Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी)

Who is Lakshmi?

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, but in the older meaning of the word shri: prosperity, beauty, grace and good fortune, not only money. She is shown as a woman of golden colour standing on an open lotus, dressed in red, holding lotuses; her hand is open in blessing. Her presence is said to bring prosperity and her absence bring poverty.

Also known as

Shri, Padma, Kamala, Mahalakshmi

Family

Wife of Vishnu; born from the churning of the ocean of milk in the Puranas.

Symbols

Seated or standing on a lotus, holding lotuses, with gold coins pouring from her hand, often flanked by two elephants

Vehicle

The owl; sometimes the elephant

Known as

Goddess of wealth and good fortune

Stories

She rose from the ocean when the gods and demons churned it for the nectar of immortality, and she chose Vishnu as her husband. She is said to live where there is cleanliness, hard work and generosity, and to leave where there is quarrelling and laziness. In her avatars she was Sita for Rama, Rukmini for Krishna and Radha in some traditions.

Worship

Friday is her day. Shops and homes keep clean and light lamps for her; it is common to make rangoli at the door. The lotus, coins and sweet foods are offered.

Festivals

Diwali is her great festival: on Lakshmi Puja night, homes and shops are lit and the account books are worshipped. Sharad Purnima and Varalakshmi Vratam (in South India) are also kept for her.

Related

• Vishnu: The preserver
• Saraswati: Goddess of knowledge, music and the arts
• Sita: The ideal wife and daughter of the earth

All gods and goddesses · The ten avatars of Vishnu

Questions people ask

These pages describe traditions as they are told in the Puranas and in popular devotion. Practices differ between regions, communities and families, and your own family's custom comes first. This is not religious instruction.