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Re: Seeking Laxmi Info
griffin@gate.net (Kris Gilbert) wrote:
> Hi folks,
> I'm interested in information on Laxmi (Lakshmi?)... things like:
> Who is she, exactly, and what kinds of things has she done?
> How does one "get to know her better," spiritually?
cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
(Brahma Samhita 5.29)
Tr: I worship Govinda [Krishna], the primeval Lord, the first
progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all
desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded
by millions of purpose trees, always served with great
reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of
"laksmis" or "gopis".
--
Laksmi is inseparable from her husband Narayana [Krishna]. Although
She is described as "chanchala" (always moving) here in this material
world, we see She is perfectly happy and ever in one place in the
spiritual world -- always serving Her Lord. In the material world,
many people pray to the goddess of fortune for some temporary benefit,
such as wealth or beauty. Sometimes She will bless the materialist and
other times She will leave him. However, She can never leave Lord Narayana,
and Their transcendental pastimes are the focus of all activity in Vaikuntha
(Their spiritual world). For this reason, one is advised to worship
Laksmi-Narayana, not Laksmi alone. This is most pleasing for Laksmi Devi
to be worshipped in this fashion, along with Her husband.
Laksmi Devi is the internal potency of the Lord. Laksmi, Sita, and
Radharani are all the same, but in different moods (just as Narayana,
Rama, and Krishna are all the same, but in different moods). By
the grace of Laksmi, one can learn to serve Laksmi-Narayana. The Sri
Vaisnava system is built upon the grace of Sri Laksmi, who is the
param-guru of that Vaisnava sampradaya (which features the great
saint Sripada Ramanuja).
Laksmi is the eternal consort of the Lord, but She appears also
as "the daughter of the ocean", arising from the sea during the churning
of the ocean ceremony in which the demigods were given the nectar of
immortality to drink and the demons were cheated. As soon as She
appeared, She accepted Lord Narayana as Her husband. For this reason,
primary names of Narayana include "Srinivas" (the refuge of Laksmi),
"Laksmipati" (the husband of Laksmi), and "Srinath" (the Lord of Laksmi).
I hope this was the information you were seeking. A lot more can be found
about Laksmi Devi. This material only scratches the surface.
Yours,
Vijay
