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In an earlier post I offered a prayer of gratitude and abundance to Maha Lakshmi. Several readers emailed me to ask if I could explain more about Shri Lakshmi, meditation and mantras in general.
I am always happy to share what I know, so in today’s post I offer you a general introduction into Shri Lakshmi and in the next post will go into more detail about Mantra meditations and how you can use them to enhance your health and sense of wellness.
I am not an expert and all views expressed are based on my teachings and understanding of yoga and meditation. Feel free to share your insights and understanding.
Let’s Start At The Beginning
The events of the last few years have left me dry and famished on several levels, so my focus this year is to look at ways I can boost my self esteem, keep energy levels up and generate wealth from my yoga business.
As you know prayer and meditation form a key part of my self-care, yoga and wellness programme. To help me overcome my wealth limitations and build up my energy to attract “all I desire” this year my daily spiritual and yoga practice has focused on “Wealth Creation” “Abundance and Prosperity”.
One of my meditation practices is to offer prayers and meditations on the Hindu Goddess Maha Lakshmi. My mother, who is a devout Christian and brought me up in the Christian faith doesn’t really understand why I meditate and isn’t pleased with my choice of worship or prayer, which is another post for another time! I use the deity Mantra OM Sri Maha Lakshmi Namah, (prayers and prostrations to the great Mother Lakshmi) which I will talk about more in the next blog post.
Who Is Shri Lakshmi?
Shri Lakshmi, also known as Kamala, The Lotus Goddess, is one of the most popular Hindu Goddesses.
What Does Shri Lakshmi Do?
Devotees pray to Shri Lakshmi to invoke her blessing for peace, harmony, good fortune and fertility (growth). However, she only grants favours if you take care of others and share your worldly goods with a open heart. It is believed, meditation and prayers to Shri Lakshmi will bestow positive qualities of wealth and good fortune.
What Does Shri Lakshmi Represent?
Shri Lakshmi represents the nurturing aspects of the Divine Mother, the giver and bestower of wealth and prosperity. As a Goddess, Shri Lakshmi is associated with the spiritual and worldly blessings of prosperity, wealth, beauty, power, fertility and good fortune. She is the Goddess of peace and prosperity and remover of all kinds of poverty. The word “Sri or Shri” represents auspiciousness, radiance and excellence.
What Is Shri Lakshmi Holding In Her Hands?
If you look at the image of Shri Lakshmi, you can see she is dressed in a red sari and stands on a pink lotus surrounded by water. Maha Lakshmi she has four hands. In two hands she holds two pink lotus flowers; and the other two hands are held in specific positions/gestures known as “mudras”. Shri Lakshmi is commonly seen flanked by two white elephants pouring water over her from their trunks.
I remember the first time I saw an image of the Goddess Lakshmi, I was stuck by her beauty and poise. From my yogic teachings I knew that Shri Lakshmi represented an aspect of the divine and it was only after intense periods of meditation on the breath and study that I was introduced to Mantra Meditation and more specifically Deity Mantras by one of my early spiritual teachers.
What Is A Mudra?
A mudra is a symbolic hand gesture/position. It is a Sanskrit word which means seal or closure. In yoga, mudras are used to affect the flow of energy in the body. Shri Lakshmi has one of her hands positioned in the “abhaya mudra” (abhaya mudra represents granting fearlessness) and the other hand in the “varad mudra” (granting a boon, a blessing of peace and prosperity). Sometimes, Maha Lakshmi is shown holding a golden pot of nectar in her left hand and granting a boon with her right hand.
What Does The Lotus Flower Represent
The lotus is a symbol of life and fertility. It is used as a metaphor for spiritual awakening and enlightenment and represents your journey of overcoming earthly obstacles and limitations. The lotus symbol of purity arises as it grows in the mud yet isn’t stained by it. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater and at dawn it rises and opens again; thus symbolising the purity of your heart as you grow towards enlightenment.
What Are The Two Elephants Doing?
Shri Lakshmi is commonly seen with two white elephants pouring water over her from their trunks. According to Hindu tradition, elephants are related to clouds and rain and therefore fertility. Elephants are also symbols of strength, courage and wisdom and, associated with royalty. Traditionally, the Kings used elephants in military campaigns and processions. The Elephant God, Ganeha, is seen as the divine aspect as remover of obstacles.
As you can see all aspects of the Goddess Lakshmi symbolises wealth, abundance and prosperity. Through out the year, religious ceremonies and rituals are carried out to invoke the blessings of the Goddess. During my yoga teacher training in India I was touched by the symbolic power and energy of the religious ceremonies we attended and recall many sacred awakenings whilst meditating and worshipping in the presence of other spiritual seekers.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of your spiritual beliefs and religious faith, I hope you found this mini introduction into the symbolical meaning of Shri Lakshmi a useful guide. In the next post I will share in more detail what is meditation and how I practice Mantra Meditation.
I would like to close this week’s post with a Prayer For Grace
Heavenly Father, Strengthen my faith
Help me to see beyond the physical and remember Who I Am and reasons for breathing.
Help me, Divine Mother to discern the truth, the path you have chosen and not the one I wish to meander down.
Help me to smell the coffee and wake up to the truth of who I am,
to the inner glories and wonders buried deep within the murky waters of my soul.
Encourage me to mingle within the world yet remain focus, flexible and faithful to you, to be a “better” mum and guardian to all I meet.
Thank you for all you do, give and breathe into my life.
Namaste
And if you enjoyed this post and feel blessed by it, kindly share it with your loved ones and I look forward to reading your comments.
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Take special care of yourself.
In peace
Ntathu
Wonderful indeed!
I like the way you are so very Indian when it comes to God and Goddess sometimes. And yes, Lakshmi and Ganesh are very popular deities this end and people do believe a lot in them. Thanks for sharing more about them. 🙂
Bless you Harleena, yes life is fascinating and I find great comfort and strength from my personal prayers, worship and practice. Lots to learn, share and grow. Thanks for your support and trust. Stay blessed.