Lakshmi
<p ><b>Lakshmi</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit" >Sanskrit</a>: <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%80" class="extiw" title="wikt:लक्ष्मी" >लक्ष्मी</a> <i>lakṣmī,</i> <small>Hindi pronunciation: </small><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Hindi_and_Urdu" title="Help:IPA for Hindi and Urdu" >[ˈləkʃmi]</a>) is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_goddess" title="Hindu goddess" class="mw-redirect" >Hindu goddess</a> of wealth, love, prosperity (both material and spiritual), fortune, and the embodiment of beauty. She is the wife and active energy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu" >Vishnu</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-sdas_1-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-sdas-1" >[1]</a></sup> Her four hands represent the four goals of human life considered proper in Hindu way of life – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma" title="Dharma" >dharma</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama" title="Kama" >kama</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artha" title="Artha" >artha</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moksha" title="Moksha" >moksha</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-2" >[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ttgov_3-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-ttgov-3" >[3]</a></sup> Representations of Lakshmi are also found in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism" title="Jainism" >Jain</a> monuments. In Buddhist sects of Tibet, Nepal and southeast Asia, goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasudhara" title="Vasudhara" >Vasudhara</a> mirrors the characteristics and attributes of Hindu goddess Lakshmi, with minor iconographic differences.<sup id="cite_ref-miranda_4-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-miranda-4" >[4]</a></sup>
Lakshmi is also called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri" title="Sri" >Sri</a><sup id="cite_ref-mmwlak_5-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-mmwlak-5" >[5]</a></sup> or <i>Thirumagal</i> because she is endowed with six auspicious and divine qualities, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guna" title="Guna" class="mw-redirect" >Gunas</a>, and also because she is the source of strength even to Vishnu. When Vishnu incarnated on the Earth as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar" title="Avatar" >avatars</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama" title="Rama" >Rama</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna" title="Krishna" >Krishna</a>, Lakshmi took incarnation as his consort. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sita" title="Sita" >Sita</a> (Rama's wife),<sup id="cite_ref-mmwlak_5-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-mmwlak-5" >[5]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radha" title="Radha" >Radha</a> (Krishna's lover),<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-6" >[6]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-7" >[7]</a></sup> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rukmini" title="Rukmini" >Rukmini</a> and Satyabama are considered forms of Lakshmi.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-8" >[8]</a></sup> In ancient scriptures of India, all women are declared to be embodiments of Lakshmi.<sup id="cite_ref-rhodes_9-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-rhodes-9" >[9]</a></sup> The marriage and relationship between Lakshmi and Vishnu as wife and husband, states Patricia Monaghan, is "the paradigm for rituals and ceremonies for the bride and groom in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_wedding" title="Hindu wedding" >Hindu weddings</a>".<sup id="cite_ref-monaghan_10-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-monaghan-10" >[10]</a></sup>
Archeological discoveries and ancient coins suggest the recognition and reverence for goddess Lakshmi, in Scytho-Parthian kingdom and throughout India, by 1st millennium BC.<sup id="cite_ref-usingh_11-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-usingh-11" >[11]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ashav_12-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-ashav-12" >[12]</a></sup> Lakshmi's iconography and statues have also been found in Hindu temples of southeast Asia, estimated to be from second half of 1st millennium AD.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-13" >[13]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-14" >[14]</a></sup>
In modern times, Lakshmi is worshipped as the goddess of wealth. She is also worshipped as the consort of Vishnu in many temples. The festivals of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali" title="Diwali" >Diwali</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharad_Purnima" title="Sharad Purnima" >Sharad Purnima</a> (Kojagiri Purnima) are celebrated in her honour.<sup id="cite_ref-joneskoja_15-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi#cite_note-joneskoja-15" >[15]</a></sup></p>