Hindu Goddesses

"Sri-Laksmi is today one of the most popular and widely venerated deities of the Hindu pantheon. Her auspicious nature and her reputation for granting fertility, luck, wealth, and well-being seem to attract devotion in every Indian village. All of India’s back country is the dominion of Lakshmi, the goddess of the lotus...she accompanies every mile traveled through central India, every visit to a temple...Her likenesses are omnipresent on the walls, pillars, lintels and niches of sanctuaries, regardless of the deity of their specific dedication."

"As Vishnu's wife, Laksmi loses her fickle nature. As the great cosmic king's queen she is depicted as a model Hindu wife, loyal and submissive to her husband. One of her most popular iconographic depictions shows her kneeling before Vishnu to massage his feet. In her early history Sri-Lakshmi was strongly associated with growth and fecundity as manifested in vegetation. A teeming vitality animated her presence, a power that gave birth inexhaustibly to life."

"One of the most popular and enduring representations of Sri-Laksmi shows her flanked by two elephants in the so-called Gaja-Laksmi images. The elephants shower her with water from their trunks or empty pots of water over her."

"The most detailed picture of Sri-Laksmi in Vedic literature is found in the Sri-sukta, a hymn in praise of Sri which is part of an appendix to the Rigveda and which is probably pre-Buddhist in date. This is surely one of the earliest hymns to Sri."

"The goddess Sri, who is also commonly known by the name Laksmi, has been known in the Hindu tradition since pre-Buddhist times. She is one of the most popular goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. She has a considerable body of mythology and worshipped by Hindus of all castes throughout India to this day."

"Laksmi expresses Hindu thinking about kingship and the relationship of the ruler to the fertility of the world. The many goddesses associated with geographical features of the Indian subcontinent suggest Hindu thinking about the relationship between sacred space and spiritual liberation."

"His [Vishnu's] wife is Lakshmi or Sri, the goddess of wealth and fortune. His place of abode is Vaikuntha (heaven) and his vehicle is Caruda, a giant-sized eagle which often is "shown as a winged human-shaped figure having a break-like nose. Vishnu is the infinite ocean from which the world emerges."

"Sometimes this Goddess [Lakshmi] is shown as being one with the Lord Vishnu, when then is called Lakshmi Narayan. This conjoined deity denotes that in his supreme state Vishnu is one with his consort, who represents his power and energy."

"[Lakshmi] a, major Hindu goddess who originated perhaps as a mother goddess but who now represents wealth, prosperity and epitomizes the later Hindu (Brahmanical) notion of the active female principle of Shakti in a male deity. According to the Ramayan, she arose from the primal Hindu sea of milk. Identified Lakshmi as the consort of Vishnu."

"In the Rigveda [Chapter X, hymn 129) the first enunciation in world’s literature is made of the idea that the Creator willed to create the universe through the idea that the creator willed to create the universe through the agency of a female principle. This idea was expressed in the supposed marriage of heaven and earth and the Sankhya philosophy’s union of Purusha and Prakriti. It gathered so great a strength that later on every principal deity of Hindu mythology had his own female companion, who shares the worship paid to male god, e.g., Sita and Rama, Parvati and Shiva, Radha and Krishna, Lakshmi and Vishnu."

"Deepavali is also considered a festival to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu and Goddess of Wealth. A special Goddess Lakshmi pooja is performed in most Hindu homes during this festival. During Deepavali people visit friends and exchange sweets."

"Consorts of all these gods [Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva], are known as goddesses. They are Saraswati — wife of Brahma as well as Goddess of Knowledge, Lakshmi — wife of Vishnu as well as Goddess of Prosperity, Parvati — wife of Shiva as well as Goddess of Power."

"During [Durga Puja]...very frequently, small images of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesha are also placed by the side of the goddess [Durga]. At the close of the festival, these images are immersed into the river."

"The grace of both Lakshmi (goddess of fortune) and Sarasvati (goddess of learning) now shines on the peoples of the Western countries. They do not stop at the mere acquisition of the objects of enjoyment, but in all their actions they seek for a sort of beauty and grace."

"Every woman is an embodiment of you. You exist as little girls in their childhood, As young women in their youth And as elderly women in their old age."

"Every woman is an emanation of you."

"First Diwali day called Dhanteras or wealth worship. We perform Laskshmi-Puja in evening when clay diyas lighted to drive away shadows of evil spirits.In Diwali, goddess Lakshmi visits all people. Cows are worshipped for they are incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi."

"The crowd that thronged Ayodhyá wept, With agonizing woe distressed. With him in hermít's mantle dressed In guise of Sítá Lakshmí went, And none his glory may prevent."

"Kural-179 [Hymn-1790]: Good fortune draws anigh in helpful time of need, To him who, schooled in virtue, guards his soul from greed. Lakshmi, knowing the manner (in which she may approach) will immediately come to those wise men who, knowing that it is virtue, covet not the property of others."

"भद्रैषां लक्ष्मीर्निहिताधि वाचि}} bhadraiṣāṁ lakṣmīrnihitādhi vāci}} "An auspicious fortune is attached to their words.""

"...Purusha was personified as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva while Prakriti was personified as Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakti."

"Lotus-maiden [Lakshmi], you who claim All the sweetness of your name, Lakshmi, fortune's queen, defend you, Lotus-born like you, and send you Balmy moons of love to bless you, Gentle joy-winds to caress you. Lotus-maiden, may you be Fragrant of all ecstasy."

"English translation:Oh God of Fire, invoke for you, the Goddess Lakshmi who shines like gold, yellow in colour, wearing gold and silver garlands, radiating like the moon, the embodiment of wealth. Oh God of Fire! Invoke for me the unfailing Lakshmi, blessed by whom, I shall have wealth, cattle, horses and men."

"Lakshmi is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing on a lotus flower. There is usually one, or sometimes two elephants behind her, anointing her with water. She is often depicted sitting beneath Vishnu."

"Sri Suktam: Hiranya varnam harinim suvarna-rajathas-rajam Chandhram hiranmayim lakshmim jathavedho ma avaha Tham ma avaha jathavedho lakshmi manapagaminim Yasyam hiranyam vindheyam gam-ashvam purushan-aham"

"The scriptures reveal that Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are all maya of Ma Lakshmi. Ma Lakshmi has many forms, names and dimensions. The Shri Ma Vaibhava Lakshmi Vrata is related to eight dimensions [Ashta Lakshmi]: 1) Gaja Lakshmi - Giver of animal wealth like cattle and elephants (gaja); 2) Dhanya Lakshmi - Giver of agricultural wealth; 3)Aishwarya Lakshmi - Goddess of riches; 4)Adhi Lakshmi – Goddess of spiritual contentedness; 5)Vijay Lakshmi – Goddess of victory, not only in battle, but also over conquering hurdles in order to beget success; 6)Dhana Lakshmi – Goddess of money and gold; 7) Veer Lakshmi – Goddess of valor, not only in battle, but also providing courage and strength to overcome difficulties in life; 8)Santana Lakshmi - Goddess of family, bestows followers with children."

"Ganesha is frequently depicted with Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and music, and Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Since Ganesha is associated with similar attributes as the goddesses, many devotees believe that they are his wives in previous incarnations. This assumption is reinforced by their worship along with Ganesha, especially during Diwali. But no myths support this notion. The deities are worshiped together simply because they represent similar goals."

"O Devi [Lakshmi], whose heart is full of mercy, who is worshipped throughout the three worlds and who is the giver of all fortune and the mother of Creation. All glories to You, o shelter of all living entities. O fulfiller of all desires, You are the wonderful energy of Lord Achyuta [Vishnu], who is maintaining the three worlds. You are the Supreme Goddess. O protector of the devotees, all glories to You. O Devi, it is You who fulfills the desires of the devotees, and it is You who engages them in the service of Lord Achyuta. You are eternal and deliverer of all fallen souls. All glories unto You. O Devi, for the welfare and protection of the three worlds, You take on many forms such as Ambika, Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Varahi Maha-Lakshmi, Narasimhi, Indri, Kumari, Chandika, Lakshmi, Savitri, Chandrakala, Rohini and Parameshwari. All glories unto You, whose glories are unlimited. Kindly be merciful upon me."

"He [God] is a magician. He simply puts the seed in his imagination –which is Prakriti, Lakshmi or Mother Goddess of the world and the universe comes into existence."

"'īśvara' holds the semantic field: master, lord, prince, king, mistress, queen, a husband, God, the Supreme Being, the supreme soul (आत्मन्), Shiva (शिव), the god of love, Durga (दुर्गा), Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी), of any other of the shaktis (शक्तिs) or female energies of the deities, and it is often glossed 'controller' in English."

"English translation: For thou art Durga holding her ten weapons of war, Kamala [Lakshmi] at play in the lotuses And speech, the goddess, giver of all lore, to thee I bow! I bow to thee, goddess of wealth pure and peerless, richly-watered, richly-fruited, The Mother!"

"tvam hi durgaa dashapraharanadhaarinee kamalaa kamala dalabihaarinee vaanee vidyaadaayinee namaami tvaam namaami kamalaam amalaam atulaam, sujalaam sufalaam maataram"

"Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, comes of Her own accord where fools are not respected, grain is well stored up, and the husband and wife do not quarrel. The Goddess of wealth is unsteady, and so is the life breath."

"The name [Divali] is derived from the Sanskrit term Dipavali meaning “row of lights,” which are lit on the new-moon night to bid the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In Bengal, however, the goddess Kali is worshiped, and in north India the festival also celebrates the return of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman to the city of Ayodhya, where Rama’s rule of righteousness would commence."

"In India Hindus will leave the windows and doors of their houses open so that Lakshmi can come in. Rangoli are drawn on the floors - Rangoli are patterns and the most popular subject is the lotus flower."

"Hindus believe that anybody who worships Lakshmi sincerely, and not in greed, will be blessed with fortune and success. It is said that Lakshmi resides in places of hard work, virtue and bravery, but leaves whenever these qualities are not apparent any more"

"One of the most compelling stories in Hindu mythology is that of the Churning of the Milky Ocean. It is the story of the gods versus the demons and their fight to gain immortality. It also tells of the rebirth of Lakshmi... This story highlights the good fortune and success that Lakshmi bestows upon those who work hard and seek help sincerely. It also demonstrates that during times of success, one must never become complacent or arrogant, as success has a way of getting away from people."

"Those who hear or recite This birth story of Laksmi Attract the presence of Sri in their homes For three generations Alaksmi, repository of penury and strife, Never gains entrance into those homes Whose inhabitants offer songs to Sri."

"This [.sattva i.e dynamic equipoise.] is Laksmi’s fullness and life-energy, and it expresses what the Greek philosophers put forth: truth is beauty and beauty is truth. Laksmi dwells in expansion and reception: in the fullness of giving and receiving of gifts, nourishment, and pleasure in the commercial exchange of goods and services, and in the ritual exchange of offerings and boons."

"Prasanna Vadana Sri Laksmi stotram (Prasanna Vadana hymn): Consumed by dire poverty I am breathless with anxiety and fever. In this impossibly painful state, I am driven to your side, O Lakski, Ocean of Compassion, Bestow wealth, And guide me to a state of propensity."

"The useful, life-giving currents of gold, of water, of fructifying rains, and indeed of any form of energy are all variations on the same image of Lakshmi's bestowal of prosperity. In some images, elephants lustrate the goddess with streams of water, increasing the magnitude of bounty and also illustrating an important point – that the goddess of plenty herself enjoys replenishment."

"Through her expression of kåma, Laksmi becomes Rådhå, the beloved of Krishna, whom she meets for secret love-play in the enchanted Vrinda forest. In "The Heavenly Gods' Praise-Song for Laksmi" (Sri Daivakarta Laksmi Stotram), the celestial ones celebrate Laksmi in her glorious display of such forms: In Goloka You are the goddess more dear to Krishna Than life itself, His own Radhika Deep in the forest Deep in the Vrnda forest, You are mistress of mesmerizing rasa dance In the bows of the sacred bhandira tree, You are Krishna’s desire. In the sandalwood forest you are Candra, In the grove of yellow jasmine you are Viraja, On the hundred-peaked mountain you are the lovely Sundari."

"Every one of her forms is specifically female – most distinctly as Radha, Sita and Rukmini who are consorts of various forms of Vishnu. She is prithvi the divine feminine embodied as mother earth... the gods proclaim: You exist as little girls in their childhood, As young women in their youth, And as elderly women in their old age."

"All Women Are Embodiments of Lakshmi Whether exhibiting steadfastness or restlessness, nurturing, independence, or any other embodiment or mode of expression. Lakshmi always retains her core essence as the divine feminine."

"The Nilmata Purana states that the goddesses Lakshmi and Uma manifested themselves in the valley as the rivers Jhelum (locally known as Vitasta) and Sindhu, to purify the land. The sources of water are considered sacred by the Kashmiris."

"... there are three varieties of Lakshmi images: those symbolic of agricultural abundance and the king's treasury, as the divine wife who tenderly massages her husband's foot, and as a Yogini rooted in the waters of the ocean."

"Lakshmi is believed to have emerged from the ocean at the time of its churning by gods on one side and demons on the other. The figure of Mahalakshmi, however, is austere and solemn. All the figures surrounding her, as if magnetized, move towards her. She is the nucleus of the whole composition."

"Each single deity such as Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, SriLakshmi and others is considered personal and the highest god by individual Hindu worshippers. This particular religious perspective resulted in a popular movement in which fervent devotion was offered to the deity of one’s choice."

"The goddess of abundance and fortune, Sri Lakshmi, reflected the accumulated wealth and financial independence of the Buddhist monasteries. Her image became one of the popular visual themes carved on their monuments."

"Yakshini images include Salabhanjika (Yakshini on a Sala tree), Vrikshadevata (Tree as female deity) and Gaja-Lakshmi (goddess of wealth). These are vegetative or progenitive spirits directly controlling and bestowing fertility and wealth,or simply abundance."