Ashta Lakshmi (
Sanskrit: अष्टलक्ष्मी,
IAST
The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...
: Aṣṭalakṣmī; lit. "Octet of Lakshmi") or Ashtalakshmi, is a group of the eight manifestations of
Lakshmi
Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Al ...
, the
Hindu goddess of prosperity. She presides over eight sources of wealth: spirituality, material wealth, agriculture, royalty, knowledge, courage, progeny, and victory.
[Vasudha Narayanan in: John Stratton Hawley, Donna Marie Wulff p.104]
Ashta Lakshmi is always depicted and worshipped in an octet in temples.
[Flipside of Hindu Symbolism (Sociological and Scientific Linkages in Hinduism) by M. K. V. Narayan; published 2007 by Fultus Corporation; 200 pages; ; p.93]
Iconography
Adi Lakshmi
Adi Lakshmi (Primeval Lakshmi) is portrayed to be the earliest form of Lakshmi.
Adi Lakshmi is the manifestation who supports a seeker to reach their source, or
Atman Atman or Ātman may refer to:
Film
* ''Ātman'' (1975 film), a Japanese experimental short film directed by Toshio Matsumoto
* ''Atman'' (1997 film), a documentary film directed by Pirjo Honkasalo
People
* Pavel Atman (born 1987), Russian hand ...
. She is believed to proffer
dhyana
Dhyana may refer to:
Meditative practices in Indian religions
* Dhyana in Buddhism (Pāli: ''jhāna'')
* Dhyana in Hinduism
* Jain Dhyāna, see Jain meditation
Other
*''Dhyana'', a work by British composer John Tavener
Sir John Kenneth Ta ...
, a state of absolute silence, bliss, and peace. This aspect of the goddess is responsible for the furtherance in the quest for spiritual wealth.
She is depicted as four-armed, carrying a lotus and a red flag, and other two arms expressing the
abhaya mudra (fearlessness pose) and the
varada mudra (blessing pose).
Dhana Lakshmi
Dhana Lakshmi (Wealth Lakshmi) is Lakshmi in her form as the goddess of material wealth.
Dhana Lakshmi is depicted with six hands, in red garments, carries the
Sudarshana Chakra
Sudarshana Chakra (Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्र, lit. "disc of auspicious vision", IAST: Sudarśana Chakra) is a spinning, celestial discus with 108 serrated edges, attributed to Vishnu and Krishna in the Hindu scriptures. The Su ...
,
shankha,
kalasha
A kalasha, also spelled kalash or kalasa, also called ghat or ghot ( sa, कलश , Telugu: కలశము Kannada: ಕಳಶ literally "pitcher, pot"), is a metal (brass, copper, silver or gold) pot with a large base and small mouth, large eno ...
(a water pitcher with mango leaves and a coconut on it) or the
Amrita
''Amrita'' ( sa, अमृत, IAST: ''amṛta''), ''Amrit'' or ''Amata'' in Pali, (also called ''Sudha'', ''Amiy'', ''Ami'') is a Sanskrit word that means "immortality". It is a central concept within Indian religions and is often referred to i ...
Kalasha (a pitcher containing Amrita – the elixir of life), a bow and arrow, a lotus, and an arm performing the
abhaya mudra, with gold coins falling from it.
Dhanya Lakshmi
Dhanya Lakshmi (Grain Lakshmi) is the form of Lakshmi who represents the wealth of agriculture.
Dhanya Lakshmi is also the aspect of Lakshmi who provides resources to adherents for their sustenance and well-being.
She is depicted as eight-armed, dressed in green garments, carrying two lotuses, a gada (
mace), paddy crop, sugarcane, and bananas. Her hands express the ''abhaya mudra'' and the ''varada mudra''.
Gaja Lakshmi
Gaja Lakshmi (Elephant Lakshmi) is the giver of animal wealth (such as cattle),
or the being who offers royal splendour, according to the
Narayana Pancharatra.
According to
Hinduism, Gaja Lakshmi restored the potent lost by
Indra (King of the
devas
Devas may refer to:
* Devas Club, a club in south London
* Anthony Devas (1911–1958), British portrait painter
* Charles Stanton Devas (1848–1906), political economist
* Jocelyn Devas (died 1886), founder of the Devas Club
* Devas (band), ...
) during the
Samudra Manthana
The Samudra Manthana ( sa, समुद्रमन्थन; ) is a major episode in Hinduism that is elaborated in the Vishnu Purana, a major text of Hinduism. The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of the elixir of eternal life, amrita.
Nom ...
.
Vasudha Narayanan has interpreted this name as the, "one who is worshipped by elephants".
She is depicted as four-armed, donning red garments, carrying two lotuses, two arms expressing the ''abhaya mudra'' and the ''varada mudra'', surrounded by two elephants bathing her with water pots.
Santana Lakshmi
Santana Lakshmi (Eternal Lakshmi) is the goddess's manifestation who bestows offspring.
She is depicted as six-armed, carrying two ''
kalasha
A kalasha, also spelled kalash or kalasa, also called ghat or ghot ( sa, कलश , Telugu: కలశము Kannada: ಕಳಶ literally "pitcher, pot"), is a metal (brass, copper, silver or gold) pot with a large base and small mouth, large eno ...
s'' (water pitcher with mango leaves and a coconut on it), a sword, a shield, a child on her lap, a hand in ''abhaya mudra,'' and the other holding a child. The child holds a lotus.
Dhairya Lakshmi
Dhairya Lakshmi (Courage Lakshmi), or Veera Lakshmi (Valourous Lakshmi), is a form of Lakshmi inspired by
Durga
Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.
Durga's legend centres around comb ...
. She is the form of the goddess who bestows valour during battles
and courage plus strength for overcoming difficulties in life.
She is depicted as eight-armed, seated on a lion, in red garments, carrying a chakra,
shankha, bow, arrow,
trishula (or a sword), a bundle of palm leaf scriptures, other two hands in the ''abhaya mudra'' and the ''varada mudra''.
Vijaya Lakshmi
Vijaya Lakshmi or Jaya Lakshmi (Victorious Lakshmi) is also a manifestation drawn from
Durga
Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.
Durga's legend centres around comb ...
. She is form of the goddess who bestows victory,
not only in battles,
but also for conquering hurdles in order to achieve success.
She is depicted as eight-armed, dressed in blue garments, carrying the chakra, shankha, sword, shield, lotus, pasha, and other two hands expressing the ''abhaya mudra'' and the ''varada mudra''.
Vidya Lakshmi
Vidya Lakshmi (Knowledge Lakshmi) is the goddess and the bestower of knowledge of arts and the sciences.
She is dressed in a white saree and has a resemblance to the goddess
Saraswati
Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a go ...
. She holds a book of the
Vedas, a
peacock feather as a pen, the ''varada mudra'' and the ''abhaya mudra''.
Other forms
In some Ashta Lakshmi lists, other forms of Lakshmi are included:
#Aishwarya Lakshmi (Auspicious Lakshmi): The goddess who bestows auspices,
and the only form of
Lakshmi
Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Al ...
who mounts a horse. She generally replaces Vidya Lakshmi from the Ashta Lakshmi list.
#Saubhagya Lakshmi (Fortune Lakshmi): The manifestation who furnishes good fortune.
#Rajya Lakshmi (Royal Lakshmi): The form of Lakshmi who bestows majesty, revered by monarchs.
[Studies in Hindu and Buddhist Art By P. K. Mishra, p. 34]
#Vara Lakshmi (Boon Lakshmi): The form of the goddess who bestows boons.
This form of Lakshmi is celebrated on the occasion of
Varalakshmi Vratam.
Worship
The prayer ''Shri Ashta Lakshmi Stotram'' lists all of the Ashta Lakshmi,
in which the goddess is depicted as seated on a lotus. The rise in popularity of the ''Ashta Lakshmi'' can be linked with the rising popularity of the Ashta Lakshmi Stotram.
Around the 1970s, a leading
Sri Vaishnava
Sri Vaishnavism, or the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, is a denomination within the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. The name refers to goddess Lakshmi (also known as Sri), as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the god Vishnu, who ...
theologian, UV Srinivasa Varadachariar, published a hymn called ''Ashta Lakshmi Stotram'' dedicated to the eight forms of Lakshmi. Narayanan comments:
Ashta Lakshmi is now widely worshipped both by
Sri Vaishnava
Sri Vaishnavism, or the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, is a denomination within the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. The name refers to goddess Lakshmi (also known as Sri), as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the god Vishnu, who ...
and other Hindu communities in
South India.
Occasionally, Ashta Lakshmi is depicted together in shrines or in "framing pictures" within an overall design and are worshipped by votaries of Lakshmi who worship her in her various manifestations.
In addition to emergence of Ashta Lakshmi temples since the 1970s, traditional silver articles used in home worship as well as decorative jars (kumbha) now appear with the Ashta Lakshmi group molded on their sides.
Books, popular prayers manuals, pamphlets sold outside temples in South India, ritual worship, and "a burgeoning audiocassette market" also presently popularise the octet of Lakshmi.
Temples
*
Ashtalakshmi Temple,
Besant Nagar
Besant Nagar is an upscale, exclusive residential neighbourhood in South Chennai, India. It is located along the coast of Bay of Bengal.
The neighbourhood is inhabited by highly affluent population and is dotted with many upmarket restaurant ...
,
Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Tamil Nadu, the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and territories of India, Indian state. The largest city ...
,
Tamil Nadu, India: The Ashta Lakshmi Kovil, built in 1974, is the first shrine dedicated exclusively to the Ashta Lakshmi where Lakshmi is given greater importance than Vishnu. It has eight small shrines arranged in clockwise direction, dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi and then a ninth shrine dedicated to Vishnu and Lakshmi together, unlike the traditional separate shrines.
*
Ashtalakshmi Temple, Vasavi Colony, Dilsukh Nagar,
Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. ...
, Andhra Pradesh, India
*
Sydney Durga Temple
The Sydney Shri Durga Temple commonly known as Sydney Durga Temple is a Hindu Temple located at 21–23 Rose Crescent, Regents Park NSW 2143, in Sydney. The temple is run by the Shri Durgadevi Devasthanam, a non-profit religious organisation. ...
- The Hindu Temple, located in Regents Park, Sydney, Australia has 8 small sanctums dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi.
* Ashtalakshmi Temple,
Sugar Land
Sugar Land is the largest city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, located in the southwestern part of the metropolitan area. Located about southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land is a populous suburban municipality centered around th ...
,
Houston,
Texas, United States
* Ashtalakshmi Temple,
North Hollywood, California
North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The Nor ...
, United States
* At the entrance - leading from Vittavasal Street to
Meenakshi Temple
Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, ' ...
,
Madhurai
Madurai ( , also , ) is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. As of the 2011 census, it was the third largest Urban agglomeration in ...
, a
mandapam (Hall) called ''Ashta Lakshmi Mandapam'' is dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi, the statues of which support the roof on either side.
* Parashakthi Temple,
Pontiac, Michigan has the deities installed there.
* Asta Lakshmi Devasthanam, Fremont, California. Address incorrect, call to find out.
*Sree Vasudevapuram Mahavishnu temple situated in Ernakulam district of Kerala India conducts the ''Ashtalakshmi Thampoolasamprana Mahotsavam'' every year starting on the eve of Akshaya Tritheye. The belief is that Maha Lakshmi gives darshan and shower blessings on devotees only on eight days in a year as ''Ashta Lakshmi.'' The most auspicious ritual of the temple known as the ''Thampoolasamarpanam ''is performed during the mahotsavam.
See also
*
Lakshmi
Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Al ...
*
Star of Lakshmi
References
Further reading
* Studies in Hindu and Buddhist Art By P. K. Mishra, Published 1999, Abhinav Publications,413 pages,
* Vasudha Narayanan in Chapter ''ŚRĪ: Giver of Fortune, Bestower of Grace '' in book ''Devī: Goddesses of India'' By John Stratton Hawley, Donna Marie Wulff; Published 1996; University of California Press; 373 pages;
External links
Ashtalakshmi Kovil, Chennai{{Hindu Culture and Epics
Hindu goddesses
Abundance goddesses
Fortune goddesses
Lakshmi