1. What does the word Lakshmi mean?
The word Lakshmi comes from 'laksha' means 'to aim at'. So 'Lakshmi' is that, what is sought after by all.
2. Who is Goddess Lakshmi?
• In the Puranas she is said to be the consort of Lord Narayana.
• She is the 'Adi Shakti', the eternal power of the Lord.
• She has various aspects or expressions.
3. Who should seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi?
•Scriptures talk of two paths. Path of Action (Pravritti marga) and Path of Renounciation (Nivritti marga). All those who want either pleasures or liberation, following their respective paths should seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi.
4. How should one following 'the Path of Action' seek goddess Lakshmi?
In Ishaavaasya Upanishad 2nd mantra it is said, 'kurvan eva iha karmaani jijivishet shatam samaah; evam tvayi naanyathetosti na karma lipyate nare'
Those who wish to desire pleasures of this world and higher worlds (heavens) should aim to live a long life of dharma, serving others.
One requires wealth to live a long life of service. Hence one must work hard to acquire wealth.
When the wealth acquired righteously is used for dharma then the actions performed to acquire wealth do not bind the doer with I-ness and My-ness.
5. What kind of wealth is sought after by those who follow the Path of Action?
There are eight types of wealth described in the scriptures, called as Ashta Lakshmi.
6. What are the eight types of wealth?
1) Dhana Lakshmi: Money through righteous ways
2) Dhaanya Lakshmi: Sattvik pure food to maintain health. As health is wealth.
3) Gaja Lakshmi: Cattle or vehicle.
4) Santaan Lakshmi: Good and well behaved children.
5) Vidyaa Lakshmi: Proficiency in the world
6) Dhairya Lakshmi: Courage to venture into new things and also face difficulties.
7) Vijaya Lakshmi: Success in ones field of action
8) Aadi Lakshmi: She being the eternal power of the Lord is also the eternal source of grace and hence when sought after one will never be denied of Her blessings.
7. In Tulasi Ramayana Seetaji is worshiped as Adi Shakti. 'udbhava-sthiti-samhaara-kaarinim klesha-haarinim, sarva-shreyas-karim seetaam nato ham Rama-vallabhaam.' She is the very cause of creation maintainance and dissolution of the world. When She is with Rama, She removes all the klesha (Avidya-ignorance of Self, Asmita- I-ness, Rraga-likes, Dvesha-dislikes and Abhinivesha-fear of death because of identification with the limited) and brings ultimate good (Moksha). But the same Adi shakti, eternal power of the Lord if is not with the Lord can create klesha and bring ultimate destruction. Lord Narayana pervades the world of names and forms. Hence service to all is service to the Lord. Jana seva Jananrdan seva, nara seva Narayana Seva. Hence wealth when utilised for dharma, service to all will bring the Ultimate Good, Moksha through antahkarana shuddhi (purification of the mind).
8. How should one following 'the Path of Renunciation' seek goddess Lakshmi?
Ishaavaasya Upanishad in the first mantra says, 'ishaa-vaasyam idam sarvam yat kinchit jagatyaam jagat; tena tyaktena bhunjithaah maa gridha kasyaswit dhanam'.
Those who do not desire temporary pleasures of this world or the higher worlds and are the seekers of the permanent bliss should not hoard wealth and protect themselves from the attachment to the transient.
Permanent happiness is possible only when one is able to experience The One pervading the apparent many. To whom then the wealth belongs to when there Is nothing other then the One?
The seekers of the One, prepare themselves to walk the Path of Renunciation by cultivating the fourfold qualities such as Vivek (ability to discriminate between the permanent and the impermanent), Vairagya (giving up the identification with the impermanent), Shat Sampatti (Six wealth) and Mumukshutvam (desire to get liberated from the limited).
Thus the seekers of the Truth too seek blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for the 'Shat Sampati', six kind of wealth.
9. What are the six types of wealth required by the seekers of the Truth?
1) Shama - Control of mind. The mind does not distract the seeker.
2) Dama - Control of senses. The seeker does not get lured by the false glitters of the sense objects.
3) Uparati - Not persecuted by the mind and senses, the seeker is able to practice ones own dharma, 'swadhyaaya'.
4) Titikshaa - Forbearance. The seeker's knowledge of 'The Oneness' does not shake while experiencing the pairs of opposite like 'sukha-dukha' etc.
5) Shraddhaa - Faith in the words of Guru and Vedanta which helps the seeker to remain consistent till the goal is reached.
6) Samaadhaanam - Single-pointedness of mind. Where the mind rests in the One.
10. Thus whether one wants Dharma or Brahma we need the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi means in adoration humbly surrender to invoke Her grace.
11. The highest wealth is Narayana, the Poorna-the infinite. Having attained that one becomes free from wants. Wealth without Lord Narayana makes us dependent slaves and beggars of more. Laksmiji finds Her fulfilment in being one with Narayana.
12. Gurudev once said, 'Hold on to Narayana, Lakshmi will follow.' The easiest way to invoke Lord Narayana in kaliyuga is to chant the name of the Lord. Let us increase the wealth of the name - 'Naam dhan kaa khajaanaa badhaate chalo apni mukti kaa maarg banaate chalo' and pave our path to liberation.
13. May Mother Lakshmi protect us and bless us with Lord Narayana, The Infinite.
This article is from Swami Chinamaya Mission
The word Lakshmi comes from 'laksha' means 'to aim at'. So 'Lakshmi' is that, what is sought after by all.
2. Who is Goddess Lakshmi?
• In the Puranas she is said to be the consort of Lord Narayana.
• She is the 'Adi Shakti', the eternal power of the Lord.
• She has various aspects or expressions.
3. Who should seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi?
•Scriptures talk of two paths. Path of Action (Pravritti marga) and Path of Renounciation (Nivritti marga). All those who want either pleasures or liberation, following their respective paths should seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi.
4. How should one following 'the Path of Action' seek goddess Lakshmi?
In Ishaavaasya Upanishad 2nd mantra it is said, 'kurvan eva iha karmaani jijivishet shatam samaah; evam tvayi naanyathetosti na karma lipyate nare'
Those who wish to desire pleasures of this world and higher worlds (heavens) should aim to live a long life of dharma, serving others.
One requires wealth to live a long life of service. Hence one must work hard to acquire wealth.
When the wealth acquired righteously is used for dharma then the actions performed to acquire wealth do not bind the doer with I-ness and My-ness.
5. What kind of wealth is sought after by those who follow the Path of Action?
There are eight types of wealth described in the scriptures, called as Ashta Lakshmi.
6. What are the eight types of wealth?
1) Dhana Lakshmi: Money through righteous ways
2) Dhaanya Lakshmi: Sattvik pure food to maintain health. As health is wealth.
3) Gaja Lakshmi: Cattle or vehicle.
4) Santaan Lakshmi: Good and well behaved children.
5) Vidyaa Lakshmi: Proficiency in the world
6) Dhairya Lakshmi: Courage to venture into new things and also face difficulties.
7) Vijaya Lakshmi: Success in ones field of action
8) Aadi Lakshmi: She being the eternal power of the Lord is also the eternal source of grace and hence when sought after one will never be denied of Her blessings.
7. In Tulasi Ramayana Seetaji is worshiped as Adi Shakti. 'udbhava-sthiti-samhaara-kaarinim klesha-haarinim, sarva-shreyas-karim seetaam nato ham Rama-vallabhaam.' She is the very cause of creation maintainance and dissolution of the world. When She is with Rama, She removes all the klesha (Avidya-ignorance of Self, Asmita- I-ness, Rraga-likes, Dvesha-dislikes and Abhinivesha-fear of death because of identification with the limited) and brings ultimate good (Moksha). But the same Adi shakti, eternal power of the Lord if is not with the Lord can create klesha and bring ultimate destruction. Lord Narayana pervades the world of names and forms. Hence service to all is service to the Lord. Jana seva Jananrdan seva, nara seva Narayana Seva. Hence wealth when utilised for dharma, service to all will bring the Ultimate Good, Moksha through antahkarana shuddhi (purification of the mind).
8. How should one following 'the Path of Renunciation' seek goddess Lakshmi?
Ishaavaasya Upanishad in the first mantra says, 'ishaa-vaasyam idam sarvam yat kinchit jagatyaam jagat; tena tyaktena bhunjithaah maa gridha kasyaswit dhanam'.
Those who do not desire temporary pleasures of this world or the higher worlds and are the seekers of the permanent bliss should not hoard wealth and protect themselves from the attachment to the transient.
Permanent happiness is possible only when one is able to experience The One pervading the apparent many. To whom then the wealth belongs to when there Is nothing other then the One?
The seekers of the One, prepare themselves to walk the Path of Renunciation by cultivating the fourfold qualities such as Vivek (ability to discriminate between the permanent and the impermanent), Vairagya (giving up the identification with the impermanent), Shat Sampatti (Six wealth) and Mumukshutvam (desire to get liberated from the limited).
Thus the seekers of the Truth too seek blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for the 'Shat Sampati', six kind of wealth.
9. What are the six types of wealth required by the seekers of the Truth?
1) Shama - Control of mind. The mind does not distract the seeker.
2) Dama - Control of senses. The seeker does not get lured by the false glitters of the sense objects.
3) Uparati - Not persecuted by the mind and senses, the seeker is able to practice ones own dharma, 'swadhyaaya'.
4) Titikshaa - Forbearance. The seeker's knowledge of 'The Oneness' does not shake while experiencing the pairs of opposite like 'sukha-dukha' etc.
5) Shraddhaa - Faith in the words of Guru and Vedanta which helps the seeker to remain consistent till the goal is reached.
6) Samaadhaanam - Single-pointedness of mind. Where the mind rests in the One.
10. Thus whether one wants Dharma or Brahma we need the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi means in adoration humbly surrender to invoke Her grace.
11. The highest wealth is Narayana, the Poorna-the infinite. Having attained that one becomes free from wants. Wealth without Lord Narayana makes us dependent slaves and beggars of more. Laksmiji finds Her fulfilment in being one with Narayana.
12. Gurudev once said, 'Hold on to Narayana, Lakshmi will follow.' The easiest way to invoke Lord Narayana in kaliyuga is to chant the name of the Lord. Let us increase the wealth of the name - 'Naam dhan kaa khajaanaa badhaate chalo apni mukti kaa maarg banaate chalo' and pave our path to liberation.
13. May Mother Lakshmi protect us and bless us with Lord Narayana, The Infinite.
This article is from Swami Chinamaya Mission
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