Goddess Mahalakshmi

Maa Lakshmi is one of the most important Goddess as per Hindu Mythology. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu and is worshipped by one and all. Ichnographically, she is seen either in sitting or standing posture on top of a lotus. She has four arms which represent the four major goals that human beings must obtain- dharma, artha, kama and moksha. She also carries a lotus in one of her hands which symbolizes purity and reality of life.

Legends

There are various legends which unfolds the story of the birth of Goddess Lakshmi Devi.As per one of the ancient purana's, is it said that Maa Lakshmi was the daughter of Sage Bhrigu and Kyaati. There is another legend based on Vishnu Purana. Here the story goes like this. Long back when the universe was being created by churning together the milk of oceans ( which was done with the combined effort of devtas and demons), a lotus was found floating amidst the middle of the ocean. From there the profound Goddess Lakshmi arose. She was given a choice to select the category she wanted to support and she chose the devtas. Thereafter, she also selected Lord Vishnu amongst all the Gods and hence became his wife later on. There is yet another legend which is slightly different from the aforementioned ones. Long back there was a time when the boon of immortality could be gained only by churning a pious ocean called the Kshirsagar. This milk of oceans was churned by both the devtas and the demons, with devtas present on one side of the ocean and demons occupying the other side. During the churning process, Goddess Lakshmi appeared from the sea and since then has been considered as the daughter of sea God. Further, she was floating on a lotus and has been worshipped in the same form thereafter

Significant temples

Some of the famous temples which are dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi are ChhatrapurMandir which is located in the Qutubminar region of New Delhi, Chaurasi temple which is situated in the Chambal valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Sripuran Golden temple located in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. One of the largest temples of Lakshmi Devi is situated in Mumbai which is known as the Mha Lakshmi temple. This is known for its magnificent architecture which is mesmerizing and hence attracts devotees as well as tourists to this spot.

Significant pujas

The most significant Lakshmi Maa puja is held in the occasion of Deepavali every year. Here Goddess Lakshi is worshiped along with Lord Ganesh. Goddess Lakshmi is a symbol of removing darkness with light and bestows her devotees with wealth, knowledge and wisdom. All the rituals are performed including offerings and signing chants in the aarti of MaaLaskshmi. It is considered to be one of the biggest and joyful festivals in India. Gaja Lakshmi Puja is another important puja which is held on the eve of SharadPurnima. Basically, this falls in the months of monsoons where the Goddess is thanked and worshipped for the harvests.