Maa Lakshmi · Lotus lake
Maa Lakshmi Mandir माँ लक्ष्मी मंदिर
A golden lotus bud temple on a marble island in a still lotus lake, reached by a causeway of lamps between white elephants. A star path circles the water with a shrine of one of the eight Lakshmis at every point. Come at dusk, when the lamps double in the water.
Today
Today’s Adi Lakshmi
Pink silk, a lotus in each upper hand, garlands of pink and white lotuses. The first Lakshmi, ever at the side of Narayana.
The tradition
About Maa Lakshmi Mandir
Golden lotus bud vimana (round vesara) on an island in a lotus lake, with an eight pointed star path of the Ashta Lakshmi; Gaja Lakshmi murti
Shri and Lakshmi
Lakshmi, also Shri, Padma and Kamala, is the goddess of wellbeing, abundance and auspiciousness, and the consort of Vishnu. The Shri Sukta, a hymn appended to the Rigveda, praises her as lotus born, lotus coloured and seated on the lotus.
Gaja Lakshmi
Lakshmi flanked by two elephants pouring water over her from pots is one of the oldest images of the goddess in Indian art. The elephants stand for rain clouds and royal abundance; the bath is her abhisheka.
Ashta Lakshmi
Eight forms of Lakshmi stand at the points of the star path: Adi, Dhanya, Dhairya, Gaja, Santana, Vijaya, Vidya and Dhana. The list varies between traditions. Walking the star past each of them is a small parikrama of her blessings.
A clean, lit home
A widespread belief holds that Lakshmi enters homes that are clean and lit at dusk, which is why lamps are lit at sunset and, on Diwali night, in every doorway and window.
Fridays and festivals
Friday is widely kept for Lakshmi. Her great nights are Diwali (Lakshmi Puja on the new moon of Kartika), Dhanteras, and Sharad Purnima, the Kojagari full moon, when devotees keep vigil.
Tulsi and Lakshmi
Many traditions avoid offering tulsi directly to Lakshmi; tulsi is offered to Vishnu. Here tulsi grows by the Narayana shrine behind the lake.
Offerings
What is offered to Maa Lakshmi
Pink lotus कमल
The lotus is Lakshmi’s own flower: she is Padma, Kamala, born of and seated on the lotus.
Red rose गुलाब
Red and pink flowers are widely offered to the Devi.
Marigold गेंदा
Jasmine मोगरा
Fragrant white flowers for the evening worship.
Laddoo लड्डू
Sweets are offered as naivedya and shared afterwards as prasad.
Inside
What you can do here
Walk the compound and the halls, leave your footwear at the steps, ring the bell, light incense and a diya, offer pink lotus at the deity’s feet, receive prasad, sit in the meditation garden and join the aarti with devotees from around the world, five times a day. The grounds also keep 3 small secrets, each with a story of Maa Lakshmi, for those who explore.
Five aartis a day
Every temple keeps the hours of a temple in India, so devotees everywhere gather at the same moment. Times may differ by a few minutes from temple to temple.
- Mangala Aarti5:30 am in India5:30 am your time
- Shringar Aarti8:00 am in India8:00 am your time
- Rajbhog Aarti12:00 pm in India12:00 pm your time
- Sandhya Aarti6:30 pm in India6:30 pm your time
- Shayan Aarti9:00 pm in India9:00 pm your time
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