Prachi Prajna (Jun 2023)
The Image Worship of Lakṣmī in Ancient Indian Iconography
Abstract
Indian Lakṣmī or Śrī Lakṣmī is the goddess of fortune, abundance and agricultural affluence. Lakṣmī is also the Universal Mother goddess as indicated by her designation Mā or Śrī-Mā. Later, she came to be considered by the Hindus as a consort of Viṣṇu and was inspired by the Ardhanārīśvara images. In the first place, Vedic literature testifies that Śrī or Lakṣmī was an abstract idea symbolizing beauty; but later on, we find her as a beautiful goddess absorbing in her personality some of the attributes of the mother goddess common to all ancient civilizations from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. Śrī or Lakṣmī the Goddess of Fortune and abundance has been regarded as a popular divinity with the masses, who belonged to the Brāhmanical pantheon from the very ancient days and various Dhyānas and systems of worshipping her have gradually evolved from the late Vedic period onwards. As fortune and abundance of wealth were and still are closely associated with every man, the worshipping of this deity began to be widespread first amongst the Hindu community and even now she is worshipped in every house for the prosperity and welfare of the whole family.
