In popular parlance Goddess Lakshmi is associated with money, gold, silver, diamonds, house land and property and it is widely believed that a person possessing all these riches is bestowed with Lakshmi Kadaksham (grace of Lakshmi)

Precious things originate from purity, and when it was time for the nectar to emerge, Mahalakshmi came out of the ocean with dazzling brilliance.

Her majestic gait, sparkling eyes and golden hue stunned everybody, but nobody knew she was Mahalakshmi. So everybody was tempted by her unmatched charm to possess her. There was a scramble for her attention.

But Mahalakshmi said, “I will not choose anyone of you who is madly desirous of possessing me. I will choose to be possessed by one who is not interested in me.” She reached the adobe of Mahavishnu, who was in deep sleep (yoganitra). He neither noticed her, nor was he eager to possess her. “Ah, here is the God I adore,” said Mahalakshmi and sat at the feet of Vishnu to serve him.

According to the Brahma Vaivarta Puruana, Brahma explained the greatness of Mahalakshmi to the Devas. He said she presented two aspects of grace. She is the embodiment of chastity, and virtuosity. She adorns places where there is virtue, purity and charity.

He advised the Devas to take a pledge that they would fill their minds with these virtues, so that Mahalakshmi would re-enter their kingdom, make it prosperous and restore to them their lost glory. The other virtue of Mahalakshmi is to shower contentment, peace and prosperity. If one worships her only with a view to acquiring material wealth, one will be disappointed.

The manifestation of Lakshmi in eight difference forms establishes the truth that she is not the Goddess of material wealth alone. Her difference benefits: They are:

Adilakshmi: She is called Ramana, one who grants happiness.

Dhanyalakshmi: The survival of human beings as also all other living beings, depends on food, which is a basic need for all-rich or poor. Dhan-yalakshmi is the protector of agriculture wealth.

Dhanalakshmi: Next to food, man needs clothes and shelter. Dhanam is the source required to buy these basic needs.

Santanalakshmi: A good family and children are the greatest wealth of anybody. Other forms of riches give no satisfaction if one does not have a good family and children. Lakshmi, in the form of Santanalakshmi, bestows this blessing.

Gajalakshmi: She is a waste without true knowledge and wisdom. Any amount of riches will not suffice without the wisdom to put it to good use. We pray to Vidyalakshmi to give us the wisdom.

Vijayalakshmi: For success in any venture we need the grace of Lakshmi. We pray to her in the form of Vijayalakshmi. She gives us the power to work hard and righteously and win against perils.

Dhairyalakshmi: Infinite courage and confidence are needed to fight injustice and evil and to establish dharma. Dhairyalakshmi grants this strength.

Once a rich man met with bad days. One by one all forms of Lakshmi left him. Dhanyalakshmi left first, then Dhanalakshmi and so on. His children left him. But he was not deterred as he was confident they would come back to him if he made proper effects. But when Dhairyalakshmi was about to depart, he was flabbergasted.

What could he do without courage? He pleaded with her not to desert him, for without her grace he could not get back anything else. If she stayed back with him the other Lakshmis also would come back to him, he added.

As such, Lakshmi is not the giver of mere material wealth. She is the giver of righteous behaviour, purity of mind, conviction in virtues, confidence, courage and commitment, good character, generosity, charity, simplicity, love and affection.

If was Mahalakshmi who manifested as Sita during the Ramavatar. She demonstrated the greatness of a life of purity, chastity and simplicity without any desire for material wealth.

During Krishnavatara, she manifested as Rukmani and became a role model for values and virtues without any attachment for material wealth. Brindavan Gita refers to Radha Devi as a manifestation of Lakshmi. She was an embodiment of divine love (prema).

In this vast world, a majority of the people are not rich and only a small proportion owns material wealth. Does it mean that only the latter are got their wealth by righteous means? Are they all contented and happy?

Does it also mean that the poor are not blessed by Mahalakshmi?

A man with all the riches need not be happy and contented. At the same time, a poor man need not be unhappy or discontented. For, he may have Lakshmi’s grace in other forms.

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