Lakshmi: The Bringer of wealth
Lakshmi, also called Laxmi, is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, luxury, beauty, fertility, and auspiciousness. She holds the promise of material fulfillment and contentment. She is described as restless, whimsical yet maternal, with her arms raised to bless and to grant her blessings.
The Goddess Lakshmi occupies an important place in the Hindu pantheon of Gods. As the consort of Lord Vishnu, she is one of the most influential deities and is worshipped across the world by believers. According to legend, she emerged when the devas and asuras were in the midst of churning the divine ocean to gain Amrut, the divine nectar. As she emerged, she carried a garland and placed it on Lord Vishnu, denoting him as her divine consort and helping him maintain the universe’s wealth.
There are several forms in which the Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. A common representation of her is at the feet of her divine consort, Lord Vishnu, massaging his feet as they both relax on the ocean of divine bliss. She is depicted as an immensely beautiful woman whose four hands represent the four ends of life – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The hands at the back hold lotus buds to signify the purity of the soul. The right front hand provides blessings while the left front hand has gold coins falling from it, which provides wealth and prosperity to the devotees.
Images of Lakshmi started appearing around the third century BC in sculptures found in Kausambi, in north India, and on coins issued during the reign of the Gupta dynasty around the fourth century AD. She became a favourite of kings as more and more people believed she was the bestower of power, wealth and sovereignty. Separate shrines to Lakshmi within the precincts of Vishnu temples may have been built as early as the seventh century; such shrines were definitely in existence by the 10th century AD.
Lakshmi is the divine power that transforms dreams into reality. She is prakriti, the perfect creation: self-sustaining, self-contained Nature. She is maya, the delightful delusion, the dream-like expression of divinity that makes life comprehensible, hence worth living. She is shakti, energy, boundless and bountiful. To worship her is to rejoice in the wonders of life.
At Artisanscrest, our skilled team of artisans have created several tributes to this divine deity in the form of beautiful paintings, exquisite carvings and magnificent sculptures in stone and other materials. Explore our range of products hailing the divinity of the Goddess Lakshmi or get in touch with us to create your own, special artifact. Contact us and let us bring the Goddess home to you.