Lakshmi
The Goddess of Wealth, Prosperity & Abundance
Lakshmi, also called Sri, is the goddess of wealth and prosperity and is one of the most revered and widely worshipped goddesses in Hinduism. She originated from the Vedic term, Shri, which was associated with royalty and sovereignty. Her name means “understanding the objective” stating her as the goddess who leads people to their purpose and goal. The goddess is the consort of Vishnu, the universe's preserver and sustainer. She is depicted as a radiant goddess adorned in rich attire and jewellery as the embodiment of grace, beauty, and charm.
Iconography
She often appears as a beautiful woman with two to four arms holding a wealth pot, a lotus flower, or other objects like crops, conch shells, or weapons, or in the Abhaya and Varada mudras. She is depicted seated on a lotus and is dressed in a red garment, earning her the names Padma, Kamala, and Saroja. Her vahana, or mount, is an owl, but she is also accompanied by elephants.
Forms of Lakshmi
Saraswati is known to manifest in a variety of forms, as are many other prominent deities in Hindu traditions. While Saraswati is frequently depicted as a graceful goddess associated with the realms of creativity, music, learning, and wisdom, she also takes on fierce forms, emphasising her role as a protective deity.
The existence of both gentle and fierce forms of Saraswati in Hindu literature shows the divine feminine's dynamic nature. It emphasises that Saraswati's wisdom and artistic expression can take on various dimensions to both nurturing and protects the cosmic order's balance.
Ashtalakshmi
The Ashtalakshmi is a group of eight forms of Lakshmi.They represent different aspects of the goddess with specific functions. The eight goddesses control eight sources of wealth, which are money, food, fortune, health, wisdom, courage, progeny, and power. Following are the eight forms:
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Adi Lakshmi: Her name means "the one who is before all". She is responsible for the consciousness that leads to spiritual and material wealth. She is depicted with four arms, holding a lotus and a white flag, the other two arms in Abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
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Dhana Lakshmi: She is the goddess of wealth. Her icon is depicted with four arms carrying Sudarshana Chakra, a couch, kalasha, a bow-arrow, a lotus, and one hand in Abhaya mudra with gold coins coming from it.
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Dhanya Lakshmi: She is the goddess of agricultural wealth. She is represented with eight- armed, carrying two lotuses, mace, paddy crop, sugarcane, bananas, and her two hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
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Gaja Lakshmi: She is the goddess of royalty and wealth. She is represented with four arms carrying two lotuses and two other arms in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra, surrounded by two elephants bathing him with pots of water.
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Santana Lakshmi: She is the goddess of bestowing progeny. She is represented with six arms, carrying two kalasha, one sword, one shield, one hand in Abhaya mudra, and the other holding a child, who is also carrying a lotus.
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Veera Lakshmi: She is the goddess who bestows valor during battles and courage for overcoming difficulties. She is depicted with eight arms, carrying a chakra, conch, bow, arrow, sword or trident, bowl, and other two hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
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Vijaya/Jaya Lakshmi: She is the goddess and the goddess of victory. She is depicted with eight-arms carrying the chakra, conch, sword, shield, lotus, noose, and other two hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
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Aishwarya Lakshmi: She is the goddess of prosperity. She is represented with four arms holding two lotus and other two hands in Varada mudra and Abhaya mudra.
In other Stotram, Veera Lakshmi is replaced by Dhairya Lakshmi, goddess of patience, and Aishwarya Lakshmi is replaced by Vidya Lakshmi, goddess of knowledge. In the Sarada Tilaka, her eight manifestations are Kanthi, Vibhuti, Srishti, Kirti, Sannathi, Pushti, Utkrishti, and Riddhi.
The other forms are:
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Saubhagya Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune.
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Rajya Lakshmi, goddess of sovereignty.
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Vara Lakshmi, the goddess who grants boons.
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Griha Lakshmi, goddess of the household.
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Vaibhava Lakshmi, goddess of splendour.
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Bhagya Lakshmi, goddess of fate.
Shodasa Mahalakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi is invoked in her 16 forms, which represent 16 types of prosperity, according to Mahalakshmi Stuti (hymn of praise on Goddess Mahalakshmi). Following is the list of the 16 forms of the goddess:
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Yaso Lakshmi: She is the one who grants success. She is depicted with four hands carrying two red lotus in the upper hands, and the lower two in the varada mudra.
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Vidya Lakshmi: She is the one who grants knowledge. She is depicted wearing white clothes and has four hands carrying two white lotus in the upper hands, and a rosary and a manuscript in the lower two.
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Dhairya Lakshmi: She is the one who grants endurance. She has eight hands carrying a conch shell, chakra, bowl, trident, bow, arrow, and lower two hands in abhaya and varada mudras.
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Dhana Lakshmi: She is the one who grants wealth. She has eight hands carrying a chakra, kalasha, arrow, and thaamboolam in her right hand, coach shell, bell, bow, and lotus in her left hand.
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Santhana Lakshmi: She is the one who grants offspring. She has four hands carrying a kalasha, and bell, and lower two hands in abhaya and varada mudras. She wears blue attire and a child is seated on her lap.
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Dhanya Lakshmi: She is the goddess of food and grains. She has six hands carrying a lotus, paddy, banana flowers, and cane, and her lower two hands in abhaya and varada mudras. Her mount is a lion
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Gaja Lakshmi: She is the goddess of royalty and wealth. She is represented with four hands carrying two lotuses and two other arms in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra, surrounded by two elephants bathing him with pots of water.
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Veera Lakshmi: She is who bestows valor during battles. She is depicted with eight hands, carrying an Aakshamala, lotus, mace, bow, goad, and noose, and lower two hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra. Her mount is a lion.
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Adi Lakshmi: She is who is the first. She is depicted with two arms in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
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Siddha Lakshmi: She is the goddess of enlightenment. She has a red complexion and is depicted with four hands carrying two lotuses in the upper hand and two in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
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Soumya Lakshmi: She is the goddess of auspiciousness. She is of fair complexion and is depicted with a kalasha on her lap. She has four hands carrying two lotuses in her upper hand and two in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
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Sowbhagya Lakshmi: She is who grants attractiveness. She is of golden color and is depicted wearing white clothes and has four hands carrying two lotuses in her upper hand and two in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
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Shri Lakshmi: She is the goddess of auspicious wealth. She is depicted wearing white clothes and has four hands carrying a goad and a noose in her upper hand, and a rosary and a lotus in her lower hand.
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Prasanna Lakshmi: She is the goddess of satisfaction. She is depicted wearing white clothes and seated on the lap of Vishnu. She has four hands carrying two lotuses in the upper hand and a pomegranate and kalasha in the lower hand.
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Vijaya Lakshmi: She is the goddess of victory. She has dark skin and she wears green clothes. She has eight hands carrying a chakra, conch, shield, sword, goad, and noose, and two hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra. Her mount is a swan and a lion.
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Samrajya Lakshmi: She is the goddess of kingdom and ruling. She has dark skin and sits on a white horse. She has eight hands carrying a chakra, conch, mace, lotus, bow, and arrows, and two hands in Abhaya mudra and Varada mudra.
Incarnations of Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu's consort, takes on numerous physical manifestations to accompany him in all of his avatars. These forms reflect characteristics such as loyalty, love, and dedication. Some incarnation of Lakshmi are Vedavati, Bhudevi, Dharani, Sita, Rukmini, Padma, Tulshi, Padmavathi, Godadevi and so on. (Read: Consorts of Vishnu)