In our opinion tradition teaches that Lakshmi (Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी ) is the goddess of wealth, material & spiritual prosperity, good fortune & the embodiment of beauty, charm & grace. She is the wife of Vishnu (God). Also known as Mahalakshmi, she is said to bring good luck & is believed to protect her devotees from all kinds of misery & money-related sorrows. She is described as bestowing coins of prosperity & flanked by elephants signifying her royal power. In some texts, she has an owl as her vahana (vehicle). Her expression is always calm & loving. The lotus symbolizes the fertile growth of organic life, as the world is continually reborn on a lotus growing out of Vishnu’s navel. Without her grace nothing in this world would survive. She forms the basis of the entire gamut of creation.
Lakshmi is called Srim (Shreem) because she is endowed with six auspicious gunas (divine qualities) & is the source of strength even to Vishnu. When Vishnu incarnated on Earth as the avatars, Rama & Krishna, Lakshmi took incarnation as his consorts, Sita (Rama’s wife) & Radha (Krishna’s lover).

She is worshipped daily in Hindu homes, businesses & temples. Diwali (the festival of lights) is celebrated in her honor during the month of October. Ceremonies include people offering food & sweets, chanting her 108 names, reciting prayers, singing devotional songs & placing small oil lamps outside homes in hopes that she will bless them.
Mahalakshmi is the embodiment of love from which Bhakti (devotion to God) flows. It is through Love, Bhakti or Lakshmi that the atma (soul) is able to reach Vishnu (God). Lakshmi plays a special role as the mediator between her husband & his worldly devotees. Lakshmi represents a more soothing, kind, warm & approachable mother figure who willingly intervenes in the lives of devotees. When asking Vishnu for grace or forgiveness, a devotee often approaches Him through the intermediary presence of Lakshmi. She is the personification of spiritual fulfillment & embodies Vaikunta (the spiritual world & abode of Lakshmi-Narayana-Vishnu) or what would be considered heaven in Vaishnavism. She is Param Prakriti (the divine qualities & embodiment of God’s superior spiritual feminine energy) which purifies, empowers & uplifts individuals. Hence, she is called the Goddess of Fortune & is believed to be the mother of the universe. Lakshmi in Sanskrit is derived from its elemental form lakS, meaning “to perceive or observe”. This is synonymous with lakṣya, meaning “aim” or “objective”.

MahaLakshmi has many names & is known to be very closely associated with the lotus & her many epithets are connected to the flower, such as: 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). Her other names include: Vishnupriya (One who is the beloved of Vishnu); Ulkavahini (One who rides an owl); Manushri, Chakrika, Kamalika, Aishwarya, Lalima, Kalyani, Nandika, Rujula, Vaishnavi, Samruddhi, Narayani, Bhargavi, Sridevi, Chanchala, Jalaja, Madhavi, Sujata, Shreya, Jaganmaatha (Mother of the Universe); Rukmini & Satyabama.

Mahalakshmi is known to preside over 16 forms of worldly wealth including siddhis (spiritual powers) & jnana (spiritual knowledge). Others are: Fame; Knowledge; Courage & Strength; Victory; Good Children; Valor; Gold, Gems & Valuables; Grains in abundance; Happiness; Bliss; Intelligence; Beauty; Higher Aim, High Thinking & Higher Meditation; Morality & Ethics; Good Health; & Longevity.

Ashta Lakshmi

आदि लक्ष्मी (ఆదిలక్ష్మి; ಆದಿಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Ādi Lakṣmī The First manifestation of Lakshmi

धान्य लक्ष्मी (ధాన్యలక్ష్మి; ಧಾನ್ಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Dhānya Lakṣmī Granary wealth

धैर्य लक्ष्मी (ధైర్యలక్ష్మి; ಧೈರ್ಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Dhairya Lakṣmī Wealth of courage

गज लक्ष्मी (గజలక్ష్మి; ಗಜಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Gaja Lakṣmī Elephants, symbols of wealth

सन्तान लक्ष्मी (సంతానలక్ష్మి; ಸಂತಾನಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Santāna Lakṣmī Wealth of continuity, progeny

विजय लक्ष्मी (విజయలక్ష్మి; ವಿಜಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Vijaya Lakṣmī Wealth of victory

विद्या लक्ष्मी (విద్యాలక్ష్మి; ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Vidyā Lakṣmī Wealth of knowledge & education

धन लक्ष्मी (ధనలక్ష్మి; ಧನಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) Dhana Lakṣmī Monetary wealth