Mother Lakshmi is worshiped in 8 forms as Ashtalakshmi. What is special about 8?
Sage Parasara said,
de:vyaha sahasram thattha:
Mother Lakshmi emerges in thousands of divine forms to ensure Lord Narayana’s grace is not blocked by our sins when we approach Him for grace.
However, prior to approaching God for His grace for ultimate liberation from this samsara (ego driven life), we all want our ‘needs’/’greeds’ in the current life to be fulfilled. Mother makes Herself accessible to satisfy our ‘needs’/’greeds’ in a number of ways. Analogous to how 84 lakh species of pra:nis are categorized broadly into 4 types as de:va [divine energies], manushya [human beings], thiryak [horizontally moving creatures], sttha:vara [immovable], Her innumerable forms are classified into 8 groups as 8 forms [Maha Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi].
Lord Narayana is identified by Mother Lakshmi’s presence.
- Mother Lakshmi in the form of Sridevi is the personified form of the divine quality ka:runya, compassion that convinces Lord to forgive sinful deeds of those who approach Him.
- The same Mother Lakshmi in the form of Bhudevi is the personified form of the divine quality sahanam, tolerance that encourages Lord to perceive sins as non-sins.
- The same Mother Lakshmi in the form of Neeladevi is the personified form of the divine quality andam, beauty that captivates Lord so His eye does not even look at one’s sins.
Mother Lakshmi thus surrounds Him in various forms all throughout for our sake, to ensure we are protected and liberated from all the miseries! This representation is a visual means to deliver the nature of the supreme thatthva as a union of two great qualities, compassion and supremacy.
Celebrating the Divine Union, sa:nthi kalya:nam of Lord and Mother Lakshmi…
– From the discourse of HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– 21st April 2022, Vijaya Kiladri, Ashtalakshmi Aalaya Prathishta
– Santhi Kalyanam
Jai Srimannarayana.