Ashtalakshmi: Names And Significance Of The Eight Forms Of Goddess Lakshmi

Ashtalakshmi:  Goddess Lakshmi is the divine goddess in Hinduism associated with wealth and prosperity. These two factors are vital for everyone's existence. Goddess Lakshmi is attributed with a variety of qualities, including good fortune, abundance, affection, and happiness. Along with Mother Parvati and Mother Saraswati, she is an important part of the Tridevi (trinity) of Hinduism's fundamental goddesses. Few people are aware that the goddess Lakshmi manifests her grace in eight varied forms. Every form has a different name. Ashtalakshmi is the collective term for all of these names.

Ashtalakshmi: 8 Sacred Forms Of Goddess Lakshmi And Their Significance 

1. Adi Lakshmi

Adi Lakshmi, also known as Maha Lakshmi, is an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi as the young daughter of the sage Bhrigu. She represents unending wealth and prosperity. Goddess of endless existence, "Adi" denotes neither beginning nor end. Adi Lakshmi represents the goddess' eternal nature. She is without beginning or end.

Representation - The four-armed goddess Adi Lakshmi holds a lotus and a white flag while holding her other two arms in the Abhaya and Varada mudras.

2. Dhana Lakshmi 

Vaibhav Lakshmi is another name for Dhana Lakshmi. The terms "Dhan" and "Vaibhav" denote money, fortune, and gain. It is how we often view and comprehend riches. This wealth is crucial for everybody who wants to lead a wealthy and fulfilling life. However, according to the Purush Shukta of the Rigved, Dhana is more than just money and material wealth. Even the sun, moon, fire, stars, rain, nature, mountains, rivers, and streams are all part of our wealth, along with our offspring, inner strength, moral character, and virtues. The Dhana Lakshmi form of the goddess grants all this in abundance. 

Representation - Goddess Dhana Lakshmi has six arms, wears red clothing, and carries a chakra (discus), a Shankha (conch), a Kalash (water jug with mango leaves and a coconut on top of it) and an Amrita Kumbh (a pitcher with the elixir of life, Amrita), a bow-arrow, a lotus, and an arm in the abhaya mudra with gold coins dropping from it.

3. Dhanya Lakshmi

Dhanya Lakshmi bestows agricultural prosperity. "Dhanya" means grain and refers to wealth in food, nutrition, and health. Our most fundamental and significant wealth is food. An abundance of food that keeps us fed and healthy indicates that we are wealthy. She is the Devi who bestows prosperity and harvest success as the Goddess of the Harvest. One receives all necessary nutrients from grains, fruits, vegetables, and other foods with the blessings of Mother Dhanya  Lakshmi. 

Representation - Eight-armed Goddess Dhanya Lakshmi wears green clothing, has eight arms, and is depicted carrying two lotuses, a gada (mace), a paddy crop, sugarcane, and bananas with her other two hands in the abhaya and varada mudras.

Also Read: 31 Auspicious Names Of Goddess Lakshmi With Meaning To Revere The Devi Of Fortune

4. Gaja Lakshmi

Cattle are among the wealth that Gaja Lakshmi bestows upon her devotees. Gaja Lakshmi is known as the source of royal authority. According to the Hindu scriptures, Gaja Lakshmi recovered the wealth that Indra, the king of the demi-gods, had lost in the ocean.

Representation - Four-armed Goddess Gaja Lakshmi, dressed in red, is encircled by two elephants who are giving her a bath with water pots. She is also carrying two lotuses on her two other arms, which are in the abhaya and varada mudras.

5. Santan Lakshmi

It is Santana Lakshmi who provides children. "Santan" refers to children. Those who worship Mother Santan Lakshmi, a special manifestation of Sri Lakshmi, are blessed with goddess Lakshmi's favour and enjoy prosperity in the form of desired children who are healthy and live long and prosperous lives.

Representation - Goddess Santana Lakshmi has six arms, a baby on her lap, a sword, a shield, two kalashas (water jugs with mango leaves and a coconut on them), and an abhaya mudra in one hand while holding the child in the other. The child sitting on her lap holds a lotus. 

6. Dhairya Lakshmi

"Dhairya" denotes patience and also refers to the wealth of patience, strategy, forethought, and objective. It represents the significance of strategy and planning in all of our actions so that we may move cautiously and consistently hit our goals. This manifestation of Mother Lakshmi bestows the blessing of limitless bravery and strength. Worshippers of Mother Dhairya Lakshmi exhibit great patience and inner stability in their daily lives. 

Representation - Goddess Dhairya Lakshmi possesses 8 hands, each of which has a sword, conch, bow-arrow, Trishul, and pot. She is sitting on a beautiful pink lotus with her hands in abhya and varada mudra. 

7.  Vidya Lakshmi

The giver of knowledge in the arts and sciences is Vidya Lakshmi. Knowledge: "Vidya" is the Sanskrit word for knowledge. Knowing something means having a variety of talents. By worshipping Vidya Lakshmi, one can enjoy the abundant wealth of knowledge. 

Representation - Four-armed Vidya Lakshmi is seated on a pink lotus with a white elephant perched on her right side. She has two lotuses in her backhands and a kalash with a coconut in her left hand in the front. Her right hand is in the abhya mudra from which coins are flowing. 

8. Vijay Lakshmi

Vijaya Lakshmi, also known as Jaya Lakshmi, is the goddess who bestows success, both in war and when overcoming obstacles to achieve success. "Vijay" signifies victory and also denotes wealth of triumph, endurance, courage, and confidence. This goddess stands for the abundance of bravery, self-assurance, fearlessness, and success. Our character is strengthened by this richness, which also helps us continue on our life's journey effectively.

Representation - Eight-armed Goddess Vijaya Lakshmi wears red clothing and carries a chakra, shankh, sword, shield, lotus, and pasha with her other two hands in the abhaya and varada mudras.