Photo of Durga.
GODDESS MAHALAKSHMI: The legend according to Vishnu Purana states that Lakshmi is the daughter of Bhrigu and Khyaati and resided in Swarga but due to the curse of Durvasa, she left Swarga and made Ksheersagara her home. The reappearance of Lakshmi after Samudra manthan and her marriage to Vishnu thereafter, remain the same. Laxmi is the power and Maya of Lord Vishnu. In some places She is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both either side of Vishnu. Bhudevi is the fertility form in which She is Mother Earth. Sridevi is the wealth and knowledge of Her which is seen with Narayan. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Laxmi.
DEVI MAHATMYAM: ‘Glory of the Goddess’ is the text that describes Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahisasura. Devi Mahatmyam is part of Markandeya Purana. It was composed around 400-500 CE by Markandeya Rishi. The Mahatmya is central text to Shaktam philosophy, doctrine and ritual. It is also an attempt to unify the Male pantheon of Hindu gods with Mother Goddess worship. It defined Feminine Energy with authority and sythasized various beliefs and principles.
Defining Shakti, it was the forerunner text of Goddesses standing independent and not as consorts to male gods. It gave birth myths glorifying Shakti principle. Goddess Mahalakshmi is the presiding Goddess in the middle episode of Devi Mahatmya. In line with Shaktism, Mahalakshmi, more than being Vishnu’s consort, appears as a manifestation of Surpreme Mother Goddess Devi. She takes Durga form as the effulgence of several gods to annihilate Mahishasura.
Mahalakshmi is depicted 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 Sudarshana. She is seated on a lotus and is also known as Ashta Dasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi.
BHUDEVI – SRIDEVI: Here, Goddess Mahalakshmi manifests in two forms. Both, Bhudevi and Sridevi are Vishnu or Sri Venkateshwara’s consorts and appear on either side. Bhudevi represents the material world or energy, called the aparam Prakriti. That implies that she is Mother Earth. Sridevi is Prakriti or the spiritual world or energy.
SHAKTAM: In the bhakti path, Mahalakshmi's presence is also found on Lord Venkateshvara’s heart or chest. She is the embodiment of love and this is the base essential for the bhakti path. It is through this channel that the jivatman reaches the Paramatma. Mahalakshmi is also the personification of the spiritual fulfillment embodying Vaikuntha, the abode of Lakhsmi Naayana. She is Gods’s superior spiritual feminine energy, or one of main forms of Adi Parashakti or Param Prakriti, which purifies, empowers and uplifts the bhakta. Thus she is called the Goddess of Fortune.
Mahalakshmi is believed to be the Mother of the Universe due to her motherly feelings and being the consort of Narayan. She is Adi Shakti, possessing Sattva guna with which Vishnu is able to preserve. Vishnu becomes dormant without Mahalakshmi, Vishnu is dormant. Mother Mahalakshmi is all encompassing, omnipresent, omnipotent. She is the eternal force of Adi Parashakti, the Supreme Mother. According to Bhagawata Purana, Adi Shakti brings forth Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Mahalakshmi also manifests as Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, the Lady Goddess of the of the universe. It is Bhivaneshwari that commands Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
The first mention of Goddess Mahalakshmi was found in 250 BC as Gajalakshmi, Lakshmi bedecked with jewellery seated on lotus and flanked by two white elephants, seen on stupas. These stupas were constructed by Emperor Ashoka in Sanchi and Bodh Gaya. It is popular opinion among scholars that his form was derived from figures of Goddess Mayavati in Budhdhist caves and figures of Goddess Padmavati in Jain caves and temple that come in to being in 1st century A.D.
Goddess Mahalakshmi was consecrated in various temples during 4th and 5th century A.D. The temple of Goddess Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur which was first constructed in the Chlukya Era has an idol of the deity that has been sculpted with four arms, wearing a saree in Karnataka style. Worship of Mahalakshmi continued over several centuries. In his notes, Swami Chakradhar of Mahanubhav Sect of the 12th century, mentions that there were 27 temples of Mahalakshmi in that era. The idols in these temples seem to be similar to that found in Kolhapur. It was in this epoch that temples of Mahalakshmi were built in Anhilwada in Gujarat, In Dogadvallis in Karnataka and Anantpur in Telangana. King kadamba of Goa also worshipped Goddess Mahalakshmi.
MAHALAKSHMI ASHTAKAM: Mahalakshmi Astakam is the Hindu devotional stotra address to Goddess Lakshmi Devi, the divine consort of Lord Vishnu. It is said that chanting Mahalakshmi Ashtakam with great devotion elevates a person spiritually, financially and with blessings of Mahalakshmi.
Namosthesthu Maha Maye,
Sree Peede, Sura Poojithe,
Sanka, Chakra, Gadha Hasthe,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 1
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi,
Who is the great enchantress,
Who lives in riches,
Who is worshipped by Gods,
And who has conch, wheel and mace in her hands.
Namasthe Garudarude,
Kolasura Bhayam Kari,
Sarva Papa Hare Devi,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 2
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi.
Who rides on an Eagle,
Who created fear to Kolasura,
And is the goddess who can destroy all sins
Sarvagne Sarva Varadhe,
Sarva Dushta Bhayam Karee,
Sarva Dukha Hare Devi,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 3
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi
Who knows everything,
Who can grant anything,
Who appears fearsome to bad people,
And is the goddess who can destroy all sorrows.
Sidhi Budhi Pradhe Devi,
Bhakthi Mukthi Pradayinee,
Manthra Moorthe Sada Devi,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 4
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi,
Who grants intelligence and occult powers,
Who grants devotion to God and salvation,
Who can be personified by holy chants,
And who is Goddess for ever.
Adhyantha Rahithe Devi,
Adhi Shakthi Maheswari,
Yogaje Yoga Sambhoothe,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 5
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi.
Who neither has an end nor beginning,
Who is the primeval power,
Who is the greatest Goddess,
Who is born out of hard penance,
And who can be personified by meditation.
Sthoola Sukshma Maha Roudhre,
Maha Shakthi Maho Dhare,
Maha Papa Hare Devi,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 6
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Maha Lakshmi,
Who is micro and also gross,
Who is most fearsome ,
Who is the greatest strength,
Who within her holds the worlds,
And is the Goddess who can destroy sins.
Padmasana Sthithe Devi,
Para Brahma Swaroopini,
Para Mesi, Jagan Matha,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 7
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi,
Who is the goddess who has the seat of Lotus,
Who is the personification of the ultimate truth,
Who is Goddess of all,
And who is the mother of all the worlds.
Swethambara Dhare Devi,
Nanalankara Bhooshithe,
Jagat Sthithe, Jagan Matha,
Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe 8
Salutations and salutations to Goddess Mahalakshmi,
Who wears white cloth,
Who wears variety of ornaments,
Who is everywhere in the world,
And who is the mother of all the worlds.
Phala Sruthi
Maha Lakmyashtakam Stotram,
Ya Padeth Bhakthiman Nara,
Sarva Sidhi Mavapnothi,
Rajyam Prapnothi Sarvadha.
Hara Hara Mahadeva.
By Yogi Ananda Saraswathi
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