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Shri
Mahalakshmi
 Mother
Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, is
the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity and Beauty.
In Vaishnava Sampradaya she is next to Lord
Vishnu in the hierarchy and Her grace is needed
to get the Lord’s grace. During Dasara, on the
Vijaya Dashami day, the new corn is worshipped
as Dhanya Lakshmi in the farm and then
ceremoniously brought home. During Deepavali in
our shops and offices Shri Lakshmi Pooja takes
place. Quite a few GSBs have Shri Mahalakshmi as
their Kula swamini. But rarely Her pooja takes
place in our homes.
Legend:
Shri
Mahalakshmi is often called the daughter of the
ocean as she came out of the water at the time
of Amrit Manthan. The story as narrated in
Bhagwat Puran is as follows:
When
the churning started a great amount of
poison was released from the sea, which
Parameshwara gulped down to save the lives of
all. Thereafter, one by one came from the sea,
the moon, the celestial horse, the Iravata elephant
and the eight great elephants of eight
directions, parijata, kaustubha gem and the
“apsara” damsels.
The
churning continued and as it progressed slowly
and slowly from the ocean bed started coming out
a strange flow and as the days passed, the glow
started brightening up. Before long, like the
molten gold the whole ocean started shining
brilliantly. Now from the middle of the ocean
came out a large bud of red lotus. When both the
gods and demons started looking at it
inquisitively, the bud started blossoming into a
beautiful lotus of a thousand petals. As they
watched wonderstruck, it was mysteriously
transformed into a golden lotus and when it
completely unfolded itself, to their view came
Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and beauty
majestically seated in the centre, with all
splendour and glory with the brilliance of a
thousand suns. What a great and grand sight it
was! Who could described her beauty, the very
deity of beauty and wealth! The sight was really
beyond the realm of description and imagination
and even comprehension.
Welcoming
her came from the heavens a grand shower of
flowers and thousands of rainbows appeared on
the sky to mark the auspicious occasion. From
all the directions was heard the celestial music
singing her glories and all over, there were
chants of vedic hymns praising and saluting her
greatness calling her as “Shree” the most
auspicious one. The beauty incarnate Lakshmi was
carrying a beautiful garland of lotus in full
bloom and she had emerged from the ocean as a
bride most beautifully decorated and dressed up,
in search of a suitable bridegroom.
Looking
at her inexhaustible wealth, undiminishing grace
and incomparable beauty, everyone flocked to her
with gifts and presents to win her heart. But
caring little for everyone and everything she
went to Lord Vishnu, the lord of three worlds
and garlanded him without any loss of time. Lord
Vishnu also accepted her hand and the joyous
occasion was heralded by the beating of the
celestial drums to announce the greatest wedding
in the universe. Thus Goddess Lakshmi became the
consort of Lord Vishnu.
Married
ladies in difficulties
are often advised to offer Kumkumarchan seva, a
very inexpensive seva in our temples to Mother Goddess Lakshmi besides chanting
Shri Lakshmi Sahasra Nama one thousand names.
Nowadays the annual Shri Vara Mahalakshmi Vrita
also has become popular. A mammoth Kumkumarchan
Seva was organised at Mulki Shri Venkatraman
temple on 23rd Sept., 2001 when about
1000 ladies participated. (See
pic)
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