Laksmi Devi
Some of the following information may be of dubious origin and should be verified.
The eternal companion of Visnu.
1) Origin.
Devi originated from the left side of Supreme Being.
2) Different incarnations of Laksmi.
Laksmi had many incarnations and she had been on earth in different forms at different times. They are given below:
(i) Birth from the ocean of milk. Once the Devas became aged and afflicted with rugosity and grey hairs by a curse of Durvasas. Indra lost his majesty and was ousted from Svarga. Svargalaksmi deserted Devaloka and went to Vaikuntha and merged with Mahalaksmi.
The Devas were greatly aggrieved on account of this plight of theirs and they went to Satyaloka and appealed to Brahma to find a solution to their difficulties. Brahma was helpless in the matter and so they all together went to Vaikuntha and represented their grievances before Mahavisnu. Visnu smiled and told Mahalaksmi thus : “You go and be born as Ksirasagarakanyaka using a part of your inherent power and do give relief to the Devas.” Accordingly when the Devas conducted the churning of the ocean of milk (Ksirabdhimathana) Mahalaksmi, the goddess of beauty, wealth and prosperity arose from. the ocean as Ksirasagarakanyaka (Daughter of the ocean of milk) and blessed the Devas and put a Vanamala (garland of wild flowers) on Mahavisnu. The Devas got back all their lost wealth and prosperity and they, on going to Devaloka, worshipped Laksmidevi properly. (9th Skandha, Devi Bhagavata).
(ii) Mahalaksmi was born as a mare. (See under Ekavira, Para 2) .
(iii) Mahalaksmi was born as the Tulasi plant (Holy Basil. (See under Tulasi.)
(iv) Mahalaksmi was born as Sita and #Vedavati. (See under Sita) .
(v) Other births : Mahalaksmi was born as a daughter to the sage Bhrgu of Khyati. When Mahavisnu incarnated as Surya, Laksmi rose up from the lotus. When Visnu became Parasurama, Laksmi became the earth. When Mahavisnu incarnated as Sri Rama, Laksmi became Sita and when Visnu was born as Krsna Laksmi became Radha. Thus whenever and wherever Mahavisnu changed his form, Mahalaksmi also changed hers to forrm part of the changed life. (Chapter 9, Arirsa 1, Visnu Purana).
3) Mahalaksmi cursed Visnu. Once Mahalaksmi cursed Mahavisnu, her husband, that his head would drop off from his body.
4) Two forms of Laksmi. Mahalaksmi has two forms, Visnu-priya Laksmi and Rajyalaksmi. The former is the embodiment of chastity and virtuousness. The latter goes about courting Kings. Rajyalaksmi is fickle and unsteady. This Laksmi enters all places where virtue and charity are found and as soon as these two vanish from any place Rajyalaksmi will also vanish from that place.
5) Laksmi in cow-dung. The people of Bharata consider cow dung as very sacred and there is a story in the 82nd Chapter of Anusasana Parva as to how cow-dung became so sacred
Once a herd of cows was grazing in a large grassy ground when Laksmi happened to pass that way. Mahalaksmi was pleased at the cows and bade them ask for any boon they wanted. The cows were prosperity incarnate and contented and they rejected the offer of Laksmi and when pressed again by her, said that they would like to have prosperity deposited in their dung also. Mahalaksmi did so and so even today it is believed that the cowdung is embedded with prosperity.
6) Other details
(i) Laksmi stays in the court of Kubera. (Sloka 19, Chapter 10, Sabha Parva).
(ii) Mahalaksmi is installed in temples as an idol carrying a lotus in her right hand and a Bilva fruit in her left hand. (Chapter 50, Agni Purana).
(iii) Laksmidevi stays in the court of Brahma also. (Sloka 4i, Chapter 11, Sabha Parva).
#Laksmi Devi. #Lakshmi Devi. #Laksmidevi. #LakshmiDevi
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