Guest guest Posted September 30, 2003 Report Share Posted September 30, 2003 To many Hindus (especially Northern Indians), Laksmi is misconceived as the Goddess of Fortune/ Wealth. The following write up should clarify the position of Goddess Laksmi from the Srivaisnava perspective In Srivaisnava theology, the One Supreme Reality expresses His will to redeem by having a dual Spiritual Form – Narayana and Sri – these 2 aspects are philosophically inseparable but functionally distinct. Laksmi is related to Narayana as the fragrance is to the flower. Narayana is the Supreme Reality; Sri His eternal consort resides within His heart as the embodiment of Saving Grace. She ensures that the reign of righteousness is tempered by redemptive mercy. The Lord dispenses justice in accordance with the merit and demerit of the jiva and Sri is entirely dependent on the Lord, but through Her Beauty and Grace She captivates the Lord and transform His desire for Justice (nigraha sakti ) into redemptive Grace (anugraha sakti) She acts as a mediatrix between the Lord and the souls. Lord Sriman Narayana is innately gracious but His Grace is an initial grace called krpa, which is common to all beings. By virtue of this grace one is impelled to seek refuge in the lord and become a devotee. The Grace of Sri is specific grace called prasada. It’s the saving grace: the action of condescension of the Divine into the realm of beings which permits the jivas to be released. The great Srivaisnava acaryan, Vedanta Desikan finds all this potentials for salvation in the very name of the Divine Mother. He derives 6 different meanings from the name Sri 1) sriyate – She who is resorted to by the jivas 2) srayate – She who resorts to the Lord 3) srnoti – She who listens to prayers 4) sravayati – She who causes the Lord to listen 5) srnati – She who removes the past karma faults and hindrance in the way of the spiritual aspirant 6) srinati – She who prepares the jivas for liberation Goddess Sri accompanies the Lord during all His incarnations and is constantly mediating with the Lord on behalf of the erring jivas. The Ramayana is considered the scripture of Redemption par excellence. There are countless examples of how Mother Sita remonstrates with Lord Rama for the welfare of the jivas. YRD Hari Om Tat Sat Reference - The Handbook of Srivaisnavism by Sri Rama Ramanuja Acarya (Sydney) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2003 Report Share Posted October 12, 2003 sri: I have to agree that the presentation of lakshmi as " wealth goddess" is a later day development.The Vedic scriptures such as Sri Suktham describ in detail the qualities of Lakshmi.Wealth is of many types and not necessarily money.THe explaination given here is 100% in accordance with the scriptures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2003 Report Share Posted October 13, 2003 very good info. thanks. jai sri krishna! -madhav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2003 Report Share Posted October 14, 2003 Are you sure that you haven't been a Catholic in one of your last lives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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