Goddess Lakshmi is the epitome of wealth, auspiciousness, fortune and prosperity. She symbolizes sattvic principles. She is shown draped in a red sari, adorned with gold ornaments with four hands, seated on a full-bloomed lotus flower. One of her hands hold a lotus flower signifying beauty, purity and fertility. Her four hands signify the four goals of Human life that is Dharma or righteousness, Kama or desires, Artha or wealth and Moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Cascades of gold coins flowing down from one of her hands signify material wealth. The red color of the sari symbolizes activity and the golden lining and ornaments indicate prosperity. Lakshmi is the active energy of Vishnu and also appears as Lakshmi-Narayan. Lakshmi sitting atop of lotus flower that blossom on murky water signifies that just like a lotus flower does not contact mud and lose its constitutional form (dewy and fresh). Similarly, a self-realized person has to rise above negativities and vices that seek to pull him down with purity and serenity. Goddess Lakshmi denotes that Shakti or energy of the divine that assists you in achieving your pure desires, which are without any greed, or reference to the past and future and completely rooted to the present moment.
In the Shatapatha Brahmana (a Vedic treaties on the preparation of rites and rituals) that the original form of Lakshmi is Sri that Gods derive their powers and execute their aims (Lakshya) in the matter of cosmic maintenance. Therefore, the purpose (Lakshya) of human birth is also is also associated with Sri or Lakshmi. In a deeper sense, one’s ultimate aim in Life is to realize one’s own divinity only after one has realized one is abundant and supported, full of talents and creativity, has power and strength, has knowledge and wisdom, has luck and success and has a role to play to perform on one’s journey in life.
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