Lakshmi
Shri
Hindu Living tradition
Wealth Fortune Beauty Prosperity
Hinduism is a living religion. These goddesses are worshipped today, and their festivals are celebrated by millions.
Goddess of wealth, good fortune and prosperity, and consort of Vishnu.
Lakshmi rose from the Ocean of Milk when the gods and asuras churned it for the nectar of immortality. She is shown seated or standing on a lotus, often with elephants pouring water over her. Homes are lit with lamps to welcome her during Diwali.
Symbols
In the ancient sources
Vedas and Puranas
- hastināda-pramodinī
- “delighted by the trumpeting of elephants” Shri Sukta 3
- Shatapatha Brahmana 11.4.3 Shri comes forth from the creator Prajapati, shining; the gods covet her and take away her ten powers, which she wins back through an offering.
- Shri Sukta A hymn added to the Rigveda calls on golden, lotus-dwelling Shri to bring prosperity and drive away misfortune.
- Vishnu Purana 1.9 From the churned Ocean of Milk, Shri rises seated on a lotus; the elephants of the sky bathe her with water from golden vases, and she goes to Vishnu's breast.
In the oldest texts Shri and Lakshmi are sometimes named as two goddesses (Vajasaneyi Samhita 31.22); they merged into one goddess later.
Cross-checked against these texts and records, in public-domain or freely available versions where they exist. Line, section and chapter numbers follow the standard editions, so a particular translation may differ slightly.
Correspondences Explore all
These come from the tradition itself, and practice differs between regions, lineages and houses. To go deeper, learn from the people and communities who keep this tradition.