Lakshmi - Explanation of Mahalakshmi

Explanation of Mahalakshmi

Mahalakshmi is the presiding Goddess of the Middle episode of Devi Mahatmya. Here, she is depicted as Devi in her universal form as Shakti. The manifestation of the Devi to kill Mahishasura is formed by the effulgences of all the gods. The Goddess is described as eighteen-armed, bearing a string of beads, battle axe, mace, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, water pot, cudgel, lance, sword, shield, conch, bell, wine cup, trident, noose and the discus sudarsana'"'. She has a complexion of coral and is seated on a lotus. She is known as Ashta Dasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi.

She is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both either side of Sri Venkateshwara or Vishnu. Bhudevi is the representation and totality of the material world or energy, called the aparam Prakriti, in which she is called Mother Earth. Sridevi is the spiritual world or energy, called the Prakriti. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Lakshmi. Lakshmi is the power of Lord Vishnu.

Mahalakshmi's presence is also found on Lord Sri Venkateswara (at Tirumala) or Vishnu's chest, at the heart. Lakshmi is the embodiment of love, from which devotion to God or Bhakti flows. It is through Love/Bhakti or Lakshmi that the atma or soul is able to reach God or Vishnu. Lakshmi plays a special role as the mediator between her husband Lord Vishnu and His worldly devotees. While Vishnu is often conceived of as a stern, easily perturbed patriarch, Lakshmi represents a more soothing, warm and approachable mother figure who willingly intervenes in the lives of devotees on His behalf. Often, it is Lakshmi who acts as the advocate for the request of a given mortal. When asking Vishnu for grace or the forgiveness of sins, Hindus often approach Him through the intermediary presence of Lakshmi. She is also the personification of the spiritual Fulfillment. Also, she embodies the spiritual world, also known as Vaikunta, the abode of Lakshmi-Narayana or Vishnu, or what would be considered Heaven in Vaishnavism. She is also the divine qualities of God and the soul. Lakshmi is the embodiment of God's superior spiritual feminine energy, or one of main forms of Adi Parashakti, Param Prakriti, which purifies, empowers and uplifts the individual. Hence, she is called the Goddess of Fortune. She is believed to be the Mother of the Universe sue to her motherly feelings and being the consort of Narayan).She is Adi Shakti, possessing Sattva guna. It is only because of her presence, or the presence of Sattva guna that Vishnu is able to preserve. Without Maa Mahalakshmi, Vishnu is dormant. In a tale specifyed in the Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran, it is mentioned that the Goddess's power is such that she as soon as she cursed Narayan, his head fell off. Such is the great power of Devi . She is the all encompassing . omnipresent, omnipotent and eternal force of Adi Parashakti, the mother of the universe. It is said mentioned in the Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran that Maa Adi Shakti in fact gave birth to Shiv, vishnu and Brahma. Her glory is unattainable. Without her, Vishnu will lose his power to preserve. She is the source of his power. She's also Goddess Bhuvaneshwari who is the lady of the universe. She commands Shiv, Vishnu and Brahma.