Lakshmi: Meditate with Four Powerful Deities
LAKSHMI
Lakshmi is one of the principal Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. She is well known as the Goddess of abundance (spiritual and material wealth), good fortune, beauty, joy and prosperity. Lakshmi is the consort and Divine energy (shakti) of the Hindu God Vishnu. Lakshmi is often depicted as beautifully attired in an ornate red sari and Golden crown, representing fortune and wealth. She has four arms and is shown as holding two beautiful lotus flowers in the upper hands. They symbolize knowledge, self-realization, and liberation, as well as the ability to spiritually transcend all circumstances to reveal beauty and meaning. The lower two hands are in mudras of compassion and charity, one of the palms often shown cascading gold coins from its center.
Lakshmi’s name derives from the Sanskrit words for knowing and understanding an objective, she is associated with the ‘rajas’ (action) guna. Her four arms symbolize the ‘four goals of humanity’ i.e. dharma (pursuit of an ethical and moral life), artha (pursuit of material wealth / means of life), kama (pursuit of love and emotional fulfilment), and moksha (pursuit of self-knowledge and liberation).
Lakshmi is celebrated every day, but is closely associated with the Festival of lights ‘Diwali’. People clean their homes, light candles and invite Lakshmi to enter the home bringing prosperity and good fortune.
The mantra we are going to chant for the second week is dedicated to the Goddess Lakshmi:
Om shreem maha Lakshmiyei namaha
Sanksrit: ॐ श्रीं महा लक्ष्म्यै नमः
Translation: Om I offer salutations to the great Goddess of good fortune.
Listen to this Youtube video for proper pronunciation. Click here.
Shreem is a beej or seed mantra, for Lakshmi. In Tantrik tradition, the beej mantra or seed sound has a vibrational quality to it which embodies the essence of the God or Goddess. This is the part that invokes the actual energy of Lakshmi.
You might consider flowers, a candle or oil lamp, and coins as an offering to Lakshmi on your altar.