10/17/13 Ashta Lakshmi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashta_Lakshmi 1/3
Ashta Lakshmi, also spelled as Ashtalakshmi(Sanskrit: *+, Aalakm, lit. "eight Lakshmis"), are a group of
eight Hindugoddesses, secondary manifestations of Shri-Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, who preside over
eight sources of wealth:
[1]
"Wealth" in the context of Ashta-Lakshmi means prosperity, good health, knowledge,
strength, progeny, and power.
[2]
The Ashta Lakshmi are always depicted and worshipped in a group in temples.
[3]
Contents [hide]
1 Names and powers
2 Iconography
3 Rise and worship
3.1 Temples
4 Star of Lakshmi
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading
8 External links
Names and powers [edit]
The prayer Shri Ashta Lakshmi Stotram lists the Ashta Lakshmi as follows:
[1]
Adi Lakshmi (Sanskrit: +, di Lakm, "Primeval Lakshmi") or Maha Lakshmi(Sanskrit:
+, Mah Lakm, "Great Lakshmi") : an ancient form of Lakshmi
[3]
and incarnation of Lakshmi as daughter of
the sage Bhrigu.
[2]
Dhana Lakshmi (Sanskrit: +, Dhana Lakm, "Money Lakshmi"): for money and gold
[3]
Dhanya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: 7 +, Dhnya Lakm, "Lakshmi as goddess of grain"): Giver of agricultural
wealth.
[3]
Gaja Lakshmi (Sanskrit: +, Gaja Lakm, "Elephant Lakshmi"): Giver of animal wealth, like cattle and
elephants.
[3]
Swami Chidananda interprets Gaja Lakshmi as giver of power of royalty.
[4]
According to Hindu
mythology, Gaja Lakshmi brought back the wealth lost by Indra (king of demi-gods) from the ocean.
[2]
Vasudha
Narayanan intrepret the name as "one who is worshipped by elephants".
[1]
Santana Lakshmi (Sanskrit: 7 +, Santna Lakm, "Progeny Lakshmi"): Bestower of offspring
[3]
Veera Lakshmi (Sanskrit: +, vra lakm, "Valourous Lakshmi") or Dhairya Lakshmi (Sanskrit:
+, Dhairya Lakm, "Courage Lakshmi"): Bestower of valour in battles
[3]
and courage and strength for
overcoming difficulties in life.
[2]
Vijaya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: +, Vijaya Lakm, "Victorious Lakshmi") or Jaya Lakshmi (Sanskrit:
+, Jaya Lakm, "Victorious Lakshmi"):
[4]
Giver of victory, not only in battles
[3]
but also in conquering hurdles
in order to beget success.
[2]
Vidya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: q +, Vidy Lakm, "Knowledge Lakshmi"): the bestower of knowledge of arts
and sciences
[4]
In some Ashta Lakshmi lists, other forms of Lakshmi are included:
Aishwarya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: +, "Prosperity Lakshmi") : Goddess of riches
[3]
Saubhagya (Sanskrit: , "Giver of good Fortune") : Giver of prosperity in general.
[4]
Rajya Lakshmi (Sanskrit: 7 +, Rjya Lakm, "Royal Lakshmi"): "She who blesses rulers (with secular
power)"
[5]
Vara Lakshmi (Sanskrit: +, Vara Lakm, "Boon Lakshmi"): "The lady who bestows Beautiful Boons".
[5]
Iconography [edit]
10/17/13 Ashta Lakshmi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashta_Lakshmi 2/3
The Ashta Lakshmi are all depicted seated on a lotus.
Adi Lakshmi : Four-armed, carries a lotus and a white flag, other two arms in Abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
Aishwarya Lakshmi : Four-armed, in white garments, carries two lotuses, other two arms in abhaya mudra and
varada mudra.
Dhana Lakshmi : Six-armed, in red garments, carries chakra (discus), shankha (conch),kalasha (water pitcher
with mango leaves and a coconut on it) or Amrita kumbha (a pitcher containing Amrita - elixir of life), bow-arrow, a
lotus and an arm in abhaya mudra with gold coins falling from it.
Dhanya Lakshmi : Eight-armed, in green garments, carries two lotuses, gada (mace), paddy crop, sugarcane,
bananas, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
Gaja Lakshmi : Four-armed, in red garments, carries two lotuses, other two arms in abhaya mudra and varada
mudra, surrounded by two elephants bathing her with water pots.
Santana Lakshmi : Six-armed, carries two kalashas (water pitcher with mango leaves and a coconut on it),
sword, shield, a child on her lap, a hand in abhaya mudra and the other holding the child. The child holds a lotus.
Veera Lakshmi : Eight-armed, in red garments, carries chakra, shankh, bow, arrow, trishul (or sword), a bundle
of palm leaf scriptures, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
Vijaya Lakshmi : Eight-armed, in red garments, carries chakra, shankh, sword, shield, lotus, pasha, other two
hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
Ashta Lakshmi murti worshipped in a Golu display during Dusshera.
Rise and worship [edit]
The rise of the Ashta Lakshmi is directly proportional to the rising popularity
of Ashta Lakshmi Strotam. Around 1970s, a leading Sri
Vaishnava theologian, Sri U. Ve. Vidvan Mukkur Srinivasavaradacariyar
Svamikal,
[6]
published a poem called Ashta Lakshmi Strotam dedicated to
the eight Lakshmis. Narayanan comments: Although these attributes (which
represent the wealths bestowed by the Ashta Lakshmi) of Sri (Lakshmi) can
be found in traditional literature, [..] the emergence of these eight (Ashta
Lakshmi goddesses) in precisely this combination is, as far as I can discern,
new.
[1]
The Ashta Lakshmi are now widely worshipped both by Sri Vaishnava and
other Hindu communities in South India.
[1]
Occasionally, the Ashta Lakshmi
are 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.
[5]
In addition to emergence of Ashta Lakshmi temples since
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" are also popularizing these "new" eight forms of
Lakshmi.
[7]
10/17/13 Ashta Lakshmi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashta_Lakshmi 3/3
Ashthalakshmi or Star of Lakshmi.
Temples [edit]
Ashtalakshmi Kovil, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamilnadu, 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.
[8]
It
has eight small shrines arranged in clockwise direction, dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi and then a ninth shrine
dedicated to Vishnu and Shri-Lakshmi together, unlike the traditional separate shrines.
[9]
Ashtalakshmi Temple, Vasavi Colony, Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
[10]
Ashtalakshmi Temple, Sugar Land, Houston, Texas, USA
[11]
Ashtalakshmi Temple, North Hollywood, California, USA
[12]
At the entrance - leading from Vittavasal Street to Meenakshi Temple, Madhurai, amandapam (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.
[13]
Star of Lakshmi [edit]
The Star of Lakshmi is a complex {8/2} star figure(i.e. two squares with the
same centre at 45 angles), and figures in Hinduism, where it
representsAshtalakshmi.
[14]