Lakshmi is called the Hindu Goddess of Fertility, Goddess of Beauty and Prosperity, the Goddess of Wealth or the Goddess of Good Fortune. The Elephant and White Owl are her mounts and she lives in Vishnuloka or Vaikuntha. Vishnu is her consort. In Vaishnavism tradition, Vishnu is the Supreme Being and the principal deity. Devotees worship her on Sharad Purnima, Navaratri and Diwali (Lakshmi Puja).
Lakshmi forms the holy trinity (Tridevi), along with Saraswati and Parvati. In Jainism, she is an important deity found in Jain temples. Buddhists consider her as the Goddess of Fortune and Abundance. The oldest cave temples and Stupas surviving in Buddhism represent goddess Lakshmi.
Goddess Lakshmi is gifted with 6 gunas or the divine and auspicious qualities. She is Lord Vishnu’s divine strength and hence is called Thirumagal or Sri. It was during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the Primoridial Ocean) after which she selected Vishnu as her eternal husband. She descended as Rukmini, Radha and Sita as Vishnu’s consort. Women are considered to be Lakshmi’s embodiments of women in ancient scriptures of India.
Goddess Lakshmi is depicted as a golden colored woman dressed elegantly, showering prosperity and wealth, sitting on an owl indicating the significance of maintaining life with better economic activity and ability to prevail, work and move in confusing darkness. Holding a lotus in her hand she symbolizes spiritual liberation, self knowledge and fortune. Moksha, Artha, Kama and Dharma are the four goals in life which Goddess Lakshmi depicts with her four hands.
