3 Do’s and 5 Don’ts to Attract Goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi has many names. She is known to be very closely associated with the lotus, and her many epithets are connected to the flower, such as:
Prakruti – Mahalakshmi is the very personification of nature, the centre the all of the manifested and the unmanifested.
Vikruti – Mahalakshmi is the multi-faceted Nature, who assumes many forms, known by numerous names, yet is attributeless.
Vidya – Mahalakshmi is the very personification of Wisdom.
Padma: lotus dweller
- Kamala: lotus dweller
- Padmapriya: One who likes lotuses
- Padmamaladhara devi: One who wears a garland of lotuses
- Padmamukhi: One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus
- Padmakshi: One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus
- Padmahasta: One who holds a lotus
- Padmasundari: One who is as beautiful as a lotus
- Vishnupriya: One who is the beloved of Vishnu
- Ulkavahini: One who rides an owl
Lakshmi is described as bestowing coins of prosperity and flanked by elephants signifying her royal power. However, in some texts, she has an owl as her vahana. Her expression is always calm and loving. The lotus also symbolizes the fertile growth of organic life, as the world is continually reborn on a lotus growing out of Vishnu’s navel.
Lakshmi is depicted in a red costume, which represents continuous activity, or in a golden costume, representing fulfillment. She wears ornaments full of gold and a golden ruby-studded crown. Her hair is long, dark and wavy. Her complexion is golden, representing a boon-giver. She shows the abhaya mudra or the gyan mudra with her right hand and holds a potful of gold in her left arm and paddy sheaf in her left hand.
She is related to the chakras of the solar plexus and the heart.
Mahalakshmi is also known to preside over 16 forms of worldly wealth excluding Ashta siddhis, gnana and imparting gnana. They are as follows: Fame; Knowledge; Courage and Strength; Victory; Good Children; Valor; Gold, Gems and Other Valuables; Grains in abundance; Happiness; Bliss; Intelligence; Beauty; Higher Aim, High Thinking and Higher Meditation; Morality and Ethics; Good Health; Long Life.
Ashta Lakshmi आदि लक्ष्मी (ఆది లక్ష్మి; ಆದಿ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Ādi Lakṣmī The First manifestation of Lakshmi धान्य लक्ष्मी(ధాన్య లక్ష్మి; ಧಾನ್ಯ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Dhānya Lakṣmī Granary wealth धैर्य लक्ष्मी (ధైర్య లక్ష్మి; ಧೈರ್ಯ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Dhairya Lakṣmī Wealth of courage गज लक्ष्मी (గజ లక్ష్మి; ಗಜ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Gaja Lakṣmī Elephants, symbols of wealth सन्तान लक्ष्मी(సంతాన లక్ష్మి; ಸಂತಾನ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Santāna Lakṣmī Wealth of continuity, progeny विजय लक्ष्मी (విజయ లక్ష్మి; ವಿಜಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Vijaya Lakṣmī Wealth of victory विद्या लक्ष्मी (విద్యా లక్ష్మి; ವಿದ್ಯಾ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Vidyā Lakṣmī Wealth of knowledge and education धन लक्ष्मी (ధన లక్ష్మి; ಧನ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Dhana Lakṣmī Monetary wealth
What upsets Goddess Laxmi?
It is believed that if Goddess Laxmi spots any of these 5 traits in her devotees, she leaves their side.
Disrespecting woman
A person or places, who believe in cruelty against women or disrobing them of their dignity, always receives the wrath of Goddess Lakshmi.
Violence
People or a place, which religiously harm innocent animals and humans for their leisure, could never have Goddess Laxmi stay with them.
Greed
Goddess Laxmi never resides in the proximity of people or place, for which greed is bigger than Karma. Shastras state, “’लोभस्य पाप कारणम्’” – Greed is the ground for Sin.
Ego
A person or home, where people are immersed in their arrogance and ignorance, and EGO subdues their conscience, is stripped off by the presence of Goddess Laxmi.
Lust
Wherever or whenever there is lust overpowering Dharma and Karma, neglecting the righteousness of daily life, Goddess Laxmi never dwells in that place.
How to please Goddess Laxmi?
According to Acharya Chanakya, “Murkha yatra pujyante dhanyam yatra Susinchitam |Dampatye kalaho naasti tatra shreeh swayamaagataa|| It means that a person who keeps in mind doing these ‘three’ things, is always blessed with constant presence of Goddess Laxmi.
#1.
Family members who appreciate and boosts, the wisdom and knowledge of intelligent over fools. Goddess Laxmi resides and blesses the home, where righteous people are respected and acknowledged.
#2.
A home, which never disrespects its guest, regardless of their background, a place where no one returns empty-handed and empty stomach, is even more auspicious than a shrine; Goddess Laxmi resides and blesses such homes and families with immense wealth and prosperity.
#3.
Home, where husband and wife live together with great love and care for each other is blessed by Goddess Laxmi.
The cleaning of surroundings is a mere reflection of the larger truth that Lakshmi puja/ Varamahalakshmi Vratha is the day of introspection, of reopening and reassessing the list of our accounts (karmas) with the people around us. It is not only the homes but also the hearts that need to be cleansed so that they may welcome goddess Lakshmi with purity and grace creating an environment for the manifestation of a radiant future for humanity.
Wishing everyone a very happy Varamahalakshmi Vratha 2022!
