Word

Lakshmi

Sanskrit

लक्ष्मी

IAST

lakṣmī

In General

Ma Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth, prosperity, knowledge and good fortune. Lakshmi being the power and consort of Vishnu, she is very much an essential part of creation. Lakshmi is usually painted or sculptured as standing on a lotus flower with four hands holding padma, sankha, amrtakalasa and blva fruit. Very often elephants are shown on either side, emptying pitchers of water over her.

`Lakshmi' means the one who has a mark or a sign. Yaska Nirukta says, `Lakshmi represents all those signs of happiness and welfare that a man desires'. The word Lakshmi arises out of the dhatu `Lash' which means `to obtain'.

Veda

Goddess of Harmony and beauty. The verses starting with ‘Hiranya varnam harinim suvarna rajatashraman …’ is a famous hymn called, Sri Sukta in praise of Lakshmi in R.V. (Khila). The word ‘Sri’ also meant for Lakshmi in several mantras.

The word `Lakshmi' can also be derived from the roots `La' which means `to give' and `Kship' which means `to inspire'. Thus Lakshmi means the one who gives us the wealth of knowledge that inspires us to achieve the highest state of realization of the Self. `Ma Aavaha' - this means `invite her to me'. This request goes to Agni, who is actually none other than Sri Narayana. Only the great Lord has the capacity to grant eternal wealth of the knowledge of Self, called Sri.

Purana

Lakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu. According to puranas, she was daughter of sage Brighu and his wife Khyati in her first incarnation. Another story tells that Ma Lakshmi was born out of ocean of milk at the time of churning palazhi by Devas and Asuras. While Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth (Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, etc.) for establishing of dharma, she also incarnated herself to became his respective consort to fulfill the mission.