The goddess Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi

[mamatha]

Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Representations of Lakshmi are found also in Jain and Buddhist monuments. The word Lakshmi is clearly described in Sanskrit: the elemental form of Lakshmi is “lakS”, meaning to perceive. This is synonymous with “lakSya”, meaning objective. Thus the goddess Lakshmi means to achieving objectives, including wealth in the lives of human. The goddess Lakshmi is consort of Lord Vishnu. Worship of a mother goddess has been a part of Indian tradition since its earliest times. Lakshmi is one of the mother goddesses and is addressed as Mata instead of just Devi. Lakshmi is also called Shri, the female energy of the Supreme Being. Shri is an honorific address that is probably it is used till date for males all over India. The equivalent for females is Srimati if she is married. She is the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, liberality, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and attraction. According to Vishnu Purana the goddess Lakshmi is presented at the time of churning the milk ocean (Amrita Sagar). The Deva & Asuras was both fitting for the milk ocean, in that time the Lord Vishnu place a Kurma in the middle of the mountain and a great poison spewing serpent was wrapped around it and used to churn the ocean. Among these, importantly, was Goddess Lakshmi, the daughter of the king of the milky ocean. The moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is a brother of Lakshmi & she is elder sister of moon. Lakshmi is the daughter of Bhrigu and Khyaati and resided in Swarga but due to the curse of Durvasa, she left Swarga and made Ksheersagara her home. The goddess Lakshmi is physically described as a fair lady, with four arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in fine clothes and precious jewels. Her expression is always peaceful and loving. The most striking feature of the Lakshmi is her persistent association with the lotus. The meaning of the lotus in relation to Shri-Lakshmi refers to purity and spiritual power. Goddess Lakshmi traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night. Goddess Lakshmi is regularly worshiped in home shrines and temples by her devotees. Householders worship Lakshmi for the well being and prosperity of the family. Businessmen and women also regard her equally and offer her daily prayers. On the full Moon day especially in sravana Maasa or in the month of August- September. The Festival days like; Durga Puja, Dusshera and in Varalaksmi Vrata, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings, and invite neighbors to attend the Puja. It is believed that on this full moon night the goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth. The goddess Lakshmi temples are surrounded all over India. The temples specially located mainly in South India. The temples are decorated with colorful paintings of Lakshmi and gloriously. The golden temple of Lakshmi is recently formed in Tamil Nadu and it is most auspicious thing.