Maa Ashtalakshmi Maa

Ashtalakshmi are a group of eight manifestations of Devi Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. She presides over eight sources of wealth: "Wealth" in the context of Ashta-Lakshmi means prosperity, good health, knowledge, strength, progeny, and power.

The prayer "Shri Ashta Lakshmi Stotram" lists all of the Ashta Lakshmi's in which all of the Ashta Lakshmi's are depicted as seated on a lotus.

Adi/Maha Lakshmi

Adi Lakshmi

Adi Lakshmi or Maha Lakshmi ("Primeval Lakshmi" or "Great Lakshmi") is an ancient form of Lakshmi. She is an incarnation of Lakshmi as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu.
She is depicted as four-armed, carrying a lotus and a white flag, other two arms in Abhaya mudra and varada mudra.

Dhana Lakshmi

Dhana Lakshmi ("Money Lakshmi"), is the goddess of wealth.
She is depicted as four-armed, in red garments, and carrying a chakra (discus), shankha (conch), kalasha (water pitcher with mango leaves and a coconut on top) or Amrita kumbha (a pitcher containing the elixir of life), bow and arrow, a lotus and her arm in abhaya mudra with wealth in the form of gold raining down from it.

Dhanya Lakshmi

Dhanya Lakshmi ("Grain Lakshmi") is the goddess of agricultural wealth.
She is depicted as eight-armed, in green garments, carrying two lotuses, gada (mace), paddy crop, sugarcane, bananas, and her two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.

Gaja Lakshmi

Gaja Lakshmi ("Elephant Lakshmi") is the giver of animal wealth (such as cattle) or the giver of power of royalty, as interpreted by Swami Chidananda.
According to Hindu mythology, Gaja Lakshmi brought back the wealth lost by Indra (king of demi-gods) from the ocean. Vasudha Narayanan interpreted the name as "one who is worshipped by elephants".
She is depicted as four-armed, in red garments, carrying two lotuses, other two arms in abhaya mudra and varada mudra, surrounded by two elephants bathing her with water pots.

Santana Lakshmi

Santana Lakshmi ("Progeny Lakshmi") is the goddess of bestowing offsprings
She is depicted as six-armed, carrying two kalashas (water pitcher with mango leaves and a coconut on it), sword, shield, a child on her lap, a hand in abhaya mudra and the other holding the child. The child holds a lotus.

Veera/Dhairya Lakshmi

Veera Lakshmi

Veera Lakshmi ("Valourous Lakshmi") or Dhairya Lakshmi ("Courage Lakshmi") is the goddess who bestows valour during battles and courage plus strength for overcoming difficulties in life.
She is depicted as eight-armed, in red garments, carrying a chakra, shankh, bow, arrow, trishul (or sword), a bundle of palm leaf scriptures, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.

Jaya/Vijaya Lakshmi

Vijaya Lakshmi

Vijaya Lakshmi or Jaya Lakshmi ("Victorious Lakshmi") is the goddess and the giver of victory, not only in battles but also for conquering hurdles in order to achieve success.
She is depicted as eight-armed, in red garments, carrying the chakra, shankh, sword, shield, lotus, pasha, other two hands in abhaya mudra and varada mudra.

Vidya Lakshmi

Vidya Lakshmi ("Knowledge Lakshmi") is the goddess and the bestower of knowledge of arts and sciences.

Additional Forms

In some Ashta Lakshmi lists, other forms of Lakshmi are included,^{[citation needed]}

Aishwarya Lakshmi ("Prosperity Lakshmi") : Goddess of riches
Saubhagya Lakshmi ("Giver of good Fortune") : Giver of prosperity in general.
Rajya Lakshmi ("Royal Lakshmi"): "She who blesses rulers (with secular power)"
Vara Lakshmi ("Boon Lakshmi"): "The goddess who bestows boons".

Rise and Worship

The rise in popularity of the Ashta Lakshmi can be linked with the rising popularity of the Ashta Lakshmi Strotam.
Around the 1970s, a leading Sri Vaishnava theologian, Sri U. Ve. Vidvan Mukkur Srinivasavaradacariyar Svamikal, published a poem called Ashta Lakshmi Strotam dedicated to the eight Lakshmis. Narayanan comments,

“Although these attributes (which represent the wealths bestowed by the Ashta Lakshmi) of Sri (Lakshmi) can be found in traditional literature, the emergence of these eight (Ashta Lakshmi goddesses) in precisely this combination is, as far as I can discern, new.”

The Ashta Lakshmi are now widely worshipped both by Sri Vaishnava and other Hindu communities in South India. Occasionally, the Ashta Lakshmi are depicted together in shrines or in "framing pictures" within an overall design and are worshipped by votaries of Lakshmi who worship her in her various manifestations. In addition to emergence of Ashta Lakshmi temples since the 1970s, traditional silver articles used in home worship as well as decorative jars ('Kumbha') now appear with the Ashta Lakshmi group molded on their sides.
Books, popular prayers manuals, pamphlets sold outside temples in South India; ritual worship and "a burgeoning audiocassette market" are also popularizing these eight forms of Lakshmi.

Temples

Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: The Ashta Lakshmi Kovil, built in 1974, is the first shrine dedicated exclusively to the Ashta Lakshmi where Lakshmi is given greater importance than Vishnu. It has eight small shrines arranged in clockwise direction, dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi and then a ninth shrine dedicated to Vishnu and Lakshmi together, unlike the traditional separate shrines.
Ashtalakshmi Temple, Vasavi Colony, Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Sydney Durga Temple - The Hindu Temple, located in Regents Park, Sydney, Australia has 8 small sanctums dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi.
Ashtalakshmi Temple, Sugar Land, Houston, Texas, United States
Ashtalakshmi Temple, North Hollywood, California, United States
At the entrance - leading from Vittavasal Street to Meenakshi Temple, Madhurai, a mandapam (Hall) called Ashta Lakshmi Mandapam is dedicated to the Ashta Lakshmi, the statues of which support the roof on either side.
Parashakthi Temple, Pontiac, Michigan has the deities installed there.
Asta Lakshmi Devasthanam, Fremont, California. Address incorrect, call to find out.

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