Om Shrim Hrim Shrim Kamale Kamale Kamalalaye prasida prasida Shrim Hrim Shrim Mahalakshmyai namah Oh Great Goddess, embodiment of the Lotus and the fulfiller of all desires, May your grace flow. May your grace flow. Great Goddess of all Creative Power and Abundance
Dear Friends on the Path, Welcome to our Embodying the Light - Lakshmi Puja and Creative Abundance New Moon - Full Moon Sadhana October 31st - November 15th As yoga practitioners, we have the opportunity to transform the scarcity mentality at a cellular level by exploring the vibrational level of our relationship to creative power, Sri, the abundance of prosperity and vitality of life. In this special sadhana, we will work with four-levels of exploration: * our body * our home * our creative manifestation * our seva – offering to the world to vibrationally clear out any unconscious contractions, awaken cellular prosperity and align ourselves with the new year sadhana time of Diwali, the festival of lights. We will explore the deeper meaning and embodiment of Lakshmi and support each other in the process. This booklet and emails after the calls will provide all the background material you need. It is my pleasure to share with you my personal process in embodying Sri with the prayer that all beings recover and actualize the creative power within us all no matter the circumstance or challenge. Love All Ways, Shiva
Laskhmi rose the spell of the intoxicating sweetness of the divine; to be close to her is a profound happiness and to feel her within the heart is to make existence a rapture and a marvel; grace and charm and tenderness flow out from her light light from the sun and wherever she fixes her wonderful gaze or lets fall the loveliness of her smile, the soul is seized and made captive and plunged into the depths of an unfathomable light. - Sri Aurobindo, “The Mother�
Preparation Diwali has a similarity to ancient festivals such as Halloween when ghosts, goblins and demons are said to roam the earth for three days including Lakshmi’s sister – Alakshmi which is said to be the energy behind thirst, hunger, famine and all things regressive. Lighting the Diwali lamps and embodying the light is the vibrational way to inoculate one’s body and home with the antidote for such impending contractions – to be in contact with the auspicious current as one’s very cellular nature. Fire Cauldron background and Ritual What you will need: Altar space with a bowl to burn paper or small twigs into the fire representing at 3-5 old contracted karmic beliefs or actions. Use a small candle or camphor. When:: Evening or Morning Beginning Diwali Time: Five Minutes or more Complete Reflection and write on 3-12 pieces of paper what you are releasing at this juncture of the new moon and Diwali; Offer a prayer of your intention before igniting each paper clearly releasing and watching the dissolution into the fire; offer a closing prayer before putting out the fire.
© Shiva Rea 2013
festivals of light festivals of light D I WA L I
HANU
Diwali is a famous Hindu festival of light, its name derived from the earthenware oil lamps called diyas that are found everywhere at this time. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is often honored during Diwali, through prayers and lights, for business success and other forms of prosperity. > Cleaning the home > Wearing new clothes > Exchanging gifts (often sweets and dried
The men tion of H Israelite their res orates a ing brigh
fruits) and preparing festive meals > Decorating buildings with fancy lights > Huge fireworks displays > Leaving the windows and doors of the house D I W A Lopen I so that Lakshmi can come in > Making rangoli or yantras by drawing on the Diwali is a famous Hindu festival of light, its name floors using rice flour; rangoli are patterns, derived and from earthenware oilislamps called thethe most popular subject the lotus flowerdiyas
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that C H A are P T E found R T H I R everywhere T E E N : F A L L Eat Q Uthis I N O time. X Š Shiva Rea 2013 Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is often honored during Diwali, through prayers and lights, for busi-
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FIREKEEPING RITUAL— FILLING ONE’S HOUSE WITH LIGHT It is beautiful to participate in the fall cross-cultural
Ignite candles in every room of your house, particularly
rituals of filling one’s outer and inner house with light.
on altars or altarlike spaces, from your central altar to
Our family celebrates this way at every opportunity,
every room of your house. Make sure that these lights
beginning with Diwali, Hanukkah, winter solstice, and
are well protected in votive containers and ignite them
Christmas. Starting three days before Diwali (usually
with a prayer of goodwill in your heart. The lighting can
around the new moon of November), clean your home
be accompanied by ringing a bell, burning incense, or
of any old dust or clutter as a mirror of your own inner
sprinkling water and/or rose petals, and you can include
process at the close of the year. On the sunrise or sunset
other family members and make a procession through
of the new moon of Diwali, as well as the other festivals
your house. You may leave the candles lit all night (again,
of light, light the doorway of your home and hang lights
ensuring they are safe and well protected). Or you can
outside (we love solar lights).
extinguish them by waving the flames out with your hand or using a candle dampener a few hours after the sunrise
The inward and the outward are become
or sunset sandhya has passed. You may enjoy this ritual
as one sky, the Infinite
every new and full moon at any time of the year, but it is
and the finite are united: I am drunken
incredibly satisfying during the waning light as a triumph of the spirit, goodwill, and sacred space.
with the sight of this All! This Light of Thine fulfills the universe: the lamp of love burns on the fuel of knowledge. —KABIR
© Shiva Rea 2013
sacred space— tending your home altar Tending your inner fire is an important aspect of cultivating the sacred space of your retreat, and
Throughout our lifetimes, various symbols come to us; sometimes they are given to us, sometimes
this process is reflected in your home altar. Your personal altar is a great nexus—a navel that connects your inner and outer worlds—a conduit for your prayers, and a reflection of your inner space and what is stirring within your heart. Every altar has a central focus—a primary symbol—which can take any form: an image, a sculpture, a natural object such as a stone or feather, or anything else that you find meaningful.
we find them, and sometimes we must search for them. Often, they come our way before we are fully ready to understand their meaning. So remain open to the possibilities. Beneath this central symbol we may place an altar cloth made of any natural material of any color. We can have several of these and change them with the seasons, with the lunar cycles, or whenever it feels appropriate.
Also on the altar we often include symbols of the elements. Earth can be represented by fruit, a rice bowl, living plants, or flowers. Water can be placed in a separate bowl and changed daily, or it can serve the purpose of keeping flowers fresh in a vase. Incense is the most universal way we invoke the element of air, or feathers can be used. Space can be represented as a container or a vessel in which intentions or symbolic objects can be placed. Fire can take the form of candles or lamps—you can let your spiritual tradition be your guide.
P U R I F Y YO U R S A C R E D S PA C E Honor the sacred space of your altar by regularly cleaning and refreshing it. Before your dedicated retreat time, clear away any objects that may have served their purpose. Remove dust, wilted flowers, or ashes or wax left from burning. You may bathe sacred objects in water, or dust them with a special cloth that you only use for your altar. You can do this daily or weekly; each time invoke the new beginning that is connected to this symbolic ritual of revival.
© Shiva Rea 2013
I am inherent in existence I am the initiator, the potential that takes shape. I manifest myself, I engage my creative power with activity
Lakshmi Ma
I pervade all creation with vitality, will and consciousness
Myths/Texts: Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, Sri Lakshmi Sahasaranama Sthothra
Visualization and Symbols: lotus, coconut, vase, dish, shield
Mantra: Om Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha
I nourish the senses of living beings with the sap of my consciousness. -Lakshmi Tantra
Rasa: hasya Altar - Colors: gold
translated by Mataji Vanamali in “Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother”
Festival Days: Diwali, Navaratri Consor t: Vishnu Bhava: beauty, abundance Movement Meditation: prayer wheel Namaskar: lakshmi namaskar, mandala namaskar II Solar-Lunar Waves: Standing asana with mudra vinyasa Mudra: anjali mudra with blessing
Lakshmi has eigh different aspects, or Ashta Lakshmi that reveal her many related ways of nourishing and supporting all of creation as the form of spiritual and material, inner and outer sustaining abundance. They are: t
Adi Lakshmi (The primal mother goddess)
t
Dhanalakshmi (One who showers Prosperity
t
Gajalakshmi (One who bestows Power and Strength)
t
Santan Lakshmi (One who Blesses with Fertility and Children)
t
Veera Lakshmi (One who gives Courage and Strength)
t
Vijaya Lakshmi (Mother of Victory)
t
Vidya Lakshmi (One who blesses with wisdom and knowledge)
Lakshmi Ma © Shiva Rea 2013
Altar Sadhana Samhain Altar - choose which altar or both from now till Oct. 31st evening. Ancestor Altar or Shadow Altar in black with your pot to release and transform. Ancestor altar is pictures of loved ones in a positive sense including any special objects, candles, flowers and food offerings. Shadow altar can be a fire resistant container that will hold the burning of negative patterns on Oct. 31st, which can be a place on this altar as we revere the capacity of the fall season, the teachings and wisdom of death and the power of the changing earth to accept the death and release of our old patterns. This is separate from some Halloween themed altar but you can get into "feeding your demons" practice that is part of the lineage of tibetan yogini, Machig Labdron and the teachings of Lama Tsultrim Allione (available on Amazon.com) and offer pictures of the "ganas" ghouls and shady characters that Lord Shiva and Ganesh befriend in order to transform shadow energy towards integration and realization of our whole being. Allow your shadow altar to be a process for you to learn from and experience whatever benefits that are to come at this time. Creative Abundance Diwali Altar Lakshmi Creative Abundance Altar from Nov. 1-Full Moon Nov. 17th. Your Diwali altar is an opportunity to have a sacred space in your home to reflect and invoke your inner process and evolution. Take daily care of your altar and let the sacred space be a teacher in itself about how you value and care and connect to your creative energy. Suggestions for your altar: An image(s) or statues of Sri Lakshmi or the creative aspect of the goddess in any cultural form including universal symbols such as pots, red or gold candles, jeweled boxes or containers, shining mosaics, shells, or anything that inspires you as prosperity (including money) offered not to get something but to receive the experience of Sri, cellular auspiciousness and prosperity and allow that energy to create and manifest through you. Gold, Red, Orange colored candles and altar cloths Living Plants such as orchids or green house plants or outrageous flowers - preferably from your own local sources - for me these are sacred clipping of sage bushes and small yellow wildflowers from our area and the perennial red flowers from our garden. Fruits and Vegetables of the earth - these can be offered daily or be integrated as a fruit bowl. These fruits and vegetables are to be eaten particularly after you have offered them as part of your meditation. After a meditation or puja, choose a fruit or vegetable as a prasad. Om Shrim Shrim Shrim
Š Shiva Rea 2013
Day 1: Dhanteras • The beginning of Diwali celebrations • On this day, Lord Dhanwantari, the sacred source for Ayurveda, came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic knowledge. • On this day at sunset, people bathe and offer a lighted lamps with food offerings to pray to Yama, to pray for protection from untimely death. * Shop for new utensils, clothing; create little footprints from flour around your house to welcome Lakshmi to your home.
Day 2: Choti Diwali • Day to massage the body with oil to relieve it of tiredness, bathe and rest so that Diwali can be celebrated with vigor and devotion. • Day to complete your cleaning of the house and place fresh flowers all around to adorn the home. A rangoli is drawn at the entrance of the home. Rangoli's are intricate designs drawn with a mixture of rice flour and water. They are created for all special occasions but during Diwali they are filled in with bright colors. • Wear new clothes and light lamps in your home.
Day 3: Lakshmi Puja • This is the main day for your long sadhana; Offer a Lakshmi Puja in front of your altar; generate the blessings of prosperity, the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. • Wear new clothes and light your whole place alive with candlelight on this auspicious new moon.
Day 4 Continue to light Lakshmi lamps
Day 5: Bhai Duj
• Dedicated to sisters. * Many moons ago, in the Vedic era, Yama (Yamraj, the Lord of death) visited his sister Yamuna on this day. He gave his sister a Vardhan (a boon) that whosoever visits her on this day shall be liberated from all sins. They will achieve Moksha or final emancipation. From then on, brothers visit their sisters on this day to bring gifts and celebrate their blessings in their life. Sister prays for her brother's safety, success and well being.
Simple level-WORSHIP (PUJA) for any Goddess (DEVI) Customized and adapted by Sreedevi K Bringi, M.Sc., M.S., M.A. Shree Shakti Institute, Boulder, CO. sbringi@comcast.net 303-530-4458 Adjunct Faculty in Hinduism and Yoga, Naropa University, Boulder, CO 1. Atma Shuddhi (purification of oneself) While sipping water from right palm for each mantra: Om achutaya namaha, Om anantaya namaha, Om govindaya namaha I honor the Immovable Divine, the Infinite Divine and the Lord of the Senses 2. PRANAYAMA : (Purification of pranic field and breath ) Do 3 or 7 rounds of alternate nostril breathing: (nadi-shuddhi) 3. ALTAR LAMP: For the ghee lamp:
Om dipayai namaha
4. WORSHIP RESOLVE (SANKALPA): offer your personal resolve here 5. Invoking Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles during puja OM GAM GANAPATAYE NAMAHA. (NOTE: gam is pronounced ‘gum’) 6. INDIVIUAL MANTRA TO CHOSEN GODDESS: Offer flower petals/ turmeric-rice at the feet of the deity while reciting: To Lakshmi: Om shrim Mahalakshmyai namaha 7. Gayatri Devi-mantra invocation:
offer flowers, rice at the feet of deity:
Chant the appropriate Gayatri Devi mantra for Lakshmi Format: _____vidmahe ____cha dheemahi tanno ______ prachodayat We meditate on the the Ever Pure One, contemplate on the Daughter without flaws, or imperfections. May that Goddess grant us increasing Grace.
8. AARTI to DEVI (CAMPHOR FLAME OFFERING): Stand up and wave camphor flame or lighted lamp. Repeat the Goddess mantra at least 3 times. 9. CLOSING PRAYER. Om shantih shantih shantihi. (Om peace peace peace peace)
Lakshmi or Sri is the creative abundance of life, the essential prosperity of a cellular realization of the creative potentiality beyond form but present in the ripening fullness of every aspect of creation from the lustrous beauty to the fullness. Hence, in short form Lakshmi is described as the “the Goddess of wealth, fortune, love and beauty, the lotus flower and fertility". Her earliest invocations are found in the Rg Veda as Sri and in the later addition to the Vedas in a hymn to her power, the Sri Suktam. As the embodiment of fortune and prosperity, she is somewhat analogous to the Greco-Roman Aphrodite or Venus, as her form is imbued with fullness, sensuality eroticism as the great myth of her emergence the "Samudra Mathan". As she who is "borne of the sea", she mirrors the visions of Venus emerging from the ocean. Various Avatar of Lakshmi - Consort on Vishnu : She is the consort of Vishnu and married his incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini) and Venkateshwara (as Alamelu). In addition to Rukmini, however, she was also thought to have incarnated as the milkmaid Radha, Krishna's youthful lover prior to his marriage to Rukmini. In Vaishnava traditions, She is believed to be the Mother Goddess and the Shakti of Narayan. Goddess Laksmi is the deity of wealth, affluence an ruling power. In astrology Venus represents Lakshmi, Durga, Santoshi Ma and Shiva-Parvati. Venus rules over Taurus and Libra signs. Venus in odd signs represents Lord Shiva. Venus in even signs represents Lakshmi, Annapurna Parvati, Vaishnavi Durga, Santoshi Ma etc. When Venus owns Lagna, 5th, 9th and 10th house and when Venus occupies Lagna, 5th, 9th, 10th and 12th house worship of Laxmi may give immense prosperity. Legends : Story of Lakshmi's appearance : The appearance of goddess Lakshmi is related to an ancient story. Durvasa the short-tempered sage once presented Indra, the king of the gods (devas) with a garland of flowers which would never wilt. Indra gave this garland to his elephant Airavata. Sage Durvasa saw the elephant trampling the divine garland and cursed Indra, for he had shown disrespect to the sage. The sage cursed Indra that he and all the gods would lose their power because it had made them so proud and vain. Due to the curse, the demons vanquished the gods out of the heavens. The defeated gods then went to seek refuge to the Creator Lord Brahma who asked them to churn the ocean of milk, Ksheersagar, to obtain the nectar of immortality. The gods then went to Lord Vishnu, to seek his assistance. Lord Vishnu took the Avatar Kurma (Tortoise) and supported the Manthara Parvata (mountain) as a churning rod, while the king of the serpents, Vasuki, became the churning rope. The gods and the demons (under the leadership of the pious and wise King Bali Chakravarti) both helped each other in churning the ocean of milk. Amongst the host of divine gifts which appeared from the ocean, goddess Lakshmi appeared and then chose Shri Vishnu as her consort, as only He had the power to control Maya (illusion). Because of this, Lakshmi is also called the daughter of the sea; since the moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is called her brother. Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, is Lakshmi's older sister. She is said to have also arisen from the sea of milk.
Lakshmi in Vishnu purana : According to the Vishnu Purana, Lakshmi is the daughter of Bhrigu and Khyaati and resided in Swarga but due to the curse of Durvasa, she left Swarga and made Ksheersagara her home. The reappearance of Lakshmi after Samudra manthan and her marriage to Vishnu thereafter, remain the same. Laxmi is the power and Maya of Lord Vishnu. In some places She is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both either side of Vishnu. Bhudevi is the fertility form in which She is Mother Earth. Sridevi is the wealth and knowledge of Her which is seen with Narayan. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Laxmi. Names of Lakshmi : Lakshmi has many names. She is known to be very closely associated with the Lotus, and her many epithets are connected to the flower, such as: Padma: lotus dweller. Kamala: lotus dweller. Padmapriya: One who likes lotuses Padmamaladhara devi: One who wears a garland of lotuses Padmamukhi: One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus Padmakshi: One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus Padmahasta: One who holds a lotus Padmasundari: One who is as beautiful as a lotus Sridevi: Goddess of Prosperity Bhumi Devi: Earth goddess Jalaja: Born from sea. Visualization Maha Lakshmi is described as a fair lady, with four arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in resplendent red and gold and precious jewels. Her expression is always calm and loving. The most striking feature of the iconography of Lakshmi is her persistent association with the lotus. The meaning of the lotus in relation to Shri-Lakshmi refers to purity and spiritual power. Rooted in the mud but blossoming above the water, completely uncontaminated by the mud, the lotus represents spiritual realization. Ashta - Lakshmi - Eight Forms of Lakshmi Sri is as 'one who takes delight in Sri' Lakshmi, meaning prosperity of any kind. Primarily eight forms of prosperity are associated with goddess Lakshmi. They are: 1) Adi Lakshmi [The Source Lakshmi] 2) Dhanya Lakshmi [Food Prosperity] 3) Dhairya Lakshmi [Wealth of courage] 4) Gaja Lakshmi [Elephants, symbols of prosperity] 5) Santana Lakshmi [Prosperity of Children] 6) Vijaya Lakshmi [Prosperity of victory] 7) Vidya Lakshmi [Wealth of knowledge] 8) Dhana Lakshmi [Monetary Prosperity]
Myth of Samudra Manthan - The Emergence of Sri Lakshmi The emergence of Sri Lakshmi is one of the most predominant myths of hindu-yoga culture and it reveals the very nature of the cellular prosperity that is key to embodying the light of Sri, the creative potency of the world. This myth can be found in the Mahabharata and the Puranas such as Bhagawata, Brahma-vaivarta purana, and Agni purana. It has three phases: Losing Sri - Forgotten Garlands and the Dissing of Sacred Form Once Indra, the King of Devatas, while riding on an elephant came across a seer namedDurvasa who offered him a special garland. Indra accepted the garland but put it on the trunk of the elephant. The elephant was irritated by the smell and it threw the garland on the floor. This enraged the sage as the garland was a dwelling of Sri-hi (fortune) and was to be treated as Prasada. Durvasa rishi cursed Indra and all devatas to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune. And with that, the very nature of Sri Lakshmi dissolved and the world began to wither. In order, to regenerate Lakshmi and restore Sri upon the earth, as evil, feminine and destruction pervaded, Lord Vishnu went to the ocean of milk. Regnerating Sri - Churning of the Kshera Samudra (Milk Ocean) - the second part of the story is about the regeneration of Sri - the churning and the release of conditioned patterns (hala hala) In battles that followed this incident, Devatas (gods) were defeated and Danavas (demons) led by king Bali, who gained control of the universe. The Devatas sought help from Lord Vishnu who advised them to tackle the Danavas diplomatically; the Devatas formed an alliance with Danavas to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them. However, Lord Vishnu told Devatas that he would arrange that they alone obtain the nectar. The churning of the Ocean of Milk was an elaborate process. Mount Mandara or Meru was used as the dasher (churning tool), and Vasuki or AdiSesha, the king of serpents, became the churning rope. The demigods held the tail of the snake, while the demons held its head, and they pulled on it alternately causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. However, once the mountain was placed on the ocean, it began to sink. Vishnu in his second incarnation, in the form of a turtle Kurma-avatara, came to their rescue and supported the mountain on his back The thousand years of churning yielded many new elements and treasures; they being Halahal (Kalakuta) - Poison During the Samudra Mathan by the first element that came out of the Milk ocean was Halahala (toxic poison). The demigods and demons were mortally terrified because the poison was so toxic that it might have destroyed all of creation. On the advice of Lord Vishnu, the demigods approached Lord Shiva for help and protection. Out of compassion for living beings,Lord Shiva drank the poison. It was so potent that it changed the color of Shiva's neck to blue. For this reason, he is also called Neelakantha - the “blue necked one” (Nīla meaning blue and Kantha meaning throat).
Precious Treasures & Gems All kinds of herbs were cast into the ocean and thirteen Ratnas (gems or treasures) were produced from the ocean and were divided between Devatas and Danavas. These were Lakshmi - the Great Goddess emerged from the Sea Kaustubha - the most valuable jewel in the world Parijat - the divine flowering tree with blossoms that never fade or wilt Varuni - goddess and creator of alcohol Dhanvantari - the deity of medicines & doctors Chandra - moon Kamadhenu - the wish-granting divine cow Kalpavriksha - the wish-granting tree Airavata - the elephant of Indra Apsaras - various divine nymphs like Rambha, Menaka, Punjikasthala, etc. Uchhaishravas - the divine 7-headed horse Sharanga - the bow of Lord Vishnu Shankha - Lord Vishnu's conch Amrutha or Amrita (Ambrosia) - The nectar of immortality Finally Dhanvantari, the divine physician, emerged with a pot containing Amrutha or Amrita - the heavenly nectar of immortality. Fierce fighting ensued between Devatas and Danavas for the nectar After the battle, which according to one legend the gods won by trickery, four drops of the precious potion fell to earth, when Jayantha (Jayanth) the son of the chief deity Indra carried the jar (Kumbha/kumbh) that held the ambrosia in the form of a giant bird - these places became the sites of the four Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela festivals. However, the demons eventually got hold of the Ambrosia and started celebrating. Alarmed, Devatas (demigods) appealed to Lord Vishnu, who then took the form of Mohini - a beautiful and enchanting damsel and distracted the demons She is believed to have promised to distribute it equally amongst the two groups and sat them in different Panktees (Pantis) - lines opposite to each other and poured the Amrutha orAmrita to the Devatas who drank it immediately; however one danava disguised himself as aSura and drank the Ambrosia. Due to their luminous nature, Surya (Sun) and Chandra(Moon) noticed his switching the sides. They informed Mohini, who had by now poured all the Ambrosia to the Devatas. He took his normal form as Vishnu and before the nectar could pass the demons throat; cut off his head with Sudarshana Chakra (the divine discus) This story ends with the rejuvenated Devatas defeating the Danavas and the repetition of this battle with both our inner darkness and the ensuing darkness of the world in the Oct-Nov months before the solstice.
Shri Shuktam Stotaram OM Śrim Hiraņya varnám hariņīm suvarna-rajata-srajam Chandrám hiranmayim lakshmim jatavedo ma avaha | (1) Hrīm Tám ma ávaha játavedo lakśhmīm anapa gáminīm Yasyám hiraņyam vindeyam gám aśvam puruśhán aham || (2) Invoke for you O Agni, the Goddess Lakshmi, who shines like gold, yellow in hue, wearing gold and silver garlands, blooming like the moon, the embodiment of wealth. Klīm Aśhwa-purvám ratha-madhyam hasti náda prabódhiním Śhriyam devím upahvaye śhrír ma devír jushatám| (3) Aim Kám sósmitám hiranya prákárám árdrám jvalantím triptám tarpayantím Padme sthitám padma-varnám támihópahvaye śhriyam|| (4) I invoke Shri (Lakshmi, who has a line of horses in her front, a series of chariots in the middle, who is being awakened by the trumpeting of elephants, who is divinely resplendent. May that divine Lakshmi grace me. I invoke Shri (Lakshmi) who is the embodiment of absolute bliss; who is of pleasant smile on her face; whose lustre is that of burnished gold; who is wet as it were, (just from the milky ocean) who is blazing with splendor, and is the embodiment of the fulfillment of all wishes; who satisfies the desire of all; who is seated on the lotus and is beautiful like the lotus. Souh: Chandrám prabhásám yaśhasá jvalantím śhriyam lóke deva justám udárám Tám padminim-ím saranam aham prapadye' alakshmír me naśyatám tvám vrne| (5) Om Aditya varne tapasó dhijátó vanaspatis tava vrikshó' tha bilvah Tasya phalani tapsá nudantu mayántaráyás cha báhya alakshmíh|| (6) I take refuge in that Lakshmi for shelter in this world, who is beautiful like the moon, who shines bright, who is blazing with renown, which is adored (even) by the gods, which is highly magnanimous, and grand like the lotus. May my misfortunes perish. I surrender myself to You, O resplendent like the Sun! By your power and glory, plants like the bael tree have grown up. May these fruits through your Grace, destroy all inauspiciousness from the inner organs and ignorance as well from the outer senses. Hrīm Upaitu mám deva-sakah kírtis cha maniná saha Prádūr bhūtó' smi rashtre' smin kírtim riddhim dadátu me| (7) Śrīim Kshut pipásá-amalám jyesthám alakshmím náshayámy aham Abhūtim asamriddhim cha sarván nirnuda me grihat|| (8) O Lakshmi! I am born in this country with the heritage of wealth. May the friends of Lord
Siva (Kubera, Lord of wealth and Fame), come to me. May these (having take their abode with me), bestow on me respect and prosperity. I shall destroy the elder sister to Lakshmi, the embodiment of inauspiciousness and such evil as hunger, thirst and the like. O Lakshmi! Drive out from my abode all misfortunes and poverty. Ka e í la Hrīm Gandha dvárám durá dharşhám nitya-pushtám karíshiním Iśhvarígm sarva bhūtánám tám ihó pahvaye śhriyam| (9) Ha Sa Ka Hala Hrīm Manasah kámam ákūtím vácah satyam ashímahi Paśhūnágm rūpam annasya mayi śríh shrayatám yaśhah|| (10) I hereby invoke Lakshmi (Shri), whose primary avenue of perception is the through her scent, who is incapable of defeat or threat from anyone; who is ever healthy (with such virtuous qualities as truth); whose grace is seen abundantly and who is supreme over all created beings. O Lakshmi! May we obtain and enjoy the fulfillment of our desires and our volitions, the veracity of our speech, the wealth of cattle, the abundance of varieties of food to eat! May prosperity reside in me. Sa Ka La Hrīm Kardamená praja-bhūtá mayi sambhava kardama Śriyam vásaya me kule mátaram padma-máliním| (11) Souh: Apah srijantu snigdháni chiklíta vasa me grihe Nicha devím mátaram śhriyam vásaya me kule|| (12) (11-12) Lakshmi! You have progeny in Kardama. (Hence) O Kardama, may you reside in me. Make Mother Shri with garlands of lotuses to have Her abode in my (ancestral) line. may the (holy) waters create friendship (they being of adhesive nature). O Chiklita (progeny of Shri)! Reside at my home; and arrange to make Divine Mother Shri stay in my lineage! Aim Ardám pushkariním pushtim pingalám padma máliním Chandrám hiran-mayím lakshmím játavedó ma ávaha| (13) Klīm Ardhám yah kariním yashtim suvarnám hema-máliním Sūryám hiran-mayím lakshmím játavedó ma ávaha|| (14) Lakshmi who shines like gold, is brilliant like the sun, who is powerfully fragrant, who wields the rod of suzerainty, who is the form of supreme rulership, who is radiant with ornaments and is the goddess of wealth. Invoke for me O Agni, the Goddess Lakshmi who shines like gold, blooms like the moon, who is fresh with anointment (of fragrant scent), who is adorned with the lotuses (lifted up by celestial elephants in the act of worship), who is the presiding deity of nourishment, who is yellow in colour, and who wears garlands of lotuses.
Hrīm Tám ma ávaha játevedó lakshmím anapa gáminím yasyám Hiranyam prabhūtam gávó dásyó aśván vindeyam purushan aham|| (15) Invoke for me O Agni, that Goddess Lakshmi, who is ever unfailing, being blesses by whom I receive the fullness of life. Śrīm Ǒm mahá-devyai cha vidmahe, vishnu-patnaiya cha dhímahi Tanno Lakshmíh prachódayát || (16) We commune ourselves with the Great Goddess, and meditate on the consort of Vishnu; may that Lakshmi direct us (to the Great Goal). Om May there be Peace, Peace, Peace. || Śrīm Om mahá-devyai cha vidmahe, vishnu-patnaiya cha dhímahi Tanno Lakshmíh prachódayát || Om Shántih, Shántih, Shántih.
The Gentle Art of Blessing by Pierre Pradervand How to incorporate blessing into your life. On awakening, bless this day, for it is already full of unseen good which your blessings will call forth, for to bless is to acknowledge the unlimited good that is embedded in the texture of the universe and awaiting each and all. —— On passing people in the street, on the bus, in places of work and play, bless them. The peace of your blessing will companion them on their way, and its aura will be a light on their path. —— On meeting people and talking to them, bless them in their health, their work, their joy, their relationship to the universe, themselves and others. Bless them in their abundance and their finances, bless them in every conceivable way, for such blessings not only sow seeds of healing but one day will spring forth as flowers in the waste places of your own life. —— As you walk, bless the city in which you live, its government and teachers, its nurses and street sweepers, its children and bankers, its priests and prostitutes. The minute anyone expresses the least aggression or unkindness to you, respond with a blessing. Bless them totally, sincerely, joyfully—for such blessings are a shield that protects them from the ignorance of their misdeed and deflects the arrow that was aimed at you. —— To bless means to wish, unconditionally and from the deepest chamber of your heart, unrestricted good for others and events; it means to hallow, to hold in reverence, to behold with awe that which is always a gift from the Creator. To bless is to invoke divine care upon, to speak or think gratefully for, to confer happiness upon, although we ourselves are never the bestower, but simply the joyful witnesses of life’s abundance. —— When something goes completely askew in your day, when some unexpected event upsets your plans—and you—burst into blessing. For life is teaching you a lesson, and the very event you believe to be unwanted, you yourself called forth, so as to learn the lesson you might balk against were you not to bless it. Trials are blessings in disguise, and hosts of angels follow in their path. —— To bless is to acknowledge the omnipresent, universal beauty hidden from material eyes; it is to activate that law of attraction which, from the furthest reaches of the universe, will bring into your life exactly what you need to experience and enjoy. —— When you pass a prison, mentally bless its inmates in their innocence and freedom, their gentleness, pure essence and unconditional forgiveness; for one can only be a prisoner of one’s self-image, and a free man can walk unshackled in jail, just as citizens of a free country may be prisoners of the fear lurking within their thoughts. ——
When you pass a hospital, bless its patients in their present wholeness, for even in their suffering, their wholeness awaits discovery within them. When your eyes behold a man in tears or seemingly broken by life, bless him in his vitality and joy, for the material senses present but the inverted image of the ultimate splendor and perfection that only the inner eye beholds. —— It is impossible to bless and judge at the same time. So hold constantly as a deep, hallowed, intoned thought the desire to bless, for truly then shall you become a peacemaker, and one day you shall behold, everywhere, the very face of God. P.S. And of course, above all, do not forget to bless the utterly beautiful person YOU are.