LAKṢMĪ - She-of-the-Hundred-Thousands

LAKṢMĪ - She-of-the-Hundred-Thousands 

The Śakti of the all-pervading Preserver, Vishnu, is represented as the power of multiplicity or goddess of fortune, "She-of-the-Hundred-Thousands" (Lakṣmī). When she is associated with the universal principle of beauty she is known as Śrī.

Both "Lakshmi" and "Śrī" are mentioned in the Vedas in the context of "fortune." But Lakshmi as the Goddess of Fortune is depicted as a major goddess only in the epics.

The Taittirīya Saṁhitā declares that Śrī — Fortune and Hrī — Beauty are the two wives of the solar-principle (Āditya).

The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa describes Hrī — Beauty as born from the lord-of-progeny (Prajāpati). Beauty is also the mother of Lust (Kāma). When the ocean was churned by the gods and the anti- gods, Lakshmi arose from the waves, a lotus in her hand.

The Vishnu Purāṇa says that Śrī — Fortune was first born as a daughter of the Crack-of-the- Ritual-Fire (Bhṛgu) united to the Hymns-of-Praise (Khyāti). Fortune is thus the fruit of the ritual- sacrifice (yajña).

As the consort of the Highest God Lord Vishnu, Lakshmi is also the embodiment of compassion (anugraha-śakti) and tempers His quality of Justice (nigraha-śakti). As the Goddess of compassion she further transforms and sanctifies resources into their use for the benefit of others.

Some of her other names are:— the Powerful-One (Indira), the Ocean-born (jaladhi-ja), the Fickle- One (Cancala or Lola), the Mother-of-the-World (Loka-mātā).

Lakshmi also has a sister — Misfortune (A- laksmi), fearful and ugly, also known as the Elder- Sister (Jyeṣṭhā).

Symbols

Padma — Lotus

By reproducing from its own matrix rather than the soil the lotus is a symbol of spontaneous generation (Svāyambhu). It grows in mud but rises in immaculate purity to the surface and opens to the sun - the evolution begins in the mire of Samsāra but rises to full enlightenment and purity.

The lotus is the quintessential symbol of purity and enlightenment. The closed lotus is a symbol of potential and the open the symbol of actualization.

She is usually depicted seated upon a lotus - representing the enlightened and pure mind. Her two lower hands are held in the gesture of fearlessness (Abhayā) granting freedom for fear and suffering to all beings, and the gesture of generosity (Varadā).

Mahā-Lakshmi as Vīra

A rarer form of Lakshmi is known as Vīra-Lakshmi or "Heroic-Lakshmi" — in which she displays all the qualities necessary for a pro-active social and spiritual involvement. Envisaged in a cosmic form as the Transcendent-Fortune (Mahā-Lakṣmī) — the power of progress, accumulation and advancement she embodies the characters of all the gods together.

She is seated on the "Lion-Throne" of universal dominance, in her upper hands she holds the symbols of Vishnu her consort — the conch and the discus — symbols of creation and transformation respectively.

The next two hands down hold the bow and moon- shaped arrow symbolic of the mind and its application single-mindedly to the objective being contemplated.

The two hands below these hold the trident and the razor. Symbolising control of mind, speech and action through the trident and the dangerous nature of the spiritual path — "the razor's edge".

The lowest 2 hands are held in the gestures of fearlessness and generosity.