Table of Contents:

Chapter 1 - Goddess Lakshmee
Chapter 2 - The Five days of Divaali
Chapter 3 - Mahaa Lakshmee pooja
Chapter 4 - Lakshmee Vandanaa
Chapter 5 - Bhajans
Chapter 6 - The Eight Legends of Ashta Lakshmee

LAKSHMEE MAHIMAA

Chapter 1 - Goddess Lakshmee

    Goddess Lakshmee or Lakshmee Maataa is unquestionably, one of the most revered and adored deities of the Hindu pantheon. Other Devis (goddesses), such as Mother Durgaa and Kaali, are seen as fierce warriors who protect mankind from the asuras or demons and other evil-doers, and are renowned for their tremendous strength, ferocity and capacity for destruction. Devotees seek shelter from them when evil and its consequent tribulations become overwhelming. Goddess Saraswatee represents knowledge, and thus symbolises the self-denying, rigorous and disciplined way of the life of the student or any true seeker of knowledge. Goddess Saraswatee, therefore, is austerity and scrifice personified. 

    Mother Lakshmee, on the other hand, represents maternal love, kindness, compassion, gentleness and charity. She is the One whom devotees propitiate in order to be successful in their everyday lives. She is adored not only for Her beautiful, charming and loving persona. but also for what She represents. She is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, the Goddess of light, purity and beauty, the Goddess of auspiciousness and good fortune. Everything that we strive for in life, such as wealth, prosperity and success, is within Her capacity to give. In addition, She is worshipped as a manifestation of the Earth Goddess and as the Giver of food. She is also associated with the lotus, the moon, the ocean and water. It is perhaps significant that She is closely associated with earth, light or fire, and water - three elements necessary to sustain life.

This excerpt was taken from the book Lakshmee Mahimaa - The Glory of Goddess Lakshmee, written by Smt. Naveeta Maharaj. 

 Copyright @ 2003 Aatmavaani Productions.