Lakshmi

About Lakshmi

Lakshmi rose from the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk, which is why her hymns name her Kshirabdi-tanaya — daughter of that ocean. The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam from the Padma Purana shows a side most people miss: she rides Garuda, wields Vishnu's conch, disc and mace, and kills the demon Kolhasura herself. At Sri Rangam in Tamil Nadu she is worshipped as Thayar, the household mother of the three worlds. Devotees count her eight forms — Ashta Lakshmi — governing wealth, grain, courage, victory, children and learning. On Dhanteras and Diwali Amavasya, families chant her seed syllable Shreem alongside Kubera, the yaksha treasurer, to invite her across a lit threshold.