Table Of ContentINVOKING LAKSHMI
The Goddess of Wealth in Song and Ceremony
(cid:47)
Constantina Rhodes
Invoking Lakshmi
Siddhalakshmi: Goddess of Power
Invoking Lakshmi
The Goddess of Wealth in
Song and Ceremony
Constantina Rhodes
Front Cover: Lakshmi Seated on Lotus. Popular poster image. India;
Twentieth century. Author’s collection.
Cover photo of author. Photo credit: Ed Wolf
FRONTSPIECE: Siddhalakshmi: Goddess of Power. Nepal; Inscription date
1694. Pigment on cloth. Courtesy Rubin Museum of Art.
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
© 2010 State University of New York
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For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY
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Production, Laurie Searl
Marketing, Anne M. Valentine
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rhodes, Constantina Eleni, [date]
Invoking Lakshmi : the goddess of wealth in song and ceremony / Constantina
Rhodes.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4384-3321-9 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Lakshmi (Hindu deity)—Prayers and devotions—History and criticism.
2. Hindu hymns—History and criticism. 3. Lakshmi (Hindu deity)—Cult. I. Title.
BL1225.L32R46 2010
294.5’2114—dc22 2010005367
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For my beautiful daughter, Alexandra
Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: The Goddess Arrives in Delhi 1
What Does It Mean to Invoke a Goddess? 3
On the Format of This Book 6
Sources: Sanskrit Texts and Popular Worship Manuals 8
PART ONE: The Divine Personalities of Lak∑m¥ 13
Chapter 1: The Awesome Power of Auspiciousness:
Lak∑m¥ of the Vedic Traditions 15
The Primordial Lotus Goddess 15
The Goddess of Auspiciousness: Ír¥’s Essence,
Lak∑m¥’s Form 18
Alak∑m¥, the Inauspicious 20
Chapter 2: Living the Good Life: Lak∑m¥ of the
Puråˆic Traditions 23
The Burgeoning World of the Puråˆas 23
Lak∑m¥ and the Lords of the Three Realms:
Indra, Vi∑ˆu, and Bali 24
All Women Are Embodiments of Lak∑m¥ 26
Lak∑m¥, Embodiment of the “Four Wealths” (Caturartha) 30
The Absence of Lak∑m¥: Is Lady Luck a Fickle Goddess? 42
Chapter 3: Living the Powerful Life: Lak∑m¥ of the
Tantric Traditions 47
The World According to Tantra 48
Lak∑m¥ as Kuˆ∂alin¥ 49
Lak∑m¥, Íiva, and the “Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses”
(Daßamahåvidyås) 52
viii CONTENTS
The Grace-Bestowing Mother 56
Lak∑m¥ as Siddhi: Magical Attainment, Spiritual Power 58
PART TWO: The Power of Poetry to Summon the Goddess 61
Chapter 4: The Power of Vedic Hymns: Generating
Auspiciousness 63
Reciting the Hymns (S¶ktas) 63
Ritual Application of the Vedic Hymns 65
Chapter 5: The Power of Puråˆic Songs: Drawing Down
the Goddess 67
Reciting the Songs of Praise (Stotras) 67
The Propitious Glance of the Goddess 68
Fruits of the Recitations (Phala) 69
Chapter 6: The Power of Tantric Songs: Waking Up
the Goddess 71
Alchemy of the Goddess: The Magic of Transformation 71
Vibratory Essence: Engaging the Sound-Forms of Lak∑m¥ 76
The Potency of a Woman’s Recitations 81
Literary Genres of the Tantric Songs 82
Structure of the Tantric Songs 83
PART THREE: Ceremony 91
Introduction: Invoking Lak∑m¥ in Ceremony: Lakƒm¥ P¶jå 93
Creating Space to Receive the Goddess 93
The Ancient Art of Hospitality 96
Structure of the Ceremony 97
Lakƒm¥ P¶jå Text 99
Preparation and Purifi cation 99
Heart of the Ceremony: Receiving the Goddess 104
Outline of the Lakƒm¥ P¶jå 116
PART FOUR: Song 119
Vedic Hymns to Lak∑m¥ 121
Hymn to Ír¥ (Ír¥ S¶ktam) 121
Hymn to Lakƒm¥ (Lakƒm¥ S¶ktam) 124
CONTENTS ix
Puråˆic Songs to Lak∑m¥ 127
Song for Lakƒm¥, Gracious Bestower of Blessings
(Prasannavaradå Ír¥ Lakƒm¥ Stotram) 127
Song for the Glorious Lotus Goddess (Ír¥ Kamalå Stotram) 133
Lord Indra’s Song for Lakƒm¥ (Devaråja Indrak®ta
Lakƒm¥ Stotram) 137
The Heavenly Gods’ Praise-Song for Lakƒm¥ (Ír¥ Daivak®ta
Lakƒm¥ Stotram) 143
Eight Verses Praising Mahålakƒm¥ (Mahålakƒmyaƒ†akam
Stotram) 146
Tantric Songs to Lak∑m¥ 149
The Secret Heart of Lakƒm¥ (Ír¥ Mahålakƒm¥ H®dayam) 149
Praise-Song for the Bestower of Wealth (Dhanadå Stotram) 169
Song-Amulet of the Bestower of Wealth (Dhanadå Kavacam) 170
Praise-Song for the Lotus Goddess (Kamalå Stotram) 171
108 Names of the Glorious Lotus Goddess (Ír¥ Kamalå
Aƒ†ottaraßatanåma Stotram) 177
Song-Amulet of the Lotus Goddess (Kamalåtmikå Kavacam) 181
Song for the Lakƒm¥ of Spiritual Power (Ír¥ Siddhalakƒm¥
Stotram) 186
Song for the Glorious “Eyes of Indra” (Ír¥ Indråkƒ¥ Stotram) 190
Song-Formulary of the Glorious Mahålakƒm¥ (Ír¥ Mahålakƒm¥
Pañjara Stotram) 194
Secret Lakƒm¥ Incantation That Yields Immediate Results
(Sadya÷ Phaladå Lakƒm¥stava H®dayam) 200
Epilogue: The Goddess Returns Home 203
Transliterated Sanskrit Texts 207
Lakƒm¥ P¶jå Text 207
Vedic Texts 211
Puråˆic Texts 213
Tantric Texts 222
Notes 249
Bibliography 265
Index 275
