vishnu. In
Hindu religion, she was pleased and churned out from the
churning of the primordial ocean (Samudra manthan) and
she chose Vishnu as her eternal consort.[9] As mentioned
in Vishnu Purana, when Vishnu descended on the Earth as
the avatars Rama and Krishna, Lakshmi descended as Sita
and Radha and Rukmini.[10].[11][12]
Lakshmi is depicted in Indian art as an elegantly
dressed, prosperity-showering golden-coloured woman with
an owl as her vehicle, signifying the importance of
economic activity in maintenance of life, her ability to
move, work and prevail in confusing darkness.[13] She
typically stands or sits like a yogin on a lotus
pedestal and holds a lotus in her hand, symbolizing
fortune, self-knowledge and spiritual liberation.[9][14]
Her iconography shows her with four hands, which
represent the four goals of human life considered
important to the Hindu way of life: dharma, kāma, artha
and moksha.[15][16] She is often depicted as part of the
trinity (Tridevi) consisting of Saraswati, Lakshmi and
Parvati. She is also considered as the daughter of Durga
in Bengali Hindu culture.
Archaeological discoveries and ancient coins suggest the
recognition and reverence for Lakshmi by the 1st
millennium BCE.[17][18] Lakshmi's iconography and
statues have also been found in Hindu temples throughout
Southeast Asia, estimated to be from the second half of
the 1st millennium CE.[19][20] The festivals of Diwali
and Sharad Purnima (Kojagiri Purnima) are celebrated in
her honor.[21
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Lakshmi
has numerous names and numerous ancient Stotram and
Sutras of Hinduism recite her various names:[38][39]
Padmā: She of the lotus (she who is mounted upon or
dwelling in a lotus)
Kamalā: She of the lotus
Padmapriyā: Lotus-lover
Padmamālādhāra Devī: Goddess bearing a garland of
lotuses
Padmamukhī: Lotus-faced (she whose face is as like as a
lotus)
Padmākṣī: Lotus-eyed (she whose eyes are as beautiful as
a lotus)
Padmahasta: Lotus-hand (she whose hand is holding (a)
lotus(es))
Padmasundarī: She who is as beautiful as a lotus
Sri: Radiance, eminence, splendor, wealth
Śrījā: Jatika of Sri
Viṣṇupriyā: Lover of Vishnu (she who is the beloved of
Vishnu)
Ulūkavāhinī: Owl-mounted (she who is riding an owl)
Nandika : The one who gives pleasure , vessel made up of
clay and Vishnupriya (she who is the beloved of Vishnu)
Her other names include:[38] Manushri, Chakrika,
Kamalika, Aishwarya, Lalima, Indira, Kalyani, Nandika,
Nandini, Vaishnavi, Samruddhi, Bhargavi, Sridevi,
Bhudevi, Nila Devi, Chanchala, Jalaja, Madhavi, Sujata,
Shreeya, Prachi, Haripriya, Madhu, Parama, Janamodini,
Ketki, Malti, Vidya, Vasuda, Vedavati, Tilottama, Devi,
Kriyalakshmi, Viroopa, Apara, Aruna, Akhila, Bala, Kuhu,
Purnima, Anumati, Anagha, Avashya, Sita, Radha,
Satyabhama, Rukmini, Jambhavati, Tulasi, Ramaa, Taruni,
Jyotsna, Jyoti, Nimeshika, Atibha, Swarna Kamala, Smriti.[39] |
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