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The Divine Mother or Adi Parasakti, in Her manifestation as the bestower of wealth
and prosperity, is known as Sri Lakshmi. Among many other meanings, the word
Lakshmi stands for good fortune, success, wealth and riches, beauty, grace, charm
etc. In order that She may be able to confer all the above blessings on Her devotees, the Divine Mother Herself must have an infinite reservoir of these. The Divine Mother manifests these qualities in the form of eight powers or Ashta Lakshmis (eight Lakshmis). The first is known as Sri Maha Lakshmi, the beloved Consort of Lord Narayana. Sri Maha Lakshmi is usually depicted as seated in yagasana or padmasana on a red lotus. She has the complexion of the full moon and wears a mellow smile(mandasmita) on Her countenance. She is endowed with four hands, bestowing boons(vara) and refuge(abhaya) with two hands and holding divine lotuses in the other two. The petals of the lotus on which Sri Maha Lakshmi is seated is the source of the seven other powers She manifests when She confers blessings on Her devotees. The seven powers are personified as: Veera Lakshmi(for bravery); Dhana Lakshmi(for wealth); Santana Lakshmi (for progeny); Jaya Lakshmi (for victory); Dhanya Lakshmi(for grains or food); Dhairya Lakshmi(for courage); and Rajya Lakshmi(for kingdom or land). An accidental glance from Her eyes is enough to shower a devotee with all prosperity like: knowledge, wealth, health, progeny, cattle, land, grains, fame, nobility, success, longevity etc. This attribute of Sri Lakshmi is vividly illustrated in the touching story behind Adi Sankara's hymn Kanaka Dhara Stotram in praise of Sri Maha Lakshmi. Moved and inspired by the love with which a poor housewife fed Sankara with the only fruit she had in her house, Sankara composed this hymn appealing to Sri Maha Lakshmi to dispel poverty from that household. Immediately, Sri Maha Lakshmi literally showered that poverty-stricken househould with golden fruits thereby removing misery from their lives. Thus, by worshipping Sri Maha Lakshmi in Her eight-fold forms(Ashta Lakshmi) one receives Her infinite Grace and prospers in all spheres of his life. As the special event of this year, Sri Maha Vallabha Ganpati Devasthanam is pleased to organize Sri Maha Lakshmi Yajnam for the first time in our Temple. All devotees are encouraged to participate to this Yajnam and receive Her infinite Grace. Lakshmeem Ksherra Samudra Raja Tanayam Sri Ranga Dhameswareem Daseebhoota Samasta Deva Vanitam Lokaika Deepankuram I Sriman Manda Kataksha Labdha Vibhava Brahmendra Gangadharam Twam Trai Lokya Kutumbineem Sarasijam Vande Mukundapriyam II |
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