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She is the possessor of great beauty and is depicted in
standing as well as in the seated postures. She is however always seen on a
lotus. In her hands she holds two lotuses. In the avatarams of Lord Vishnu,
Lakshmi also took various forms to accompany him - Sita with Rama, Rukmini with
Krishna. Her four hands signify her power to grand the four Purusharthas (ends
of human life), Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (pleasures of the
flesh) and Moksa (freedom).
Ashta Lakshmi are her eight forms which are the commonly
worshipped aspects. In each form, she bestows one form of wealth to her
devotees. There are not as many temples for Lakshmi as for Sakthi (Parvathi),
she is however worshipped in temples, more so in the north of India. There are
numerous poojas and festivals which are performed to invoke her blessings.
Lakshmi is commonly represented as Vishnu's wife. Lakshmi is
widely represented as the goddess of wealth. Being, the power and consort of
Vishnu, the preserver, she is represented as the power of multiplicity and the
goddess of fortune.
Lakshmi is usually described as enchantingly beautiful and standing on a lotus
and holding a lotus in each of her two hands. It is because of this perhaps that
she is named as Padma or Kamala. She is also adorned with a lotus garland. Very
often elephants are shown on either side, emptying pitchers of water over her,
the pitchers being held by celestial maidens. Her color is variously described
as dark, pink, golden yellow or white. While in the company of Vishnu, she is
shown with two hands only.
When worshipped in a temple, she is shown seated on a lotus throne, with four
hands holding Padma (lotus) Sankha (conch) Amrtakalasa ( a pot of ambrosia) and
Bilva fruit.
If Lakshmi is pictured as dark in complexion, it is to show that she is the
consort of Vishnu, the dark god. If golden yellow, that shows her as the source
of all wealth. If white, she represents the purest form of prakti (nature) form
which the Universe had developed. The pinkish complexion which is more common,
reflects her compassion for creatures, since she is is the mother of all.
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