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Ashtalakshmi – Hindu Goddesses and Deities
Ashta Lakshmi (Sanskrit: अष्टलक्ष्मी), are eightfold forms of Hindu goddess Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi is commonly known as Goddess of wealth. Wealth is a vital ingredient bestowed upon us for maintenance and progress in our life. It is much more than just having money. It means abundance in knowledge, skills and talents. Lakshmi is the energy that manifests as the complete spiritual and material well-being of a person. The eight different forms of Goddess Lakshmi are:
Adi Lakshmi
Adi Lakshmi (Sanskrit: आदि लक्ष्मी, “Primeval Lakshmi”) or Maha Lakshmi (Sanskrit: महा लक्ष्मी, ) is an ancient form of Lakshmi and incarnation of Lakshmi as daughter of the sage Bhrigu. She is the Wealth of endless prosperity. Goddess of no beginnings or end: “Adi” means eternal existence. Adi Lakshmi signifies the never-ending nature of the Goddess. She has no start and no end. She is continuous. Wealth should therefore, flow continuously also. It too has always been there and always will be there.
Adi Lakshmi or Rama Lakshmi serving Sri Narayana is symbolic of her serving the whole creation. Adi Lakshmi and Narayana are not two different entities but one only. Lakshmi is Shakti. Lakshmi is the Power of Narayana.
Adi Lakshmi is the memory of the source. When we forget that we are a part of the entire creation, we feel small and insecure. Adi Lakshmi is that aspect which connects us to our source, thus bringing strength and calmness to the mind.
Goddess Adi Lakshmi is four-armed, carries a lotus and a white flag, other two arms in Abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
Dhana Lakshmi
Dhana Lakshmi (Sanskrit: धन लक्ष्मी, Dhana Lakshmi, “Money Lakshmi”): for money and gold. Also known as Vaibhav Lakshmi. “Dhan” and “Vaibhav” mean money, riches, fortune and income. It is the usual way we perceive and understand wealth. This wealth is of great importance to one who wishes to live an enriched and happy life.
But as per Rigved’s Purush Shukta Dhana is not only a wealth in coins and currency. Even Sun and moon, fire and stars, rains and nature, oceans and mountains, rivers and streams, all these are our wealth, so are the progeny, our inner will power, our character and our virtues. With the grace of mother Dhana Lakshmi we will get all these in abundance.
Goddess Dhana Lakshmi is Six-armed, in red garments, carries chakra (discus), shankha (conch), kalasha (water pitcher with mango leaves and a coconut on it) or Amrita kumbha (a pitcher containing Amrita – elixir of life), bow-arrow, a lotus and an arm in abhaya mudra with gold coins falling from it.
Dhanya Lakshmi
Dhanya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: धान्य लक्ष्मी, Dhǎnya Lakshmi, “Lakshmi as goddess of grain”) is the giver of agricultural wealth. Wealth of grain, food, nourishment, and health: “Dhanya” means grain. Food is our most basic and most important wealth. We need food to sustain life. Being wealthy means we have abundance of food that keeps us nourished and healthy. She is the Goddess of the Harvest and the Devi who blesses with abundance and success in harvest.
It is said that we become what we eat. The right amount and the right type of food, eaten at the right time and place affects our body and mind positively. With the grace of mother Dhanya Lakshmi one gets all essential nutrients grains, fruits, vegetables and other foods.
Goddess Dhanya Lakshmi is eight-armed, in green garments, carries two lotuses, gada (mace), paddy crop, sugarcane, bananas, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
Dhairya Lakshmi
Wealth of patience, strategy, planning, objectivity : “Dhairya” means patience. This wealth gives us the spiritual strength to face good and bad times with equal ease. It signifies the importance of planning and strategy in all our actions so we may move with caution and reach our target each time.
This form of mother Lakshmi grants the boon of infinite courage and strength. Those, who are in tune with infinite inner power, are always bound to have victory. Those who worship mother Dhairya Lakshmi they live and lead a life with tremendous patience and inner stability.
Gaja Lakshmi
Gaja Lakshmi (Sanskrit: गज लक्ष्मी, Gaja Lakshmi, “Elephant Lakshmi”) is the giver of animal wealth, like cattle and elephants. Swami Chidananda interprets Gaja Lakshmi as giver of power of royalty. According to Hindu mythology, Gaja Lakshmi brought back the wealth lost by Indra (king of demi-gods) from the ocean.
Goddess Gaja Lakshmi is four-armed, in red garments, carries two lotuses, other two arms in abhaya mudra and varada mudra, surrounded by two elephants bathing her with water pots.
Santan Lakshmi
Santana Lakshmi (Sanskrit: सन्तान लक्ष्मी, Santāna Lakshmi, “Progeny Lakshmi”) is the Bestower of offspring. Wealth of children, legacy, family, friends, well wishers: “Santan” means children. Goddess Lakshmi symbolizes the social nature of man. We need each other. Children are our wealth. They are our future. The family is the basic unit of people who bring up their children. Life moves forward through its children.
Those who worship this particular form of Sri Lakshmi, known as a Santan Lakshmi, are bestowed with the grace of mother Lakshmi and have wealth in the form of desirable children with good health & long life.
Goddess Santana Lakshmi is six-armed, carries two kalashas (water pitcher with mango leaves and a coconut on it), sword, shield, a child on her lap, a hand in abhaya mudra and the other holding the child. The child holds a lotus.
Vijay Lakshmi
Vijaya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: विजय लक्ष्मी, Vijaya Lakshmi, “Victorious Lakshmi”) or Jaya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: जय लक्ष्मी, Jaya Lakshmi, “Victorious Lakshmi”) is the giver of victory, not only in battles but also in conquering hurdles in order to beget success. Wealth of victory, perseverance, courage, and confidence: “Vijay” means victory. This Goddess symbolizes the wealth of courage, confidence, fearlessness and victory. This wealth strengthens our character and keeps us moving along successfully on our life path.
Vijay is to get success in all undertakings and all different facets of life. Some people are strong physically but weak mentally while others are economically rich but poor in their attitude and cannot exert any influence. Vijay is to have all encompassing victory. Vijay is to rejoice glory of our real nature – Vijay is to conquer the lower nature. Vijay is the victory in external and internal wars and of course eternal wars! Hence those, with grace of mother Vijay Lakshmi, have victory everywhere, at all time, in all conditions. Victory to Vijay Lakshmi!!
Goddess Vijaya Lakshmi is eight-armed, in red garments, carries chakra, shankh, sword, shield, lotus, pasha, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
Vidya Lakshmi
Vidya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: विद्या लक्ष्मी, Vidyā Lakshmi, “Knowledge Lakshmi”) is the bestower of knowledge of arts and sciences. Wealth of education, knowledge, skills: “Vidya” means knowledge. To be knowledgeable means that we have skills of various kinds. We have general information about our local, national, and international issues.
Serenity, Regularity, Absence of Vanity, Sincerity, Simplicity, Veracity, Equanimity, Fixity, Non-irritability, Adaptability Humility, Tenacity, Integrity, Nobility, Magnanimity, Charity, Generosity and Purity are the eighteen qualities imbibed through proper education that only can give immortality.
Ashtalakshmi Festival
10 day Purattasi Navarathri festival, Deepavali Lakshmi Puja are the main festivals celebrated in honour of Ashtalakshmis.
Ashtalakshmi Mantra
Om Shreem Mahalakshmi Namah Ashta-Aishwaryam Samridhim Mey Dehi Tapaya Swaha Shreem Mahalakshmi Namah ||
Ashtalakshmi Temples
Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: The Ashta Lakshmi Kovil, built in 1974, is the first shrine dedicated exclusively to the Ashta Lakshmi where Lakshmi is given greater importance than Vishnu. It has eight small shrines arranged in clockwise direction, dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi and then a ninth shrine dedicated to Vishnu and Lakshmi together, unlike the traditional separate shrines.
- Ashtalakshmi Temple, Vasavi Colony, Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Ashtalakshmi Temple, Sugar Land, Houston, Texas, USA
- Ashtalakshmi Temple, North Hollywood, California, USA