Secondary Manifestations
Ashta Lakshmi (Sanskrit: अष्टलक्ष्मी,Aṣṭalakṣmī, lit. "eight Lakshmis") are a group of eight secondary manifestations of Lakshmi, who preside over eight sources of wealth and thus represent the powers of Shri-Lakshmi. Actually, Mahalakshmi presides over eighteen forms of wealth, ten of which are the eight great siddhis called AshtaSiddhis, the spiritual knowledge or Gnana, and teaching or imparting the spiritual knowledge to the entire world without any class difference.
Mahalakshmi is also known to preside over 16 forms of worldly wealth excluding Ashta siddhis, gnana and imparting gnana. They are as follows: Fame; Knowledge; Courage and Strength; Victory; Good Children; Valor; Gold, Gems and Other Valuables; Grains in abundance; Happiness; Bliss; Intelligence; Beauty; Higher Aim, High Thinking and Higher Meditation; Morality and Ethics; Good Health; Long Life.
आदि लक्ष्मी (ఆది లక్ష్మి; ಆದಿ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Ādi Lakṣmī | The First manifestation of Lakshmi |
धान्य लक्ष्मी (ధాన్య లక్ష్మి; ಧಾನ್ಯ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Dhānya Lakṣmī | Granary wealth |
धैर्य लक्ष्मी (ధైర్య లక్ష్మి; ಧೈರ್ಯ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Dhairya Lakṣmī | Wealth of courage |
गज लक्ष्मी (గజ లక్ష్మి; ಗಜ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Gaja Lakṣmī | Elephants, symbols of wealth |
सन्तान लक्ष्मी (సంతాన లక్ష్మి; ಸಂತಾನ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Santāna Lakṣmī | Wealth of continuity, progeny |
विजय लक्ष्मी (విజయ లక్ష్మి; ವಿಜಯ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Vijaya Lakṣmī | Wealth of victory |
विद्या लक्ष्मी (విద్యా లక్ష్మి; ವಿದ್ಯಾ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Vidyā Lakṣmī | Wealth of knowledge and education |
धन लक्ष्मी (ధన లక్ష్మి; ಧನ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ) | Dhana Lakṣmī | Monetary wealth |
The type of Ashta Lakshmis differ with every yuga and thus one would not find uniformity in the names of Ashta lakshmis in Hindu sacred texts. There are more than crores manifestations of Mahalakshmi; without her nothing in this world would survive as she forms the basis of the entire gamut of creation. Without her grace there will be nothing to eat, no air to breathe, no progeny in continuation etc. At a minor level, one cannot survive without monetary wealth in this wide world, if one has not developed spiritualism. Even if one were to beg, one would not get even a dime without the grace of Mahalskhmi. It is only through the grace of Mahalakshmi that even the King of Gods, Devandra, gained wealth, when He was cursed by the famous sage Dhurvasa for disrespecting the garland offered to Him.
Mahalkshmi is said to exist in several other forms. The most famous amonsgt them are Sridevi, Bhoodevi, and Neeladevi. The famous Vaishnavite saint Aandaal, who was born in Srivilliputhur about 5050 years ago, is an incarnation of Mahalakshmi herself. Sridevi represents moveable assets, called Chanchala in Sanskrit. Bhoodevi represents immoveable assets (Achanchala). It is because of this that mountains in India are prefixed with Achanachala, for example, Arunachala, Himachala etc. The term chanchala also denotes fickleness, which is why people are not always wealthy. Everything in this world operates only with the grace of Mahalakshmi.
In addition, according to the Kalki Purana, when Vishnu incarnates as Kalki, she will appear as his wife in the form of Padma and give birth to two sons.
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Famous quotes containing the word secondary:
“A man may be defeated by his own secondary successes.”
—Woodrow Wilson (18561924)