1. What does the word Lakshmi mean?
The word Lakshmi comes from 'laksha' means 'to aim at'. So 'Lakshmi' is that,what is sought after by all.
2. Whois Goddess Lakshmi?
· In the Puranas she is said to be the consort of Lord Narayana.
· She is the 'Adi Shakti', the eternal power of the Lord.
· She has various aspects or expressions.
3. Whoshould seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi?
·Scriptures talk of two paths. Path of Action (Pravritti marga) and Path ofRenounciation (Nivritti marga). All those who want either pleasures orliberation, following their respective paths should seek blessings from GoddessLakshmi.
4. Howshould one following 'the Path of Action' seek goddess Lakshmi?
In Ishaavaasya Upanishad 2nd mantra it is said, 'kurvan eva iha karmaanijijivishet shatam samaah; evam tvayi naanyathetosti na karma lipyate nare'
Those who wish to desire pleasures of this world and higher worlds (heavens)should aim to live a long life of dharma, serving others.
One requires wealth to live a long life of service. Hence one must work hard toacquire wealth.
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When the wealth acquired righteously is used for dharma then the actionsperformed to acquire wealth do not bind the doer with I-ness and My-ness.
5. What kind of wealth is sought after by those who follow the Path of Action?
· There are eight types of wealth described in the scriptures, called as AshtaLakshmi.
6.What are the eight types of wealth?
1) Dhana Lakshmi: Money through righteous ways
2) Dhaanya Lakshmi: Sattvik pure food to maintain health. As health is wealth.
3) Gaja Lakshmi: Cattle or vehicle.
4) Santaan Lakshmi: Good and well behaved children.
5) Vidyaa Lakshmi: Proficiency in the world
6) Dhairya Lakshmi: Courage to venture into new things and also facedifficulties.
7) Vijaya Lakshmi: Success in ones field of action
8) Aadi Lakshmi: She being the eternal power of the Lord is also the eternalsource of grace and hence when sought after one will never be denied of Herblessings.
7. InTulasi Ramayana Seetaji is worshiped as Adi Shakti.'udbhava-sthiti-samhaara-kaarinim klesha-haarinim, sarva-shreyas-karim seetaamnato ham Rama-vallabhaam.' She is the very cause of creation maintainance anddissolution of the world. When She is with Rama, She removes all the klesha(Avidya-ignorance of Self, Asmita- I-ness, Rraga-likes, Dvesha-dislikes andAbhinivesha-fear of death because of identification with the limited) andbrings ultimate good (Moksha). But the same Adi shakti, eternal power of theLord if is not with the Lord can create klesha and bring ultimate destruction.Lord Narayana pervades the world of names and forms. Hence service to all isservice to the Lord. Jana seva Jananrdan seva, nara seva Narayana Seva. Hencewealth when utilised for dharma, service to all will bring the Ultimate Good,Moksha through antahkarana shuddhi (purification of the mind).
8. Howshould one following 'the Path of Renunciation' seek goddess Lakshmi?
Ishaavaasya Upanishad in the first mantra says, 'ishaa-vaasyam idam sarvam yatkinchit jagatyaam jagat; tena tyaktena bhunjithaah maa gridha kasyaswitdhanam'.
Those who do not desire temporary pleasures of this world or the higher worldsand are the seekers of the permanent bliss should not hoard wealth and protectthemselves from the attachment to the transient.
Permanent happiness is possible only when one is able to experience The Onepervading the apparent many. To whom then the wealth belongs to when there Isnothing other then the One?
The seekers of the One, prepare themselves to walk the Path of Renunciation bycultivating the fourfold qualities such as Vivek (ability to discriminatebetween the permanent and the impermanent), Vairagya (giving up theidentification with the impermanent), Shat Sampatti (Six wealth) andMumukshutvam (desire to get liberated from the limited).
Thus the seekers of the Truth too seek blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for the'Shat Sampati', six kind of wealth.
9.What are the six types of wealth required by the seekers of the Truth?
1) Shama - Control of mind. The mind does not distract the seeker.
2) Dama - Control of senses. The seeker does not get lured by the falseglitters of the sense objects.
3) Uparati - Not persecuted by the mind and senses, the seeker is able topractice ones own dharma, 'swadhyaaya'.
4) Titikshaa - Forbearance. The seeker's knowledge of 'The Oneness' does notshake while experiencing the pairs of opposite like 'sukha-dukha' etc.
5) Shraddhaa - Faith in the words of Guru and Vedanta which helps the seeker toremain consistent till the goal is reached.
6) Samaadhaanam - Single-pointedness of mind. Where the mind rests in the One.
10.Thus whether one wants Dharma or Brahma we need the blessings of GoddessLakshmi. Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi means in adoration humbly surrender toinvoke Her grace.
11.The highest wealth is Narayana, the Poorna-the infinite. Having attained thatone becomes free from wants. Wealth without Lord Narayana makes us dependentslaves and beggars of more. Laksmiji finds Her fulfilment in being one withNarayana.
12.Gurudev once said, 'Hold on to Narayana, Lakshmi will follow.' The easiest wayto invoke Lord Narayana in kaliyuga is to chant the name of the Lord. Let usincrease the wealth of the name - 'Naam dhan kaa khajaanaa badhaate chalo apnimukti kaa maarg banaate chalo' and pave our path to liberation.
13.May Mother Lakshmi protect us and bless us with Lord Narayana, The Infinite.
From Chinamaya Mission.
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