Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

PERCEPTIONS

SARASWATI (GODDESS OF WISDOM)

LAKSHMI (GODDESS OF FAME AND FORTUNE)

the sea of milk’. Due to her association with the lotus she is called as Padma. As consort of Vishnu she plays the part of a model Hindu wife, obediently serving her husband as lord. One version of Raamayana affirms that, "Lakshmi was born of her own will, in a beautiful field opened up by the plough", and received from Janaka the name of Sita. She is usually portrayed as a woman of mature beauty, seated on a lotus and often with a lotus in her hand, attended by two elephants who sprinkle water on her from their trunks. She has no temples, but being goddess of abundance and fortune, she is much sought after and worshipped. The ele- phants in images of Sri Lakshmi symbolise her association with the fertility of crops and the sap of existence. She is believed to possess the following qualities: food, royal power, universal sovereignty, noble rank, power, holy lustre, kingdom, fortune, bounteousness and beauty. Her other names are Hira, Indira, Jal- adhija (ocean born), Chanchala (fickle), Lokamata (mother of the world). The most important festival in which Lakshmi is wor- shipped today (except in Bengal) is Deepa- vali (Divali). Three important themes are seen in this festival: her association with wealth and prosperity, her association with fertility and abundant crops, and her asso- ciation with good fortune in the coming year. During this festival it is customary for people, especially merchants and business persons, to worship their account books. They believe that wealth will not arise without Lakshmi's blessing or presence. LAKSHMI PAADA After sweeping her house and washing the altar a Hindu housewife draws a design at the entrance, silently intoning an invoca- tion to Lakshmi to come into the house. La- kshmi's footsteps symbolise the invocation and the invitation to the goddess to bless the house with wealth and auspiciousness, beauty and virtue.

Prayer to Saraswati

Oh. Goddess Lakshmi, I salute you, The princess of the milky ocean, whose abode is the Lord Himself,

May the Goddess Saraswati, who is as white as the dew on the garland of Kunda flowers, who is seated on white lotus, whose hands are decorated with the blessed lute, who is draped in clean silk, and who is always worshipped by Lord Brahma, Achyuta, Shankara and other gods. She is the wife of Brahma, the goddess of speech and learning, creatrix of the San- skrit language and patroness of arts, sci- ences and music. Saraswati is depicted as a beautiful fair young woman, often with a Veena, or Indian flute and a book in her hand and attended by a swan. She is always worshipped by students, writers and musi- cians. In later mythology she was associ- ated with ' vak ' (speech) and became the goddess of wisdom and eloquence.

to whom all the heavenly nymphs are maids who is the only source of light to the whole world, By thee whose glance alone Brahma, Indra, Shiva and others are showered with a bounteous prosperity. Who is the Mother of all the three worlds, who is born in the lotus and who is beloved of Lord Vishnu. Lakshmi or Sri is the goddess of fortune in Hindu mythology. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu and mother of Kaama. Accord- ing to legends she sprang, like Aphrodite from the froth of the ocean, in full beauty with a lotus in her hand, when it was churned by the Devas and the Asuras. Ac- cording to another legend she was floating on a lotus at the time of creation. Hence she is called 'kshirabdhi - tanaya' or 'daughter of