The Beautiful Goddess Lakshmi Continued 💕

Fickle and Independent Pt. 4

Nowadays, Hindus accept Lakshmi as the eternal consort of Vishnu, the preserver of the world. In her long history, however, the Goddess has been associated with many other deities. 

According to Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas, the Goddess Lakshmi first lived with the demons before the Gods acquired her. She graced Asuras such as Hiranayaksha, Hiranakashipu, Prahalad, Virochana and Bali, rakshasas such as Ravana and yakshas such as Kubera before 
she adorned the court of Indra, King of Devas, the most renowned of Vedic Gods. 

Cities of the asuras (Hiranyapura), yakshas (Alakapuri), rakshasas (Lanka) and nagas (Bhogavati) have all been described as cities of gold, Lakshmi’s mineral manifestation.
 
Within the Vedic pantheon, Lakshmi was linked with many Gods, especially those associated with water bodies: Indra, the Rain-God (bestower of fresh water); Varuna, the Sea-God (source of all water); 
Soma, the Moon-God (waxer and waner of tides). 
Indra’s wife Sachi was also known as Puloma, which is the name of an Asura-Woman suggesting entry of Lakshmi from the world of asuras into world of devas.
 
As the Vedic Gods waned into insignificance around the fifth century BC, two Gods came to 
dominate the classical Hindu worldview: The world renouncing Hermit-God Shiva and the world affirming 
Warrior-God Vishnu. 
Lakshmi was briefly associated with Shiva before she became the faithful consort of Vishnu-Narayana, the ultimate refuge of man. 
With Vishnu, she was domesticated. 
No longer fleet footed, she sat demurely by his side, on his lap or at his feet.
 
The association with many Gods has led to Lakshmi being viewed as fickle, restless and independent. Sociologists view the mythology of Lakshmi’s fickleness as indicative of her cult’s resistance to being assimilated with mainstream Hinduism. Even today there is tension between the mythology of Lakshmi as an independent Goddess and her mythology as Vishnu’s consort. 
Philosophers choose to view the fickleness and independence of Lakshmi as an allegory for the restlessness of fortune. More often than not, there are no rational explanations for fortune and misfortune. Good times come without warning and leave as suddenly.

Author: Bella Uni’Verse

I believe in forever. I believe that the spirit is the love heart. I believe that the spirit is the “souls” (source) heartbeat. I believe in high-spirited humans. I believe in the truth of meeting your souls counterpart in a whirlwind of spiritual dance. I believe life unfolds us in a perfectly charted Uni’Verse’All choreography. I believe in Uni’Verse’All Human Beings. A race where we all finish together, there is no first, and there is certainly, no last; there is only Being Human. I believe that a huge majority misses (longing for what is forgotten) the colors of the rainbow, when in reality; It’s always there even if you can’t see it. I believe we all paint our own picture every day. What it looks like is up to us. I believe that we are all within one system, one spirit, one song, one dance, one breath. ONE 1! I believe we are all one; At least we should be. I believe the day drips with dreams and divinity. I recognize that the sky is not the limit. But what I wonder..... Why is it that we only love to the moon and back? When we can love to the furthest reaches of all galaxies and never return. I Believe ©️2018, 2020 Bella Uni’Verse Authentic Reality, Poet With Verve Publications View all posts by Bella Uni’Verse