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She is the possessor of great beauty and
is depicted in standing as well as in the seated postures. She is however always
seen on a lotus. In her hands she holds two lotuses. In the avatarams of Lord
Vishnu, Lakshmi also took various forms to accompany him - Sita with Rama,
Rukmini with Krishna. Her four hands signify her power to grand the four
Purusharthas (ends of human life), Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama
(pleasures of the flesh) and Moksa (freedom).
Ashta Lakshmi are her eight forms which
are the commonly worshipped aspects. In each form, she bestows one form of
wealth to her devotees. There are not as many temples for Lakshmi as for Sakthi
(Parvathi), she is however worshipped in temples, more so in the north of India.
There are numerous poojas and festivals which are performed to invoke her
blessings.
Lakshmi is commonly represented as
Vishnu's wife. Lakshmi is widely represented as the goddess of wealth. Being,
the power and consort of Vishnu, the preserver, she is represented as the power
of multiplicity and the goddess of fortune.
Lakshmi is usually described as enchantingly beautiful and standing on a lotus
and holding a lotus in each of her two hands. It is because of this perhaps that
she is named as Padma or Kamala. She is also adorned with a lotus garland. Very
often elephants are shown on either side, emptying pitchers of water over her,
the pitchers being held by celestial maidens. Her color is variously described
as dark, pink, golden yellow or white. While in the company of Vishnu, she is
shown with two hands only.
When worshipped in a temple, she is shown seated on a lotus throne, with four
hands holding Padma (lotus) Sankha (conch) Amrtakalasa ( a pot of ambrosia) and
Bilva fruit.
If Lakshmi is pictured as dark in complexion, it is to show that she is the
consort of Vishnu, the dark god. If golden yellow, that shows her as the source
of all wealth. If white, she represents the purest form of prakti (nature) form
which the Universe had developed. The pinkish complexion which is more common,
reflects her compassion for creatures, since she is is the mother of all.
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