Laxmi: Goddess of Fortune Who Bestows Auspicious Prosperity

SKT. Lakṣmī(लक्ष्मी) | TIB. () | CH. 吉祥天女 | VIET. Cát Tường Thiên Nữ

Lakshmi (often referred to as Shri or Shri Lakshmi)
is the revered Indian goddess of wealth, abundance, beauty, and good fortune. While
primarily recognized as the consort of the Hindu god Vishnu, she has deep roots
in the Indian subcontinent, transcending sectarian boundaries to occupy an
honored place in early Buddhism and Jainism. Beyond her status in Hinduism,
Lakshmi holds a significant, albeit evolving, place in early Buddhist art and
cosmology, serving as a prototype for major Buddhist female deities such as
Tara and Vasudhara. Her presence signifies the "fount of all that crowns
human life with richness and enjoyment," including fertility, royal
sovereignty, and brilliance. : Depictions of Lakshmi at the Buddhist
stupa sites of Bharhut and Sanchi (3rd century BCE to 2nd century CE) are among
the earliest known artistic images of the goddess.

    Mythological Origins: The Churning of the Ocean


    One of the most spectacular legends regarding the birth of Lakshmi is her emergence from the Samudra Manthan, the Churning of the Cosmic Ocean.
    • The Search for Immortality: According to the Vishnu Purana, the gods (devas) and anti-gods (asuras) formed a temporary alliance to churn the primordial ocean of milk to recover the amrita (nectar of immortality) hidden within its depths.
    • The Emergence: As they churned the ocean using Mount Mandara as a rod and the serpent Vasuki as a rope, the waters turned into milk and then clarified butter (ghee). From this chaotic mixture, fourteen precious things emerged. Following the wish-fulfilling tree and the white elephant Airavata, the goddess Lakshmi rose from the waves.
    • Choosing a Consort: Upon her emergence, she was claimed by Vishnu as his wife, while the demons were left to fight over the goddess of wine, who emerged subsequently.
    Lakshmi in the Buddhist Tradition
    While the Hindu deity Lakshmi holds a significant place in Buddhist history and cosmology.
    • Prototype for Buddhist Goddesses: Art historians note that Lakshmi served as a prototype for major Buddhist goddesses. As the Mahayana movement grew, Lakshmi’s attributes were absorbed into Buddhist goddesses. Her emblem, the lotus, and her origin story (born from the water) parallel those of the Buddhist savior Tara, who is said to have been born from a lotus on a lake formed by Avalokiteshvara's tears. Additionally, Lakshmi's role as the "Lady of Abundance" was reborn in the Buddhist goddess Vasudhara, who is also golden in color and bestows wealth.
    • Guardian of the Faith: In the Golden Radiance Scripture (Suvarnabhasottama Sutra), a Mahayana text, Lakshmi is featured not merely as a wealth deity but as a protector of the Dharma. She vows to provide monks with clothing, medicine, and begging bowls, and to ensure that the countryside is filled with abundant crops so that the sutra may be promulgated.
    • The Fickle Goddess: In Pali Buddhist literature, such as the Siri Kalakanni Jataka, Lakshmi (as Siri) is portrayed as the goddess of fortune who favors the wise, dutiful, and virtuous, but abandons those who become proud or conceited.

    References

    • Appel, Michaela. "The Buddhist Goddess Vasudhara." Cultural Interface of India with Asia.
    • Beer, Robert. The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. Serindia Publications, 2003.
    • Bhattacharyya, Benoytosh. The Indian Buddhist Iconography.
    • Coomaraswamy, Ananda K. "Early Indian Iconography: II. Sri Laksmi." Eastern Art, 1929.
    • Shaw, Miranda. Buddhist Goddesses of India. Princeton University Press, 2006.
    • Wilson, H.H. The Vishnu Purana.
    • The Cult of Tara: Magic and Ritual in Tibet, (Relation to Vasudhara).

      Handmade statues of Laxmi