Lakshmi:
She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi is thus worshiped as means to achieving objectives, including prosperity in the lives of mankind both material and spiritual. She is a consort of Vishnu and is also seen as massaging lord vishnu’s feet who rests on the shehsa naga (coiled snake). Most of the time she is seen seated or standing on the lotus in a red garment with jewels and ornaments. Cascades of gold coins are seen flowing from her hands, suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth. Her four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma or righteousness, “kama” or desires, “artha” or wealth, and “moksha” or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Two elephants are often shown standing next to the goddess and spraying water. This denotes that ceaseless effort, in accordance with one’s dharma and governed by wisdom and purity, leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.
With reference to dance, abhinayadarpanam says,
Amsopakanthe hasta bhyam kapityashtu shriyaha karaha
Lakshmi represented by holding both hands in kapitta hasta close to the bosom.
She is also know in eight other forms like Adi lakshmi, Dhanyalakshmi, Gajalakshmi, Santanalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi, Vidyalakshmi, Dhairyalakshmi. All these form can be shown with different gestures.
Anjali perhaps, some people don’t know, the variety of faces of our Lordees Lakshmi, and one of this avatars protect my books, as Aiya Wedo and one of his three husbands Dhambala Wedo, in the rada path always build live, and preserve it, and that’s why the Naga is so important in the ancient religions, and appear in all kind of histories, legends, dreams, and for Hindi people without naga aka Lordees Lakshmi there no exist the Ganges river, beside another important icons from India like your Deity and You, from my old days of Dharma, i can only say.
Namaste Anjali.
Anjalil i don’t know how this comment was published on the web, but my dreams, and my projects are truly honest and i’m very thankfully to you, and from vamana avatara hasta, i can only say namascar.
Amsopakanthe hasta bhyam kapityashtu shriyaha karaha it means amsa = arm pit, upa = upari = upside, kanthe = sholder so the mudra should hold upside of the shoulder not on the chest please note this
Balchandran, appreciate your feedback.
Really good information,
Ashtalakshmi stotram http://ashtalakshmi.com/ashtalakshmi_stotram.html
M non-hindu but i love hindu goddess and the religion itself. They are simply awesome.:-* jai maha lakshmi!
in lakshimi hasta kapitha is shown in wrong position it should be in the area of ausa shoulder and kanta neck. pls correct the pict