Hindu Gods and Goddess

Lakshmi

The trinity | Vedic Gods |  Incarnations of Vishnu | Ganapati  | Lakshmi | Parvati | Saraswati | Subrahmanya

Lakshmi is commonly represented as Vishnu's wife. Lakshmi is widely represented as the goddess of wealth. Being, the power and consort of Vishnu, the preserver, she is represented as the power of multiplicity and the goddess of fortune. Lakshmi is usually described as enchantingly beautiful and standing on a lotus and holding a lotus in each of her two hands. It is because of this perhaps that she is named as Padma or Kamala. She is also adorned with a lotus garland. Very often elephants are shown on either side, emptying pitchers of water over her, the pitchers being held by celestial maidens. Her colour is variously described as dark, pink, golden yellow or white. While in the company of Vishnu, she is shown with two hands only. When worshipped in a temple, she is shown seated on a lotus throne, with four hands holding Padma (lotus) Sankha (conch) Amrtakalasa ( a pot of ambrosia) and Bilvafruit. If Lakshmi is pictured as dark in complexion, it is to show that she is the consort of Vishnu, the dark god. If golden yellow, that shows her as the source of all wealth. If white, she represents the purest form of prakti (nature) form which the Universe had developed. The pinkish complexion which is more common, reflects her compassion for creatures, since she is is the mother of all. Her four hands signify her power to grand the four Purusharthas (ends of human life), Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (pleasures of the flesh) and Moksa (freedom).