Lakshmi, the bestower of cherished desires, with hundreds of names, virtues and qualities, has been described comprehensively in the Hindu mythology and religion.
The first six chapters deal with Her importance, glory, origin and benevolence; chapters seven, eight and nine describe Her relationship with Parati, Ganesh and Kuber and demon King Jalandhar; chapter 10 Her position vis-à-vis Lotus and Tulsi and chapter 11 Owl and Cow and chapter 12 and 13 describe Her as Gajalakshmi, Kamala and Matangi. Diwali, the most important Hindu festival devoted to Her is the subject of chapter 14. A dialogue between Lakshmi and Poverty appearing in the Brahmapurana is cited in chapter 15. Chapter 16, 17 and 18 relate to the forehead marks (Tilaks) and Her place in the scriptures, art and craft. Chapter 19 describes Lakshmi’s prominent place in Mantra, Yantra and Tantra and also the worship procedures and the mantras connected with different yantras meant exclusively to propitiate Her.
Appendix at the end gives a useful list of numerous names of the goddess.
The book, profusely illustrated, is a comprehensive account of the goddess with maximum details. It is an interesting study for all religionists, scholars, artists, sociologists and parents.
Lakshmi is worshiped in composite form alongwith Vishnu but mostly alongwith Ganesa who is the administrator and custodian of the treasures of the goddess. An attempt has been made in this book to give the maximum information about Lakshmi who finds respectful references in Buddhism, Jainism besides the much older Brahaminism.
Human knowledge flourishes in two ways – by discovering facts, and by presenting the discovered facts from a new angle. The former is scientific; the latter philosophical. It is the latter that has been adopted in this series on Hindu gods and goddesses. The facts are all based on ancient sacred scriptures. In this series, this is the fourth book, previous ones having been GANESA, SARASWATI and DURGA.
Virtues and attributes of gods and goddesses are numerous and countless. It is not possible for anyone to present them perfectly. However an attempt has been made by giving a few names of Goddess Lakshmi in the appendix and explaining their relation to her virtues. In common talk, it is said that Lakshmi is unsteady, transient, inconsistent, flickering, fidgety and restless. This aspect has also been explained. Illustrations and sketches have been product to make home the glory and bliss of the goddess in the mind of the reader.
We express our gratitude to Shri S.C. Sethi, Director, Crest Publishing House, New Delhi, for his encouragement and valuable advice from time to time.
Vedas (1293)
Upanishads (481)
Puranas (609)
Ramayana (833)
Mahabharata (330)
Dharmasastras (163)
Goddess (471)
Bhakti (241)
Saints (1289)
Gods (1273)
Shiva (341)
Journal (143)
Fiction (49)
Vedanta (324)
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