Female Indian gods. Indian goddess lakshmi Different forms of lakshmi are limited in influence
Shiva is still revered in India. God is eternal, personifying the beginning of everything. His religion is considered the oldest in the world. Then the masculine was considered passive, eternal and static, and the feminine - active and material.
In our article, we will take a closer look at the image of this ancient deity. Many have seen his pictures. But only a few people of Western culture know the details of his life.
Historical data
Researchers believe that the history of the god Shiva is rooted in the Harappan civilization. This is the culture of the ancient Indians who lived in the lands of North India. They were supplanted by the Aryans, who came in the third millennium BC to the Indus River valley. Today, the ruins of their cities are found in the upper reaches, in Pakistan.
We know the seal of Pashupati and some lingams (we will talk about the meaning of this word later) of this period. They were among the finds at Monhejo-Daro and Harappa.
With the advent of the Aryans, the formation of a new religion takes place. This process is comparable to the planting of Christianity among the pagans in the first centuries of our era. Now a new image appears, with which Shiva merges - the god Rudra, the furious and cruel patron of the storm, war and devastation.
Isn't it true that history tends to repeat itself? Good pagan gods, like the Greek Pan and satyrs, become an evil force in a new and bright religion. The Aryans believed that it was not sinful to kill "worshipers of the lingam."
In the Vedas, Shiva is mentioned in the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. In total, the name Rudra has more than half a thousand repetitions.
However, there were also supporters of the old traditions, who were joined by opponents of Brahmanical complexities. What was the point of worshiping the gods all your life if you were not rewarded for it even in the next rebirth? Indeed, in the Vedas it is said that only brahmins can achieve salvation.
It is noteworthy that in some sects of the new trend (Shramana), one of the main attributes of the ritual was considered the skull of a murdered brahmin.
One of the Upanishads (commentaries on the Vedas) contains the most complete and systematized content of the philosophy of Shaivism. This treatise consists of one hundred and thirteen texts and is called the Shvetashvatara.
Image
How is Shiva portrayed? God in his most ancient incarnation looked like a lingam with a tripundra (three white horizontal stripes). This sign denoted the three prisons of the human soul or the three Huns that make up the Mayan world.
Later, Shiva began to be depicted sitting in a lotus position or dancing.
In the first version, he had pale skin, was with a blue neck and four arms. Usually the god sits on a tiger skin, and the skin of an elephant or tiger is thrown over his shoulders. His third eye is always open in his forehead. In addition, he has a snake with him. It is thrown over the shoulder, hanging around the neck or in the form of bracelets on the arms and legs. Shiva has two different earrings. Male in one ear and female in the other.
The second option is dancing Shiva. Nritya-Murti (statue) can have a different number of arms, be armed or peaceful, but there is always a defeated dwarf under the feet of the dancing god. This is the demon Apasmar-Purush, symbolizing in which we live.
Attributes
Like many others, Shiva has many attributes. Traveling in this country, you will see various images of deities. In order to understand it more deeply, it is worth a little understanding of its symbolism.
Shiva has many weapons - Ajagava (special bow), Bhindipala (javelin), Gada (wand), Khadga (sword), Khatvanga (club with a skull), Khetaka (shield) and many others.
Also an important attribute is the trident of the god Shiva - Trishula. It symbolizes the three stages of evolution, the three gunas, the three faces of time and other concepts.
There are a number of ritual items. Chillum (special Shankha (shell), Mudra (hand position), Kaumudi (jug of immortality nectar), Kapala (skull-shaped bowl), Damaru (drum, symbolizing the first vibration of the Universe from which everything originated), Akshamala (special rosary ).
Shiva also has a number of energies: Agni (fire), Ganga (heavenly river, which he pacified) and Shakti (power). And some animals: Naga (snake), elephant and tiger skins, Nandin (white bull), Krishnamriga (doe) and Ankusha (elephant goad).
Thus, we see that Shiva has the attributes of the spheres of knowledge, which are designed to raise a person from our world to the highest.
Family
The Indian god Shiva originally married Sati, or Shakti, daughter of Daksha. But there is a legend according to which the girl committed self-immolation because of a grudge against her father.
But after she is reborn in a new incarnation. Now her name is Parvati (highlander) and her father is the Himalaya mountain range. It is she who is most often portrayed as the wife of the god Shiva.
They have two sons - Ganesha (the elephant-headed god of wisdom) and Skanda (the deity of war, who has six heads and twelve arms and legs), as well as a daughter, Manasi.
Names
In Western tradition, Shiva is known only by this name. However, Hindus know more than a thousand words that are epithets of a deity.
Among them are "Terrible" and "Beautiful", "Majestic" and "Ragged", "King of the Lingam", "Conquering Death", "Lord of Creatures" and many others.
The most significant and famous 108 of them. They are pronounced in the form of a prayer and are designed to purify the thoughts of the asker, as well as contribute to his exaltation.
Functions, rituals, holidays
The many-armed god Shiva is the supreme deity in Shaivism. He is revered as the trinity of the evolution of the universe - birth, growth and death. It is also believed that he will destroy the current world at the end of the mahayuga so that a new one can be created in its place.
He patronizes healers, gave people the mantra Om and Sanskrit. In addition, Shiva is always accompanied by a retinue of demons and spirits.
The two main rituals associated with this god are called the Panchabrahma Mantra and the Rudra Sukta. They are held on the most significant holiday of the year dedicated to Shiva. Mahashivaratri is celebrated at the end of February and signifies the wedding night of Shiva and Parvati.
most famous temple
In the town of Baijnath, at the beginning of the thirteenth century, a temple of the god Shiva was built. He is called by one of his names - Vaidyanath (patron of healers).
Once upon a time there was a sanctuary of a god on this place, but local merchants decided to perpetuate their names by erecting a majestic building. The merchants' names are Ahuk and Manyuk.
Today this temple is the main tourist attraction of the town. It was built in the best traditions of the Nagar (North Indian school of architecture). The building is surrounded by a wall and has two entrances.
Usually the many-armed god Shiva inside the temple is depicted only in the form of a lingam. Moreover, it is considered svayambhu (“self-arisen”). On the walls of the building are bas-reliefs of many deities, demons and other characters of the Hindu pantheon.
In front of the entrance is a statue of Nandi, a white bull. This animal is one of Shiva's most common vehicles. It symbolizes pure dharma, as well as sincerity, devotion and courage.
Today Vaidyanath Temple attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists.
god symbol
We have already mentioned the word "lingam" many times. It is with him that Shiva is associated. God is often simply referred to by this concept. What is it?
Lingam in Sanskrit means "sign, mark". This is a cylindrical sculpture with a round, rarely hemispherical top. Many researchers tend to see it as a symbol of an erect phallus. The ancient Hindus considered the lingam to be an abstract image of the deity.
Often it is not depicted on its own, but paired with a circle or square, which stands for "yoni" (vagina, womb). Today, these two objects are considered to be the oldest mention of the unity of male and female principles. Only in Hinduism was the masculine eternal and static, while the feminine was temporary, changeable and material.
Some scholars see the lingam as a prototype of a stambha, a special sacrificial pillar. Cattle were tied to it, which was preparing for the slaughter.
There is a special ritual that includes washing the lingam, reciting mantras and offering sacrificial fruits, flowers, incense and other permitted items.
Marriage of Shiva and Parvati
There is a legend in which the first wife of the god Shiva Shakti dies. This was due to rejection by her father.
The legend says the following. Once a divine couple was returning from one ashram. Shiva in the forest bowed to a commoner. His wife was surprised by his behavior. Then the god explained, Vishnu. Shakti, to check this, takes the form of Sita, the wife of this commoner, and goes to him. Rama recognizes her as a goddess.
Seeing the new image of Shakti, Shiva ceases to perceive her as a wife, as she reminded him of his mother. The girl is sad and they get a disagreement.
Just at this time, Shakti's father starts a festival, but does not invite the young because of disagreements with Shiva. The girl decides to go there herself. But Daksha turns away from her. Out of grief, Shakti throws herself into the fire and dies.
An enraged Shiva takes her body and begins to perform his dance of destruction. If Vishnu had not stopped him, he would have destroyed the universe.
After mourning, the god becomes an ascetic in the Himalayas, and Shakti is reborn as Parvati, daughter. In the end, the girl manages to persuade Shiva, and they marry.
In Hinduism, this holiday is called Mahashivaratri and is celebrated every year.
god of gods
As you have already seen, the person we are talking about in this article has many names. Among them there is the god of gods, Mahadev, Shiva. The first two were chosen in December 2011 as the title of a television series. His series are filmed in India to this day.
The plot of the episodes is based on myths, legends and passages from the Upanishads. The main events are taken from the Puranas. In addition, when writing the script, the works of Devdutt Pattanaik, a famous Indian mythologist and religious scholar, were used.
The series has been translated into a number of southern Indian languages. Today, more than one hundred and fifty episodes have already been filmed. The music for them was written by the Bavra brothers.
“Devon ke Dev…Mahadev” is also known in Russia. Fans of Indian culture can enjoy the series with subtitles.
Thus, today we met with one of the oldest deities in history. Learned the attributes, names and other interesting details about Shiva.
Good luck, friends! Travel more often!
Lakshmi- the goddess of abundance, prosperity, wealth, good luck and happiness. She is the embodiment of grace, beauty and charm. It is believed that its adherents will be protected from all kinds of misfortune and poverty. Lakshmi is the eldest wife, married to Rama (in the incarnation sieves) and Krishna (as radha, and later Rukmini).
She is depicted both alone and with Vishnu. If Vishnu is accompanied by Bhu or she also keeps him company and is then called Sri. When she is the only companion of Vishnu, she is called Lakshmi. When she is depicted alone, she is called both Sri and Lakshmi. Lakshmi is the eldest wife of Vishnu. The meaning of the name Sri is “prosperity”, “happiness”, “glory”.
- Padma: Lotus Dweller
- Kamala: Lotus Dweller
- Padmapriya: She who loves lotuses
- Padmamaladhara devi: She who wears a garland of lotuses
- Padmamukhi: The one whose face is as beautiful as a lotus
- Padmakshi: She whose eyes are as beautiful as lotuses
- Padmahasta: The one who holds the lotus
- Padmasundari: She who is beautiful like a lotus
- Vishnupriya: Beloved Vishnu
- Ulkavahini: The one who rides an owl
Among her other names indira("beautiful" or "powerful"), Chanchala and Lola("unstable") Lokamata("mother of the world").
In the incarnation of Lakshmi, Draupadi is considered - the wife of the five Pandava brothers, incarnations, and the Ashvin twins. According to Harivansha, the Indian Cupid, Kamadeva, was the son of Lakshmi and Dharma, the god of justice and Dharmic law, almost identical to Yama. In a number of texts, Lakshmi may be identified with Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, learning and the arts, but in others, Lakshmi and Saraswati are rival spouses. According to one version of the birth of Lakshmi, she was the daughter of the sage-rishi Bhrigu and Khyati, according to another, much more popular, she appeared with a lotus in her hands or sitting on a lotus while the devas and asuras were churning the world ocean, according to the third, she appeared back in at the very beginning of the world process, emerging from the primordial waters on a lotus flower (cf. her names Padma and Kamala - "Lotus").
The goddess of wealth and good fortune is depicted as a woman of extraordinary beauty, sitting or standing on a lotus flower, a symbol of motherhood, immortality and spiritual purity, and holding lotuses in her hands. She is also adorned with a lotus garland.
The skin color of the goddess has been variously described as dark, pink, golden yellow, or white. If Lakshmi is depicted as dark in color (the color of a thundercloud), this indicates that she is the wife of Vishnu, the dark-faced God. If she is depicted as golden yellow, it means that she is the source of all wealth. If it is white, then this indicates the purest form of prakriti (nature). The pinkish color, the most commonly accepted, reflects her compassion for all beings, as she is the Mother of all things.
Picture of Sri
When Shri has two hands, she is holding a srifala (coconut) and a lotus (padma). She is accompanied by two female bearers (chauri) with fans and two or four elephants carrying ghatas.
Image of Lakshmi
If Lakshmi has eight arms, then she carries a bow (dhanus), a rod (gada), an arrow (bana), a lotus (padma), a wheel (chakra), a shell (sankha), a wooden pestle, a goad (ankusa) in them.
If she has four arms, she holds a wheel (chakra), a conch shell (sankha), a lotus (padma), a wand (gad); or lemon-like fruit (mahalunga), lotus (padma), lotus and nectar vessel; or lotus (padma), bilva fruit (wooden apple), conch (sankha) and vessel of ambrosia; or in both upper hands the goddess holds a lotus (padma), and gold coins are pouring from her lower palms, or one of the hands is in a blessing position.
If Lakshmi has two hands, then she holds a conch (sankha) and a lotus (padma). On both sides she is accompanied by Vidyadharas, as well as Rajasri, Svargalakshmi, Brahmi, Lakshmi, Jayalakshmi.
When near Vishnu, she usually has two hands, and then holds a lotus (padma) and a coconut (srifala), or lotuses in both hands. At the same time, she stands or sits on the left thigh of Vishnu, or sits on the snake Ananta (Ananta), or on an eagle.
It happens that she is depicted with elephants, which are immersed in water to the waist.
In this article you will learn:
Lakshmi is the goddess who brings abundance, material wealth, good luck. This Indian deity gives people material benefits, blesses them. It looks like a beautiful girl in the images with a different number of upper limbs: there are 2, 4 or 8 arms. The features of the image depend on what, besides the deity, is present.
The history of the appearance of the goddess
According to legend, the Indian goddess Lakshmi arose while sitting on a lotus flower. Then the devas and asuras produced the buttermilk of the oceans. This version is more popular than others.
There are other explanations for the appearance of the divine girl. Some people hold the theory that the goddess was born from the sage Bhrigu and his consort Kyati. Another explanation suggests that the divine girl emerged in a lotus flower from the primordial waters.
The husband of Lakshmi is the god Vishnu. The Indians believe that she accompanies him in every avatar. It is believed that she not only has great strength, but is also a good wife of the dark-faced god. Often she is depicted sitting at the feet of her husband. In joint images with Vishnu, it appears in a dark color, but if the skin tone is yellow, the picture demonstrates that Lakshmi symbolizes prosperity and wealth.
There is a version according to which the goddess arose from a lotus flower located above the head of her husband.
Events and celebrations in honor of Lakshmi
Partially dedicate the celebration of Navarati to this deity, lasting 10 days and 9 nights. The divine girl is dedicated to the time from 4 to 6 days inclusive. Hindus believe that by this time Kali cleanses their souls of negative feelings and thoughts, making them ready to be filled with virtues. Navarati is celebrated on the first 9 days of the waxing moon in the month of Ashwin.
The Diwali festival is also dedicated to Lakshmi. During the celebration, the people of India light a lot of lamps, lanterns, fires, fireworks. Symbolically, the star Lakshmi is represented in this way, a halo of 8 rays representing various types of wealth. The meaning of this holiday is to attract prosperity. It is believed that the goddess visits human dwellings, trying to find a place where to rest. She bestows her blessing on the inhabitants of the visited house, attracting material wealth to their home.
Sarad Purnima is celebrated at the end of the rainy season in September or October. This festival is a gratitude to Lakshmi for the harvest. Celebrate on the full moon.
What do the objects and fruits in the hands of the figurine mean?
Deities in India are not usually depicted without any objects. Each element depicted next to a god or goddess has its own meaning, symbolizes something.
The objects depicted next to Lakshmi are most often symbols of prosperity and abundance.
Lotuses, located on the hands of a divine girl, are symbols of the worlds. The degree of their openness is equal to the degree of development.
The fruits are the results that people have achieved by labor. Indians believe that any effort is useless if a person falls into disfavor with the goddess.
Coconut is a symbol of 3 levels of creation. The hard, hairy shell symbolizes the gross level, the coconut juice the causal, and the core the subtle.
If a citron or pomegranate is in the hands of a deity, the image symbolizes the worlds.
The symbol of the highest fruit of spiritual life, moksha, is the fruit of bilva, which Lakshmi holds in her palms.
A vessel with ambrosia is a symbol of immortality and eternal bliss, which can be received as a gift from the goddess.
The location of the Lakshmi figurine in the house
To achieve the favor of a mysterious girl, you should place an image of the goddess Lakshmi in your home. It is important to place the figurine correctly.
Eastern Feng Shui philosophy states that the best location is the entrance hall or study. These locations are associated with financial well-being, increasing wealth. When choosing a sector, it is better to give preference to the southeast direction. There is a sector of wealth. You can put a figurine in the southwestern zoneresponsible for travel and assistants.
Trying to earn the favor of the goddess
To get divine love, meditation is recommended. This should be done regularly. The main mantra is “Om hrim shrim lakshmi byo namah”. You can use some other mantras. When reading, it is important to concentrate on the desired effect. So, it will be possible to bring it to life faster. It is important to repeat the phrase divisible by 3 times. Meditating on an image is more effective.
It is important to chant mantras regularly and turn to meditation. A one-time appeal will not be enough. To enhance the effect, you can put a bill in front of you during meditation. It is not allowed to spend. When the mantra is read, you need to blow on the money 3 times in order to charge them with the energy of well-being and prosperity.
To attract material well-being, it is also recommended to purchase images of the many-armed goddess. Lighting incense will help attract her favor. The smells of lotus and other flowers are best suited.
The room where the figurine is located should be cleaned regularly. It is recommended to stop quarreling, forget about promises, avoid responsibility: Lakshmi does not like such actions, they can cause her disfavor.
Any large-sized flowers will help to attract the energy of a divine girl. Lapis lazuli, yellow and red jade will help to attract her. The metal symbolizing Lakshmi is gold.
It is recommended to install an altar dedicated to this deity in the room. To decorate it, you should use jewelry made of gold, precious stones, fresh flowers. There you also need to place a statuette depicting a goddess. You need to cover the surface with a cloth embroidered with golden threads.
It is important to work on your own spirituality. Compassionate to all, Lakshmi does not like cruel people who are prone to evil thoughts and inclinations. If a person is cruel, dishonest, vicious, he will not be able to achieve the favor of a divine girl.
I pay respect to the mother of all beings, who emerged from the lotus Sri, - her eyes are like lotuses blossoming after sleep, - she clung to the chest of Vishnu! You are a wonderful power, you are a sacrifice to the gods and a sacrifice to the pitaras, you are the mother, the purifier of the worlds, you are the morning and evening twilight and night, power, prosperity, sacrifice, faith, Saraswati!
Vishnu Purana, book. I, ch. IX, slokas 115–116
Lakshmi (Skt. लक्ष्मी - ‘happiness’, ‘luck’)- the goddess of family well-being, good luck, prosperity, is the personification of beauty and grace. The name Lakshmi can also be interpreted as a lucky sign, an auspicious opportunity: the root “lakṣ” means ‘perceive’, ‘understand the goal’, ‘know’. Lakshmi manifests itself in eight aspects of her being: as an abundance of good luck (Adi), as an abundance of material wealth (Dhana), as a gift of power and strength (Gakja), as an abundance of happiness in the family, the gift of offspring (Santhana), as a manifestation of patience and perseverance ( Vira), as many victories and successes (Vijaya), as an abundance of health and food (Dhanya), as a stream of knowledge (Vidya). Goddess Lakshmi is one of the three aspects of female energy, along with Saraswati and Durga, which are manifestations of the female essence of the single divine energy of the Universe, presented in the Vedic tradition as Trimurti:, Vishnu the guardian and.
Thus, Lakshmi is a kind of “support” in the material world of the keeper of the universe Vishnu, it’s not without reason that in some images of Vishnu Lakshmi can be seen sitting at his feet, thereby symbolizing the maintenance of the order of the world order in the material aspect, she also personifies divine love and devotion (bhakti ). In India, there is a holiday dedicated to the goddess - Diwali, which is also called the "festival of lights", it reveals the story of the "Ramayana" - the legend of the battle between Ravana and Rama, according to which, Sita (the incarnation of Lakshmi) is the wife of Rama, being expelled from her kingdom and went with his family to live in the forest. Ravana kidnaps Sita from the forest, after which a battle between the gods begins, in which Rama wins and returns home with his family. The people meet them with lit fires, personifying the victory of good over evil, and in the celebration of Diwali, the Hindus light candles in their homes in the hope of blessing the goddess Lakshmi, who can bestow them with happiness and prosperity in the coming year.
According to the texts of the Mahabharata, the goddess Lakshmi incarnates as Draupadi, the wife of the Pandava brothers, who are also incarnations of gods born on earth from Dharma, Vayu, Indra and Ashvins.
“And a particle (of the goddess) of Sri for the sake of satisfaction (Narayana) incarnated on earth in the family of Drupada in the form of his flawless daughter.”
("Mahabharata", book. I, Adiparva, chapter 61)
“And those who previously had the image of Shakra and were imprisoned in that cave in the Northern Mountain, became the powerful sons of Pandu here ... And Lakshmi, who was previously determined by their spouse, is Draupadi, endowed with wondrous beauty. After all, in fact, how could this woman, whose beauty shines like the moon and the sun, and from whom the incense spreads to a whole crumb, could appear on earth otherwise than by fate, only on the basis of religious merits!<...>This resplendent goddess, beloved by the gods, is created by the self-existent as the divine Consort of five, thanks to the deeds performed by her.
("Mahabharata", book. I, Adiparva, chapter 189)
It is also believed that she originally took birth in our universe with the sage Bhrigu and Khyati.
“Khyati gave birth to two deities from Bhrigu - Dhatri and Vidhatri, as well as (daughter) Sri, the wife of the god of gods Narayana.<...>Eternal and imperishable is the mother of the world Shri, (wife) of Vishnu.
(“Vishnu Purana”, book I, ch. VIII, slokas 14, 16)
Mentions of Lakshmi in Vedic scriptures
Lakshmi is mentioned in the Rigveda as the personification of an auspicious state. In the Atharvaveda, it is presented in various manifestations: good luck, goodness, success, happiness, prosperity, auspicious sign. The manifestations of Lakshmi are described as the energy of virtue - punya, which is welcomed, and as a manifestation of sinful activity - paapa, which is called to leave. In Shatapatabrahmana, Goddess Sri emerges from Prajapati after his meditation on the creation of the universe. Here she is described as a beautiful woman with incredible energy, who bewitched the gods with her splendor and strength, and acts as the personification of various talents and abilities. The texts of the Shakta Upanishads are dedicated to Tridevi of the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati. Saubhagyalakshmi Upanishad describes the qualities of the goddess Lakshmi, as well as how the path of yoga allows one to come to spiritual enlightenment and self-realization, with which true wealth is gained.
Husband of Lakshmi. Vishnu and Lakshmi
As mentioned above, Lakshmi is the embodiment of the creative energy of Vishnu (shakti), while the divine power of Vishnu manifests itself in two forms: Bhudevi (manifestation of material energy) and Sridevi (manifestation of spiritual energy). It is Lakshmi, seated on a lotus, who, in the process of Churning the Milky Ocean by the devas and asuras, brings Vishnu into the world. According to the legend described in the Puranas, Lakshmi appeared from the waters of the ocean on a lotus flower and, looking around the gods, chose the god Vishnu as her companion, with whom they have been inseparable since then.
In the epic Mahabharata, Lakshmi appears as born from a lotus above the head of Vishnu. By the way, in order to earn the mercy of Vishnu, his devotees turn to Lakshmi, attracting the attention of the guardian god. In the images next to Vishnu, she also stands or sits on his left thigh or on the snake Ananta, sometimes on an eagle. When she is the only companion of Vishnu, then she is Lakshmi, however, in the images of Vishnu next to Bhu or Saraswati, Lakshmi is also present, but is already referred to as Sri. She is the companion of all the avatars of Vishnu: Rama - as his wife Sita, Krishna - as Radha (Rukmini). In India, there is such a tradition: during the wedding ceremony, the bride appears as Lakshmi, bringing good luck to a new home, and the groom as Vishnu, accepting his wife into his home.
Churning of the Milky Ocean - the story of the birth of Lakshmi at the beginning of the creation of the world
During the war of the gods with the asuras, Vishnu, who appeared in the form of a turtle - his second avatar, sets the Mandara mountain on his back, and, having tied the snake Vasuki to it, the gods and asuras begin to rotate the mountain, until from the ocean, in the process of this churning of the waters, they begin various treasures appeared, among which was the goddess of luck Lakshmi, as well as the elixir of immortality - amrita, they were called to help the gods defeat the asuras.
Then from the waters, shining with beauty, the goddess Sri rose, confusing thoughts, she stood in a radiant lotus, she had a lotus in her hands. Overwhelmed with joy, the great rishis praised her with a hymn dedicated to Sri, in front (of the goddess) were the Vishvadevs and sang the Gandharvas. In front of her, O brahmana, the ghritachis and the hosts of apsaras danced; The Ganges and other (sacred) rivers served her with their waters when bathing. Heavenly elephants, taking golden jugs with the purest water, washed the goddess, the great Ruler of all worlds
Vishnu Purana, chapter IX, slokas 98-101
When the drink of immortality rose to the surface, the asuras tried to take possession of it, but Vishnu, who this time took on a different form and appeared in the form of the beautiful Mohini, who conquered all the asuras, steals amrita from them, which goes to the gods.
Shri Lakshmi. Names of Lakshmi
The sacred name of Goddess Lakshmi is Sri (Sanskrit श्री - ‘happiness’, ‘prosperity’) . In the Vishnu Purana, Lakshmi appears in many chapters under the name Shri (mother of the world). If Vishnu is the essence, then Shri is speech, Vishnu is knowledge, then she is illumination, Vishnu is dharma, she is action in virtue. In the image of Shri, you can see the goddess holding a coconut (the shells of which symbolize the various levels of creation) and a lotus in her hands, here she appears accompanied by two women-carriers - chauri with fans, as well as two or four elephants. There are many names of Lakshmi, among them are such as: Padma and Kamala(manifested in the lotus), Padmapriya(loving lotuses) Padmamaladhara-devi(dressed in a garland of lotuses), Padmamukhi(with a beautiful face like a lotus), Padmakshi(lotus-eyed), Padmahasta(holding a lotus) Padmasundari(beautiful like a lotus) Vishnupriya(beloved of Vishnu) Ulkavahini(whose wahana is an owl) and many others.
Symbols of Lakshmi and the image of the goddess
The main symbol of the goddess of prosperity is the lotus, which represents purity, enlightenment and spiritual self-knowledge. Her eyes are like lotuses and she is surrounded by them. One of her names is Kamala means lotus goddess. Lakshmi is usually depicted as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing on a lotus pedestal. Sometimes one or two elephants can be seen behind her, bathing in the water. Elephants symbolize activity, strength, work, and water is a medium for fertile prosperity. Goddess Lakshmi is also depicted sitting at the feet of her husband Vishnu. Sometimes there are images of the goddess with eight hands, in which she holds: a bow, a rod, an arrow, a lotus, a wheel, a shell, a wooden pestle and a goad. In some images, she has four arms (four goals of life: dharma(striving for a moral life), Kama(pursuit of love and pleasure) artha(the desire for wealth and material well-being), moksha(the desire for self-knowledge and liberation). In her hands she holds a wheel, a conch, a lotus and a wand. Although there are also other variations: a lemon, a vessel with divine nectar (like a goddess who grants immortality), a bilva fruit (a wooden apple). Sometimes she appears with lotuses in two hands from above, and from the palms of two hands from below she pours gold coins, which means wealth, manifested through Lakshmi in the material world, and one of her hands can be in a blessing mudra, which is mercy, compassion and giving. Vahana Lakshmi is an owl, personifying the ability to move in the darkness without hindrance, also a symbol of patience, the ability to observe, to discover true knowledge in the surrounding illusory reality.
Lakshmi Yantra (Sri Yantra) and Lakshmi mantra - tune in to the rhythms of the Universe
Sri Yantra is a universal yantra, which is an image of the goddess Lakshmi in the form of a complex geometric structure, personifying the cosmic universe. Mentions of it are already found in the Atharva Veda as a ritual image, which is nine intersecting triangles. The yantra consists of a protective square with four gates to all directions of the world - Bhupura, personifying the place of "dwelling" of shakti energy throughout the entire period of the existence of the Universe, also representing the manifested Universe within the limits of cosmic chaos, it contains two circles with sixteen- and eight-petal lotuses , surrounding five rings, consisting of 43 triangles, and in the center of the yantra is the bindu point - the point of "non-existence" and higher consciousness, the center of the universe. In the yantra, the energies of Shiva and Shakti merge together: triangles with the tops pointing upwards represent the masculine principle, Shiva, and with the peaks downwards, the feminine principle, the energy of Shakti. It has a beneficial effect on the consciousness of the one who contemplates it.
Meditation on the Lakshmi yantra promotes the opening of higher energy centers (chakras). The very geometric design of the yantra is created in such a way that it transfers the brain to the alpha rhythm (with a frequency of 8 to 14 hertz), which corresponds to a meditative state. Even a short-term concentration of attention on this yantra contributes to the activation of the right hemisphere of the brain and leads to the emergence of creative insights and sharpening of intuition. Contemplating Lakshmi Yantra, or Sri Yantra, we get protection from misfortune and poverty. But do not forget that Lakshmi generously bestows only hardworking and honest people who are alien to arrogance and complacency. She grants them well-being and health, prosperity, wisdom and the opportunity to create a strong family. It is also believed that meditation on this yantra leads to the fulfillment of desires. Lakshmi yantra is placed, as a rule, in the northern or eastern part of the dwelling, or where it is necessary to replenish the good energies.
There is also a Maha Yantra, or Sri Lakshmi Ganesha Yantra, which combines the power of the impact of two yantras: Sri Yantra and Ganesha Yantra, it is aimed at creating the energies of prosperity, abundance and good luck.
There are countless hymns, prayers, stotras, shlokas dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, recited during the ritual worship of the goddess. The main mantra glorifying the beautiful goddess Lakshmi is Mahalakshmi -.
The Shri Lakshmi Maha mantra also gives the energy of prosperity, it sounds like Om Hrim Shri Lakshmi Bhyo Namaha (Om Hrim Shri Lakshmi Bhio Namaha) and means: "Goddess Lakshmi resides within me and bestows abundance in all aspects of my existence" . It is believed that this mantra will grant wealth and fulfillment of desires to the one who repeats it. However, do not forget that Lakshmi is unlikely to heed the requests of an egoist, hungry for personal well-being and prosperity. Especially Lakshmi favors those who donate and earn a living in an honest way. Therefore, invoking the bright and pure energies of the blessing of the beautiful goddess Lakshmi, it is important that your intentions be pure, altruistic and filled with a sincere desire to bring benefit to all living beings.
We continue our excursion into Hinduism. Today we will talk about the beautiful companions of the Hindu pantheon and some of their descendants. By the way, many Indian gods and goddesses help in creativity, contribute to the removal of barriers and the achievement of well-being and prosperity. If you want to know the details, then read on ☺
As I already told in the post “Hinduism and the supreme Indian gods”, at the top of the Indian “Olympus” are the Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who form the Trimurti. Each of them has a wonderful life partner (or even all lives), of divine or human origin, but always with a very difficult fate. After they connected their lives and fate with their divine spouses, they became Shakti - deities (divine power, light), carrying female energy in the universe.
Companion of Brahma
The wife of Brahma is the beautiful goddess Saraswati, the patroness of the hearth, fertility, prosperity. In addition, she favors creators, giving special preference to writers of all stripes and musicians.
Saraswati is often called the river goddess, the goddess of water, moreover, her name is translated as "the one that flows." Usually Saraswati is depicted as a beautiful woman in white robes, seated on a white lotus flower. It is not difficult to guess that white is her color, symbolizing knowledge and purification from blood. Her clothes are rich, but, in comparison with the decoration of Lakshmi, they are very modest (we will get to Lakshmi later). Most likely, this indirectly indicates that she is above worldly goods, since she has known the highest truth. Also, her symbol is a light yellow blooming mustard flower, which is just beginning to form into buds in the spring during a holiday in her honor.
Saraswati, like Brahma, has four arms. And just like her divine husband, in other of them she holds a rosary, of course, white, and the Vedas. In the third hand she has a wana (national musical instrument), in the fourth - sacred water (she is not the dawn, the goddess of water). Often a white swan swims at the feet of Saraswati, which is also a symbol of her experience and wisdom in the knowledge of the highest truth. Saraswati is sometimes referred to as Hamsavahini, which means "she who uses the swan to move."
If you remember, last time I told you that according to one of the theories, humanity appeared as a result of Brahma's passion for his daughter Vak. This state of affairs does not suit some believers, therefore Vak is often positioned as one of the incarnations of Saraswati. Her other images may be Rati, Kanti, Savitri and Gayatri. The goddess is very popular in India, sometimes she is sometimes even called Mahadevi - the Great Mother. It is believed that if you name your daughter Saraswati, then she will study hard, and in her future home there will be prosperity and contentment.
Companion of Vishnu
As we remember, Vishnu came to earth 9 times in different avatars, and each time Lakshmi was his wife, naturally, in her different incarnations. The most famous and revered are Sita (when Vishnu was Rama) and Rukmini (Vishnu - Krishna).
But no matter how they call her in one way or another, no one doubts that this is Lakshmi. Lakshmi emerged from the depths of the Comic Ocean along with other treasures, so many revere her herself as a divine treasure. She, like a true woman, is both the strength and weakness of her chosen one, which has repeatedly been reflected in folk art, for example, in Ramayat. Often, her image overshadows Saraswati, as well as Vishnu Brahma, and it is on her that the role of the Great Mother of Mahadevi is shifted.
Lakshmi is traditionally depicted sitting on a pink or red lotus flower as a beautiful young woman, younger than Saraswati, wearing beautiful expensive clothes and jewelry. As a means of transportation, she usually uses a white owl. She, like the other gods, has four arms, but no obligatory items that she holds can be distinguished. Sometimes she is depicted with lotuses, sometimes with gold coins - which is enough for the artist's imagination. Lakshmi is incredibly popular in India, because, in addition to being the wife of the supreme deity, she also patronizes wealth, luck, luck, light, knowledge, wisdom, light, courage and fertility. She is a welcome guest in any home.
Surprisingly, but the fact is that in order to earn her favor, the following, already familiar to us, actions are mandatory. The goddess does not accept mess, if your house is full of garbage, dust, unused things, do not expect her to visit you. The air in the house should be fresh, be sure to have water in a decanter, a house plant (if there is no garden), candles and incense. The most favorable area for placing the image of Lakshmi is the southeastern part of the house. If you remember my post, then according to Chinese tradition, the wealth zone is located there, and the minimum measures to attract it come down to cleaning and airing. There is reason to think...
The offspring of Lakshmi and Vishnu is the god of love Kama. We all have heard a lot or little about the Kama Sutra, and so, if translated literally, it means "rules of love (lust)". By the way, poor Kama, seriously suffered from the god Shiva, which brought on the latter a serious wrath of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Kama, having fired an arrow of passion at Shiva, when he was in deep austerity and many years of meditation, in order to draw his attention to the beautiful daughter of the king of the Himalayas, Parvati. This angered Shiva so much that he incinerated Kama with his third eye. Under pressure from Vishnu, Lakshmi and other gods, he was forced to agree to the rebirth of the god of love. Despite all the efforts, Kama was reborn to life as anangoy (incorporeal) and now he is everywhere.
Companions of Shiva
Here we smoothly got to the love affairs of the great ascetic Shiva. There were many of them, depending on the form of its manifestation. Religious scholars did not agree on whether this woman was alone or not.
Here I will talk about them as different, because if all this variety of forms and essences is “thrown” into one character, I’m afraid I myself will get confused. Naturally, I can’t write about all of them either, so let’s focus on the most revered ones.
Devi means "goddess". Devi is especially revered among the followers of Tantra. Goddess Devi "contains the whole world in her womb", she "lights the lamp of wisdom" and "brings joy to the heart of Shiva, her Lord". Today in India, rituals dedicated to Devi are often performed on the eve of the wedding, and, as we understand, the religion of the spouses is of no interest to anyone ☺
Sati - "true, immaculate." Sati was the daughter of the king (god?) Daksha. On the day of her coming of age, he sent out an invitation to all the gods, with the exception of Shiva, so that Sati could choose a worthy husband for herself. He believed that Shiva was behaving unworthy of the gods, spoiling their name and essence. When Sati entered the hall and did not see the only one whom she worshiped and whose wife she dreamed of becoming, she offered him a prayer with a request to accept the wedding garland. Shiva accepted her gift and Daksha had no choice but to marry Sati to him. But the story didn't end there. Daksha decided to arrange a huge sacrifice in honor of the gods, again depriving Shiva of his attention. This act outraged Sati and she came to his house without an invitation, claiming that Shiva is a god above all gods. Defending the honor of her husband, she herself stepped into the sacrificial fire and burned in its flame.
Upon learning of the death of his beloved, Shiva was distraught with grief. With his servants, he came to Daksha's palace and killed him and his followers. After that, with the body of his beloved in his arms, he danced his divine dance 7 times around all the worlds. The crazy rhythm of his dance brought destruction and sadness to everything around, the scale of the disaster reached such a volume that they forced Vishnu to intervene, who, in order to stop this crazy dance, cut Sati's body into several parts and they fell to the ground. After that, Shiva came to his senses, repented of the murder of Daksha and even returned his life (albeit with a goat's head, since his original one was lost).
Uma - "Graceful". There is a version that she is the rebirth of the goddess Sati, but skeptics are inclined to believe that Sati's body was cut into several parts and fell into different places, so that she could not be reborn in a single image. Her name is sometimes associated with Barhma, as she is his intermediary in communicating with other gods. Based on this, Uma is the patroness of oratory. Uma also caused a divine conflict when the servants of Brahma caught her in the arms of Shiva in the sacred forest. He was so angry that he doomed any male, regardless of his species, to turn into a female, as soon as he entered the territory of the forest.
Parvati - "mountain". Another possible reincarnation of Sati, the daughter of King Himvan, the ruler of the Himalayas. The girl loved Shiva very much, but he did not pay any attention to her and was completely absorbed in meditation and austerity. In the end, the Gods could not stand the suffering of the beautiful Parvati and sent Kama to awaken passion and desire in him, for which, poor fellow, he paid. Paying attention to the beauty and devotion of the girl, Shiva nevertheless considered her unworthy, and she was forced to perform difficult ascetic feats for many years in order to achieve his favor. In the end, she succeeded, and she became not only the beloved wife of Shiva, nor the mother of his son Ganesh.
Ganesha is one of the most popular characters, even in countries where Buddhism is the main religion, he is still revered. For example, in the north of the Thai city of Chiang Mai there is absolutely stunning. It is very easy to distinguish him from all the other gods - he is the only one with an elephant head. By the way, according to one version, his own father Shiva deprived him of his human head, who did not recognize his son in the grown-up Ganesha and was jealous of Parvati for him. In order to revive his son, he ordered the servants to kill the first animal that came across and bring his head to the palace. By coincidence, it turned out to be the head of an elephant, which Shiva attached to the place of his son's head in order to resurrect him and calm the inconsolable Parvati.
As a means of transportation, Ganesha uses a white mouse, so Hindus do not favor cats - as they eat mice and cause Ganesh's wrath. And no one wants his anger, on the contrary, they crave his favor. After all, Ganesha is considered the patron of wealth, the remover of obstacles, he helps to increase earnings and profits, and also stimulates success in studies and profession. For these purposes, a Ganesh figurine is often placed on the desktop or at the cash desk, and special mantras are also sung, for example: OM GAM GANAPATHAYA NAMAH or OM SRI GANESHAYA NAMAH.
Durga means "impregnable". There are many legends associated with the appearance of Durga, but one of the most popular is the following. Once the king of the giants Mahisha defeated the gods, deprived them of everything and expelled them from their dwellings. Then, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined their powers and released from their eyes dazzling rays of light, from which emerged the Warrior Goddess with three eyes and eighteen arms. Then each of the gods gave her his weapon: Brahma - a rosary and a jug of water, Vishnu - a throwing disc, Shiva - a trident, Varuna - a shell, Agni - a dart, Vayu - a bow, Surya - a quiver of arrows, Indra - lightning, Kubera - a mace , Kala - shield and sword, Vishvakarma - battle axe. Mahisha was inflamed with passion for Durga and wished to make her his wife, but he said that he would submit only to the one who defeated her in a fight. She jumped off her tiger and jumped on the back of Mahisha, who took the form of a bull to fight. With her feet, she struck a blow with such crushing force on the head of the bull that he fell senseless to the ground. After that, Durga cut off his head with a sword.
Kali means black. Probably the most controversial goddess of the Hindu pantheon, one of the most beautiful and at the same time dangerous. Her skin is black, a great warrior and a great dancer, like her husband Shiva. She is usually depicted wearing expensive clothing with a necklace of skulls and a sash of severed hands. Most often, she has four hands: in one she holds a bloody sword, in the other - the head of a defeated enemy, and the other two hands bless her subjects. That is, it simultaneously carries both death and immortality. During the battle, she pulls out her tongue to drink the blood of her victims (by the way, according to many theories, it is Kali who is the prototype of Lilith and vampires). Sometimes she is depicted standing with one foot on her chest, and the other on the hip of prostrate Shiva. This is explained by the following legend. Having defeated the giant Raktvija, she began to dance in joy, and her dance was so passionate and unbridled that it threatened to destroy the earth and the whole world. The gods tried to exhort her, but all was in vain. Then Shiva lay down at her feet, while Kali continued to dance until she saw her own husband under her feet. She was ashamed of her own fury and disrespect shown to the great god that she stopped in her tracks. By the way, Shiva quite easily forgave her.
Among the companions of Shiva there are also Jagadgauri, Chinnamustaka, Tara, Muktakesi, Dasabhuja, Singhavanini, Mahishamandini, Jagaddhatri, Ambika, Bhavani, Pithivi, etc., you can’t remember them all ☺ .
Well, here, perhaps, the end of the fairy tale, whoever read it to the end - well done ☺! I hope you were interested.