Lakshmi Mata
लक्ष्मी माताలక్ష్మీదేవిலட்சுமி தேவி
Also known as: Mahalakshmi · Laxmi · Shri · Kamala · Padma · Rama · Narayani · Vaibhav Lakshmi · Varalakshmi · Ashtalakshmi
Lakshmi Mata is the goddess of wealth and prosperity and the consort of Lord Vishnu. Devotees pray to her for a prosperous, happy home, on Fridays and above all on Diwali night.
- Day of worship
- Friday
- Festivals
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) · Dhanteras · Varalakshmi Vratam
Texts for Lakshmi Mata
Stotra 2
- Shri Suktam 6 min Shri Suktam is the oldest hymn to Goddess Lakshmi, a Vedic prayer of fifteen mantras from the khila (appendix) hymns of the Rig Veda. It asks Agni to bring Lakshmi, golden and never departing, into the home and to drive out poverty. A sixteenth verse, given here, tells the devotee to recite the fifteen mantras daily; families chant it at Lakshmi puja, on Fridays and on Diwali night. 16 verses · Vedic (Rig Veda Khila); seers named in tradition as Ananda, Kardama, Chiklita and Shrida
- Kanakadhara Stotram 8 min Kanakadhara Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn to Goddess Lakshmi that tradition credits to Adi Shankaracharya. In 18 verses it asks for Lakshmi's compassionate glance to fall on the devotee, and a closing verse says that one who recites it daily becomes like Kuber. Tradition says that when young Shankara first sang it for a poor woman, Lakshmi showered golden amla fruits on her house; people recite it on Fridays, Akshaya Tritiya and Diwali. 19 verses · Adi Shankaracharya (by tradition)
The story
The Puranas tell that when the gods and asuras churned the Ocean of Milk for amrit, many treasures came up from the water. Lakshmi rose too, seated on a lotus in full bloom, with lotuses in her hands. She chose Lord Vishnu, put a garland around his neck, and took her place on his chest, where she lives always.
Tradition speaks of eight forms of Lakshmi, the Ashtalakshmi, who give grain, courage, children, victory, knowledge and more. In pictures two elephants pour water over her and gold coins fall from her hand. In many parts of India the owl is her vahana.
Families believe Lakshmi stays in a clean home where people work honestly, and leaves a house full of quarrels and waste. So before Diwali people clean the whole house and fill it with lamps, and many families light a diya at the door every evening. On Diwali night Lakshmi puja is done together with Ganesh, and the aarti Om Jai Lakshmi Mata is sung.