Ashta Lakshmi


Ashta Lakshmi or Ashtalakshmi are a group of eight manifestations of Devi Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. She presides over eight sources of wealth: "Wealth" in the context of Ashta-Lakshmi means prosperity, fertility, good fortune or good luck, good health, knowledge, strength, progeny and power.
The Ashta Lakshmi are always depicted and worshipped in a group in temples.

Etymology and Iconography

The prayer "Shri Ashta Lakshmi Stotram" lists all of the Ashta Lakshmi's in which all of the Ashta Lakshmi's are depicted as seated on a lotus.

Adi/Maha Lakshmi

Adi Lakshmi or Maha Lakshmi is an ancient form of Lakshmi.
She is depicted as four-armed, carrying a lotus and a white flag, other two arms in Abhaya mudra and varada mudra.
'Adi' means source.Adi Laxmi is the divine principle as wealth that supports a seeker to reach at their source i.e.'atman' or consciousness.If one individual posseeses AdiLaxmi,they can effortlessly delve deep into dhyana and realize the state of absolute silence, bliss and peace. Without AdiLaxmi a seeker fails to quieten their wavering and chattering mind.Out of all eight laxmis this particular aspect is responsible for furthering of spiritual wealth.

Dhana Lakshmi

Dhana Lakshmi, is the goddess of wealth.
Goddess Dhana Lakshmi is Six-armed, in red garments, carries chakra, shankha, kalasha or Amrita kumbha, bow-arrow, a lotus and an arm in abhaya mudra with gold coins falling from it.

Dhanya Lakshmi

Dhanya Lakshmi is the goddess of agricultural wealth.
She is depicted as eight-armed, in green garments, carrying two lotuses, gada, paddy crop, sugarcane, bananas, and her two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.Dhanya Laxmi is also the principle of wealth that provides the ability to consume or to indulge.If a person possesses Dhanya Laxmi, they will have the fortune to enjoy the worldly pleasures.

Gaja Lakshmi

Gaja Lakshmi is the giver of animal wealth or the giver of power of royalty, as interpreted by Swami Chidananda.
According to Hindu mythology, Gaja Lakshmi brought back the wealth lost by Indra from the ocean. Vasudha Narayanan interpreted the name as "one who is worshipped by elephants".
She is depicted as four-armed, in red garments, carrying two lotuses, other two arms in abhaya mudra and varada mudra, surrounded by two elephants bathing her with water pots.

Santana Lakshmi

Santana Lakshmi is the goddess of bestowing offspring.
She is depicted as six-armed, carrying two kalashas, sword, shield, a child on her lap, a hand in abhaya mudra and the other holding the child. Her sword and shield symbolises a mother's ability to even kill someone to save her own child. The child holds a lotus.

Veera/Dhairya Lakshmi

Veera Lakshmi or Dhairya Lakshmi is the goddess who bestows valour during battles and courage plus strength for overcoming difficulties in life.
She is depicted as eight-armed, in red garments, carrying a chakra, shankh, bow, arrow, trishul, a bundle of palm leaf scriptures, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra. she is the one who took the avtar of Durga

Jaya/Vijaya Lakshmi

Vijaya Lakshmi or Jaya Lakshmi is the goddess and the giver of victory, not only in battles but also for conquering hurdles in order to achieve success.
She is depicted as eight-armed, in red garments, carrying the chakra, shankh, sword, shield, lotus, pasha, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.

Vidya Lakshmi

Vidya Lakshmi is the goddess and the bestower of knowledge of arts and sciences. She is dressed in a white saree and has a resemblance to the goddess Saraswati. She holds a book of vedas, a peacock feather as a pen, vard mudra and abhay mudra.

Additional Forms

In some Ashta Lakshmi lists, other forms of Lakshmi are included,
  1. Aishwarya Lakshmi : Goddess of riches only form of Lakshmi Goddess which mounts horse. She generally replaces Vidhya Lakshmi from the Astalakshmi list.
  2. Saubhagya Lakshmi : Giver of prosperity in general.
  3. Rajya Lakshmi : "She who blesses rulers "
  4. Vara Lakshmi : "The goddess who bestows boons".

    Rise and Worship

The rise in popularity of the Ashta Lakshmi can be linked with the rising popularity of the Ashta Lakshmi Strotam.
Around the 1970s, a leading Sri Vaishnava theologian, Sri U. Ve. Vidvan Mukkur Srinivasavaradacariyar Svamikal, published a poem called Ashta Lakshmi Strotam dedicated to the eight Lakshmis. Narayanan comments,
The Ashta Lakshmi are now widely worshipped both by Sri Vaishnava and other Hindu communities in South India. Occasionally, the Ashta Lakshmi are depicted together in shrines or in "framing pictures" within an overall design and are worshipped by votaries of Lakshmi who worship her in her various manifestations. In addition to emergence of Ashta Lakshmi temples since the 1970s, traditional silver articles used in home worship as well as decorative jars now appear with the Ashta Lakshmi group molded on their sides.
Books, popular prayers manuals, pamphlets sold outside temples in South India; ritual worship and "a burgeoning audiocassette market" are also popularizing these eight forms of Lakshmi.

Temples