dailydeitylove-blog

[dailydeitylove-blog]

Goddess Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. The word ''Lakshmi'' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksme, meaning "goal." Lakshmi, therefore, represents the goal of life, which includes worldly as well as spiritual prosperity.

Call on her chanting the following mantra: Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalakshmaye Swaha

Pronounced: Om shreem mah-hah lahk-shmee-yay swah-hah

Meaning: “Om and salutations to she who manifests every kind of abundance.”

In her images and pictures, Lakshmi is depicted in a female form with four arms and four hands. She wears red clothes with a golden lining and is standing on a lotus. She has golden coins and lotuses in her hands. Two elephants (some pictures show four) are shown next to the Goddess. This symbolism conveys the following spiritual theme:

The four arms represent the four directions in space and thus symbolize omnipresence and omnipotence of the Goddess. The red color symbolises activity. The golden lining (embroidery) on her red dress denotes prosperity. The idea conveyed here is that the Goddess is always busy distributing wealth and prosperity to the devotees. The lotus seat, which Lakshmi is standing upon, signifies that while living in this world, one should enjoy its wealth, but not become obsessed with it. Such a living is analogous to a lotus that grows in water but is not wetted by water.

The four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma (righteousness), kama (genuine desires), artha (wealth), and moksha (liberation from birth and death). The front hands represent the activity in the physical world and the back hands indicate the spiritual activities that lead to spiritual perfection.

Since the right side of the body symbolizes activity, a lotus in the back right hand conveys the idea that one must perform all duties in the world in accordance with dharma. This leads to moksha (liberation), which is symbolized by a lotus in the back left hand of Lakshmi. The golden coins falling on the ground from the front left hand of Lakshmi illustrate that She provides wealth and prosperity to Her devotees. Her front right hand is shown bestowing blessings upon the devotees.

The two elephants standing next to the Goddess symbolize the name and fame associated with worldly wealth. The idea conveyed here is that a true devotee should not earn wealth merely to acquire name and fame or only to satisfy his own material desires, but should share it with others in order to bring happiness to others in addition to himself.

Some pictures show four elephants spraying water from golden vessels onto Goddess Lakshmi. The four elephants represent the four ends of human life as discussed above. The spraying of water denotes activity. The golden vessels denote wisdom and purity. The four elephants spraying water from the golden vessels on the Goddess illustrate the theme that continuous self-effort, in accordance with one's dharma and govemed by wisdom and purity, leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

May the Goddess Lakshmi bless you with wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual.

[dailydeitylove-blog]

Lord Ganesha

Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and his Shakti Goddess – Parvati. He is the God of Wisdom, Knowledge, Harmony, and Bliss, as well as being the Remover of Obstacles. He is revered at the beginning of all ceremonies and rituals in deference to his creation of new beginnings.

Call on him by chanting the Mantra: Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha

Pronounced: Om Guhm Guh-nuh-puh-tuh-yea Nah-mah-hah

Meaning: “Om Salutations and Prostrations to Lord Ganesh”

Story of Ganesha: One day, Goddess Parvathi, the wife of Lord Shiva, was getting ready for her bath and needed someone to guard her chamber. Therefore she made a beautiful, young boy from the sandalwood from her body. She gave him life by sprinkling the Holy Ganges water on him and entrusted him with guarding the door. While she was away, Lord Shiva returned and was surprised to find a little boy standing at the entrance to his wife’s chamber. When he tried to enter, the boy blocked his path. “Who are you and why are you blocking my path?" demanded Lord Shiva. “No one enters my mother’s chamber", declared the boy boldly. Taken aback, Lord Shiva replied, “Step away; I have the right to enter my wife’s chamber." But the young and courageous boy did not move but stood his ground. Not knowing that this was his own son, Lord Shiva who was quick to anger grew enraged. Not used to be disobeyed he cut off the boy’s head. Goddess Parvathi on returning from her bath saw her son lying dead and was overcome with grief. She was filled with both anger and sorrow. Seeing this Lord Shiva sent his soldiers to fetch the head of the first beast that they saw. The men rushed and finally came upon an elephant. They immediately took the head to Lord Shiva, who quickly attached it onto the body of the slain boy and gave him life once again. To further appease his grief-stricken wife he promised that her son would be worshipped first, before all other Gods.

May the Wisdom, Knowledge, Harmony, and Bliss of Lord Ganesha prevail in your life today, removing any obstacles blocking your way.