After a much deserved break over the summer, when Monday Night Meditations resume on 5 February 2018, the focus will be on Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity who will be honoured.
Born from the churning of the primordial ocean, Lakshmi is said to have chosen Vishnu, one of the three principal deities within Hinduism, as her eternal consort. When Vishnu descended on the Earth, Lakshmi descended as his consort. The ancient Indian scriptures state that all women are declared to be embodiments of Lakshmi, and that the marriage and relationship between Lakshmi and Vishnu as wife and husband is the paradigm for rituals and ceremonies for the bride and groom in weddings.In iconography, the Goddess is depicted either standing or sitting on a lotus. An important symbol of Lakshmi is the lotus which signifies spiritual understanding, spiritual awakening, and peace. Her expression is always calm and loving. The Goddess has a golden complexion and has four hands (when portrayed with Vishnu, She is frequently depicted with two arms) representing transcendental beauty and omnipotence.
Lakshmi is found within a number of Jain temples, as well as being a goddess of abundance and fortune for Buddhists where representations of her have been found on some of the oldest surviving stupas and cave temples.
The mantra that we will commence using from next Monday evening is one believed to remove karmic obstacles related to abundance and attracts finances and prosperity, being:
Om Gam Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Swaha
This mantra also acknowledges Lord Ganesha through the seed syllable “gum” – Ganesha is the remover of obstacles. “Shrim” is the seed syllable for Lakshmi, while “Lakshmiyei” is considered to be the endearing form of Lakshmi.
Another useful mantra of Lakshmi that not only attracts prosperity but also is believed to draw in proper friends, clear up family misunderstandings and quarrels, and even smooth some health problems is the Om Shreem Maha Lakshmiyeh svah mantra. The translation of this mantra is:
“Om and salutations to that feminine energy which bestows all manner of wealth, and for which Shreem is the seed.”
