To kick off the new section of my newsletter, Deity, Mantra, Myth, I thought I’d start with one of the most popular goddesses: Lakshmi, the goddess of Material Wealth and Good Fortune as well as power, fertility, youth and beauty.
Ok, let’s get started.
The Story of Lakshmi
The Churning of the Cosmic Ocean:
Long ago, the gods (devas) and demons (asuras) sought the elixir of immortality, known as Amrita. To obtain it, they began to churn the cosmic ocean. Mount Mandara served as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the serpent king, became the rope.
As the churning began, numerous divine beings and treasures emerged from the ocean. Among them was the radiant Goddess Lakshmi, who was born from the waves of the cosmic ocean. Seated on a lotus, she emerged in her full splendor, adorned with divine beauty and grace.
The Marriage to Lord Vishnu:
As Lakshmi arose from the ocean, she captivated the hearts of both the gods and the demons. However, she chose Lord Vishnu as her eternal consort, recognizing his divine qualities and the cosmic order he represented.
According to the Puranas, there was a celestial event where the deities were engaged in a grand assembly. During this gathering, Goddess Lakshmi, adorned with exquisite ornaments and garments, chose Lord Vishnu as her husband. She approached him gracefully, smiled and garlanded him, signifying her choice.
The union of Goddess Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu symbolizes the harmony between wealth and preservation in the cosmic order. While Lakshmi is the bestower of prosperity and abundance, Vishnu is the preserver of the universe, ensuring balance and order.
Lakshmi: Symbolism and Appearance
Although there may be some variation, each of the following are common descriptions and symbolism of Lakshmi.
Physical Appearance:
Four Arms: Lakshmi is often depicted with four arms, symbolizing her omnipresence and the four goals of human life: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation).
Golden Complexion: Her golden complexion signifies purity, prosperity, and the radiance that she brings into the world.
Attire and Adornments:
Red Sari: Lakshmi is commonly depicted wearing a red sari, symbolizing activity and the dynamic nature of the material world.
Ornaments: She is adorned with various jewels, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. The jewelry represents the abundance that she bestows upon her devotees.
Symbols Held in Hands:
Lotus: One of the most prominent symbols associated with Lakshmi is the lotus. She is often shown seated on a fully blossomed lotus or holding a lotus in one of her hands. The lotus symbolizes purity, beauty, fertility, and the promise of new beginnings emerging from the mud of materialism.
Gold Coins: In one of her hands, Lakshmi holds gold coins, representing material wealth and prosperity. This symbolizes the importance of wealth in maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life.
Abhaya Mudra: Lakshmi's hand is often in the abhaya mudra, a gesture of reassurance and protection, dispelling fear and granting boons to her devotees.
Varada Mudra: In some depictions, her lower right hand is in the varada mudra, a gesture of granting wishes and blessings.
Mount and Companion:
Lotus Throne: Lakshmi is often depicted seated on a lotus flower or a lotus throne, reinforcing her association with purity and transcendence.
Elephant or Owl: In some traditions, Lakshmi is accompanied by an elephant or an owl. The elephant symbolizes royalty, power, and fertility, while the owl represents wisdom and alertness.
Spiritual Significance:
Goddess of Abundance: Lakshmi is revered as the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Her presence is believed to bring affluence and success to individuals and households.
Spiritual Wealth: While she is associated with material prosperity, Lakshmi also represents spiritual wealth, symbolizing the pursuit of righteousness, knowledge, and liberation.
Guna: Lakshmi is considered to be rajasic in nature.
How Lakshmi is beneficial for remediation in Jyotish
In Vedic astrology, working with Lakshmi is a common remedy prescribed for those who have a Venus affliction in their chart. Examples of typical Venusian struggles include:
issues with romantic relationships and sexuality
issues with feeling worthy of giving or receiving love
issues with women and/or femininity
issues around body image/negative feelings about one’s own attractiveness
trouble feeling and experiencing joy
physical problems with parts of the body ruled by Venus, which includes the neck, bladder, kidneys and female reproductive organs
Whether a chart needs a Venus remedy or not should be determined by a trained Vedic astrologer. If this is the case, the astrologer may recommend working with a specific Lakshmi mantra or doing and/or having rituals performed in her honor.
How to work with Lakshmi
Even if you don’t have Venus issues in your chart, you may still want to work with Lakshmi. Material wealth and good fortune – who doesn’t want more of that?
Here are a few simple ways to connect with and honor her.
Mantra
Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhayo Namaha
This mantra means “I bow to the Goddess Lakshmi, who is the embodiment of divine energy.” It includes the bija (seed) mantras Hriṁ (pronounced hreem) and Śrīṁ (pronounced shreem).
Hriṁ is the primary mantra of the Goddess in all her forms. It brings fire and light into the mantra and activates the heart chakra. Śrīṁ is the seed mantra of Lakshmi herself. It is a mantra of faith and devotion which can be used to address any deity in a devout manner, as well as help gain their favor and grace.
If done so with respect, this mantra is free for anyone to chant who wishes to invoke Lakshmi.
Ritual
If you would like to work with Lakshmi regularly, you could also set us an altar where you perform a very simple daily or weekly ritual to honor her.
To do so, work with an image of Lakshmi and add objects to the altar that fit her symbolism (for example, gold coins, beautiful jewelry and ornaments, sea shells, a lotus and owl, etc.).
Friday mornings are the best time to work with Lakshmi, although any other morning is fine as well.
On the mornings you work with her, you should:
bathe first and wear clean clothings
Bathe before you approach her and wear clean clothing.
light a ghee lamp or white candle
offer her white flowers, incense, sweets and fruit
recite the mantra above or another Lakshmi 108 times
If interested, you can also learn to do a more proper puja (ritual) to Lakshmi designed to do at home. However, this would involve a lot of Sanskrit, so better to start slow.
Please note: Although anyone is welcome to work with Lakshmi, I would only suggest setting up an altar if you plan to stay consistent in working with her there.
Lakshmi is a living goddess form who is worshipped by millions of people around the world. If you bring her image or symbols into your home, you are inviting her to be present. As my teacher put it once, if you invited a guest to your house, you wouldn’t immediately lock them in the closet and offer them nothing to eat while they sat there in the dark, gathering dust. The same can be said for any image or altar to a god or goddess you decide to set up at home.
Keep the altar clean and make regular offerings. Otherwise, you can just choose to work solely with mantra the instead, which is also completely fine.
Goddesses from other traditions similar to Lakshmi
Many goddess from both ancient and living traditions have a similarity to Lakshmi.
Here are a few examples:
Oshun (Yoruba Religion):
Attributes: Oshun is a Yoruba goddess associated with love, fertility, rivers, and wealth. She is often depicted as a beautiful and alluring deity, and her worship includes rituals for matters of the heart and prosperity.
Symbols: Oshun is symbolized by the river, and offerings to her include honey, fruits, and other sweet items.
Freyja (Norse Mythology):
Attributes: Freyja is a Norse goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, and gold. She is also a warrior goddess and is linked to the afterlife.
Symbols: Freyja is often depicted with a necklace of gold (Brísingamen) and has a chariot pulled by two large cats.
Aphrodite (Greek Mythology):
Attributes: Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She embodies the concept of physical and spiritual beauty and is associated with love and desire.
Symbols: Aphrodite is often depicted with a scallop shell, doves, and roses. She also was born in the waves, like Lakshmi. Her Roman counterpart is Venus.
Fortuna (Roman Religion):
Attributes: Fortuna is the Roman goddess of fortune, luck, and prosperity. She shares similarities with Lakshmi in her association with material well-being.
Symbols: Fortuna is often depicted with a cornucopia and a ship's rudder, symbolizing the unpredictability of luck.
Isis (Ancient Egyptian Religion):
Attributes: Isis is a significant goddess in ancient Egyptian mythology, associated with love, motherhood, and magic. She is also linked to fertility and protection.
Symbols: Isis is often depicted with an ankh (symbol of life) and as a protective deity with outstretched wings.
If you need to remedy (or boost) Venus in your natal chart, you can also choose to work with any of these goddesses, as they embody the same frequency as Lakshmi. In Catholic/Christian terms, working with Mary Magdalena is also suitable for Venus remediation purposes.