Deities Eight divine forms of Goddess Lakshmi
• Aadi-Lakshmi or "Primeval Lakshmi" a.k.a. Maha-Lakshmi or "The Great
Lakshmi," as the name suggests, is a primeval form of Goddess Lakshmi,
• Aadi-Lakshmi is often depicted as the consort of Narayana living with him at
his home in Vaikuntha, or sometimes seen as sitting in his lap, and her
serving of Lord Narayana is symbolic of her serving the entire universe.
• She is portrayed as four-armed, holding a lotus and a white flag in her two
hands, while the other two are in Abhaya Mudra and Varada Mudra.
• Variously known as Ramaa or the bestower of happiness, and Indira,
holding close to her heart the lotus, a symbol of purity, Aadi-Lakshmi is the
first of the eight forms of Lakshmi called the Ashta-Lakshmi.
• Dhana-Lakshmi: Dhana means wealth in the form of
money or gold; at an intangible level it may even mean
inner strength, will power, talent, virtues and
character.
• So, Dhana-Lakshmi represents this aspect of the
human world, and with her divine grace, we can get an
abundance of wealth and prosperity.
• This form of Goddess Lakshmi is portrayed as sixarmed, wearing a red sari, and holding in her five
hands a discus, a conch, the holy pitcher, bow and
arrow, and a lotus while the sixth arm is in Abhaya
Mudra with gold coins rolling from her palm.
Deities Eight divine forms of Goddess Lakshmi
Dhanya-Lakshmi
• Third form is Dhaanya-Lakshmi is named after "Dhanya" or
food grains - full of natural nutrients and minerals required
for a healthy body and mind.
• Dhanya-Lakshmi is the giver of agricultural wealth and, on
the other, the all-important nourishment for human beings.
With her divine grace, one can be ensure abundance of
foods - all year round.
• Dhanya-Lakshmi is shown as having eight hands adorning
green garments, and carrying two lotuses, a mace, a sheaf
of paddy, sugarcane, and bananas, while the other two
hands are in abhayamudra (indicates a gesture of
fearlessness and a gesture of reassurance and safety, which
dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss. The
right hand is held upright, and the palm is facing outwards)
and varadamudra (indicates a gesture by the hand and
symbolizes dispensing of boons. The right hand is used. It is
held out, with palm uppermost and the fingers pointing
downwards).
• Gaja-Lakshmi or "Elephant Lakshmi," who was born out of
the churning of the ocean - the fabled Samudra Manthan of
Hindu mythology, is the daughter of the ocean.
• Myths have it that Gaja-Lakshmi helped Lord Indra regain
his lost wealth from the depth of the ocean.
• This form of Goddess Lakshmi is the bestower and
protector of wealth, prosperity, grace, abundance and
royalty.
• Gaja-Lakshmi is depicted as a beautiful goddess flanked by
two elephants bathing her with water pots as she sits on a
lotus four-armed, wearing red garments, and holding two
lotuses, the other two arms being in abhaya and varada
mudra.
Deities Eight divine forms of Goddess Lakshmi
• Santana-Lakshmi: This form of Lakshmi as the name
suggests (Santāna = offspings) is the Goddess of
progeny, the treasure of the family life.
• Worshipers of Santana Lakshmi are bestowed with
the wealth of good children possessing with good
health and a long life.
• This form of Goddess Lakshmi is depicted as sixarmed, holding two pitchers, a sword, and a shield;
the other two hands are engaged in abhaya mudra
and most importantly, for holding a child on her lap;
the child is seen holding a lotus.
• Veera-Lakshmi: As the names suggests (Veera = valor
or courage), this form of Goddess Lakshmi is the
bestower of courage and strength, and power.
• Veera-Lakshmi is worshiped to gain valor and strength
to overpower formidable adversaries in war or simply
overcome the difficulties of life, and lead a life of
stability.
• She is depicted as eight-armed, wearing red garments,
and carrying a discus, a conch, a bow, an arrow, a
trident or sword, a gold bar or sometimes a book; the
other two hands are in abhaya and varada mudra.
Deities Eight divine forms of Goddess Lakshmi
• Vidya-Lakshmi: This form of Lakshmi means
knowledge as well as education, not just degrees or
diplomas from the university, but real all-round
education.
• This form of Goddess Lakshmi is the giver of
knowledge of the arts and sciences.
• Vidya Lakshmi is depicted as sitting on the lotus, fourarmed, wearing a white sari, and carrying two lotuses
on both hands, other two hands being in abhaya and
varada mudra.
• Vijaya-Lakshmi: Vijaya means victory.
• This form of Goddess Lakshmi symbolizes victory in all
aspects of life - not just in war but also in life's
struggles and our little battles.
• Vijaya-Lakshmi is worshipped to ensure all-round
victory in every aspect of life.
• Also known as 'Jaya' Lakshmi, she is shown as having
eight arms sitting on a lotus wearing a red sari, and
carrying a a discus, a conch, a sword, a shield, a noose,
and a lotus, other two hands being in abhaya and
varada mudra.
Deities Ganesha — the elephant-deity riding a mouse
• The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big
ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being.
• He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of
education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.
• Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four)
whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.
• Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human
existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant
head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality.
• In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal
path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to
capture all difficulties.
• The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower
right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing
the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests
that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous.
• The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one
must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears
convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that
runs round his waist represents energy in all forms and he
is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.
Deities Skanda
• Skanda also known as Murugan, Kartikeya,
Kumaran, Kumara Swami and Subramaniya, is the
Hindu god of war.
• Hindu god of war who was the firstborn son of Shiva.
The many legends giving the circumstances of his
birth are often at variance with one another.
• He is also considered the Commander-in-Chief of the
army of the devas and the son of Shiva and Parvati.
• Skanda (Tamil Murukaṉ) is often referred to as Tamiḻ
kaṭavuḷ ("god of the Tamils") and is worshiped
primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially
South India.
• Skanda is often represented in sculpture with either six
heads or one, holding a spear or bow and arrows, and
either riding on or accompanied by his mount, the
peacock
Deities Surya
• He is thought to be Sun and the Sun god in Vedic tradition.
• Surya was once ranked along with Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, and Ganesha, and
many temples dedicated to him are found throughout India.
• Those five deities are worshipped by the Smartas.
• Surya is the mythological father of many notable sons, including Manu
(progenitor of the human race), Yama (god of the dead), the Ashvins (twin
physicians to the gods), Karna (a great warrior in the Mahabharata), and Sugriva
(king of the monkeys in the Ramayana).
• The Puranas (collections of Hindu myths and legends) record that the weapons of the gods were forged from
pieces trimmed from Surya, whose full emanation was too bright to bear. His power was conceived of as dispelling
darkness, curing disease, and heating and illuminating the world.
• He is commonly represented in a chariot drawn by seven horses or by a single horse with seven heads, holding fullblown lotuses, his head surrounded by a nimbus or by rays.
• One of the most splendid temples dedicated to Surya is the 13th-century Surya Deula (“Sun Temple”), once called
the Black Pagoda, at Konark, in Odisha. There the whole structure is conceived as a chariot on wheels in which the
Sun god rides across the heavens pulled by prancing horses.
Deities Kali
• Kali is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess Durga.
• Kali is represented with perhaps the fiercest features amongst all
the world's deities. She has four arms, with a sword in one hand
and the head of a demon in another. The other two hands bless her
worshippers, and say, "fear not"!
• She has two dead heads for her earrings, a string of skulls as
necklace, and a girdle made of human hands as her clothing. Her
tongue protrudes from her mouth, her eyes are red, and her face
and breasts are sullied with blood. She stands with one foot on the
thigh, and another on the chest of her husband, Shiva.
• Kali's proximity to cremation grounds where the five elements or
"Pancha Mahabhuta" come together, and all worldly attachments
are absolved, again point to the cycle of birth and death.
• The reclined Shiva lying prostrate under the feet of Kali suggests
that without the power of Kali (Shakti), Shiva is inert.