Shri is the sacred sound of cosmic auspiciousness and abundance and when written or spoken it carries a spiritual potency (shakti). Written as Sri or Shree or Sree or Shri, it stands for affluence, grace, wealth, light, lustre, splendour, beauty, loveliness and authority.
There are various levels and manifestations of Sri
- She is seen in many forms, such as Bhudevi and Sridevi. Most people think that they are separate beings although they are one. Bhudevi is the representation
Lord Visnu with Sridevi and Bhudeviand totality of the material world or energy, in which she is called Mother Earth. The analogy of milk that transforms into yoghurt is used to demonstrate how Sri who is transcendental, transforms into Durga in this material world. Durga is approached by her devotees for fulfillment of material desires. She is also called “the beauty of three worlds” and in this context she is called Sri Tripura Sundari whose magical diagram is called the “Sri Yantra”.
- Sri embodies the spiritual world, also known as Vaikuntha, the abode of Laxmi-Narayan or Vishnu. She possess the divine qualities of God, as she is the embodiment of God’s superior spiritual feminine energy, which purifies, empowers and uplifts the individual. Hence, she is called the Goddess of Fortune. She is believed to be the Mother of the Universe
- Goddess Laxmi is a soothing, kind, warm and approachable mother figure who willingly intervenes in the lives of devotees. When asking Visnu for grace or forgiveness, the devotees always approach Him through the intermediary presence of Laxmi Devi.
- Sridevi or Laxmi as the power and consort of Lord Vishnu, is present on His chest on the heart, as She is the embodiment of love, from which devotion to God or Bhakti flows. It is through Love/Bhakti or Laxmi that the atma or soul is able to reach God or Vishnu.
- She is also the personification of the spiritual fulfilment and is described as an ocean of compassion and mercy. Maha laxmi is liberal and can infuse our hearts with spiritual knowledge without considering our qualifications. She resides within the hearts of Her devotees.
Yin yang with rice and chili, symbolising ‘metal’
- The name Sri always precedes the Lord’s name for example: Sri Narayan, Sri Krsna. Why ? The significance of this is that Narayan is never without Her, He is the energetic and She is His energy, and in this way they are simultaneously one and different. The yin yang concept symbolises this oneness and difference.
- She also presides over 16 forms of worldly wealth which she easily grants: Fame, Knowledge, Courage and Strength, Victory, Good Children, Valor, Gold, Gems and Other Valuables, Grains in abundance, Happiness, Bliss, Intelligence, Beauty, Higher goals, High Thinking and Higher Meditation, Morality and Ethics; Good Health, Long Life.
| The First manifestation of Lakshmi | ||
| Granary wealth | ||
| Wealth of courage | ||
| Elephants, symbols of wealth | ||
| Wealth of continuity, progeny | ||
| Wealth of victory | ||
| Wealth of knowledge and education | ||
| Monetary wealth |
Sri Laxmi Devi
The ancient scriptures of India ultimately advise us all to pay extreme regards to Laxmi, and any person who disregards her is sure to fall on evil days. This means that wealth should be well protected and properly used. The misuse of wealth is sure to generate negative karma, and the resultant suffering and unhappiness that is accompanied with it.
Laxmi devi’s quality of being chanchal, denotes her fickle nature. She tends to not stay in one place too long and can just as easily leave as she arrives ! However honouring Sri Yantra and Meru Chakra with Her mantra, offers you an opportunity to petition her to remain here.
