Lakshmi
Hindu art
Lakshmi is the Hindu
Goddess of wealth, prosperity
(both material and spiritual), fortune, and the embodiment of beauty. She is
the consort of the God Vishnu.
Also called Mahalakshmi, she is said to bring good
luck and is believed to protect
her devotees from all kinds of misery and money-related sorrows. Representations of Lakshmi are also
found in Jain monuments.
Lakshmi
is called Shri or Thirumagal because she is endowed with six auspicious
and divine qualities, or Gunas,
and also because she is the source of strength even to Vishnu. When Vishnu
incarnated on earth as avatars Rama and
Krishna, Lakshmi incarnated as his consort. Sita (Rama's wife), Radha (Krishna's lover) and Rukmini and Satyabama are considered forms of Lakshmi.
Lakshmi
is worshipped daily in Hindu homes and commercial establishments as the goddess
of wealth. She also enjoys worship as the consort of Vishnu in many temples.
The festivals of Diwali and Kojagiri
Purnima are celebrated in her
honour.