*Maya Gold*

Maya Gold, and yet another Mike Oldfield's song exalting the Goddess...


In Hinduism, Maya is also seen as a form of Lakshmi, a Divine Goddess. Her most famous explication is seen in the Devi Mahatmyam, where she is known as Mahamaya.

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, light, wisdom, the lotus flower and fortune, and secondarily of luck, beauty, courage and fertility. Representations of Lakshmi (or Shri) are found in Jain and Buddhist monuments, in addition to Hindu temples. She is also kind to children and gives presents.

She is the consort of Vishnu and married his incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini) and Venkateshwara (as Alamelu). In Shaktism, she is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess or Shakti.

Goddess Lakshmi means Good Luck to Hindus. The word 'Lakshmi' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning 'aim' or 'goal', and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual.

Lakshmi is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Although she is worshipped daily, the festive month of October is Lakshmi's special month. Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the full moon night of Kojagari Purnima.

Lakshmi's Form
Lakshmi is depicted as a beautiful woman of golden complexion, with four hands, sitting or standing on a full-bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty and purity. Her four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma or righteousness, kama or desires, artha or wealth, and moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Physically, goddess Lakshmi is described as a fair lady, with four arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in fine garments and precious jewels. 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 perfection and authority. Furthermore, the lotus seat is a common motif in Hindu iconography.

Goddess Lakshmi's traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl (Ulooka in Sanskrit), is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night.

Cascades of gold coins are seen flowing from her hands, suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth. She always wears gold embroidered red clothes. Red symbolizes activity and the golden lining indicates prosperity. THIS IS WHY "MAYA GOLD" IN TUBULAR BELLS II. Lakshmi is the active energy of Vishnu, and also appears as Lakshmi-Narayan - Lakshmi accompanying Vishnu.

Two elephants are often shown standing next to the goddess and spraying water. This denotes that ceaseless effort, in accordance with one's dharma and governed by wisdom and purity, leads to both material and spiritual prosperity.

A Mother Goddess
Worship of a mother goddess has been a part of Indian tradition since its earliest times. Lakshmi is one of the mother goddesses and is addressed as mata (mother) instead of just devi (goddess).

As a female counterpart of Lord Vishnu (she chose him as only He has the power to control Maya or illusion- MATRIX). 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.
Mata (Mother) Lakshmi is also called 'Shri', the female energy of the Supreme Being. She is the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.

Epithets
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 who 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

Her other names include:
Bhargavi: One who is the incarnation of the daughter of Sage Bhrigu
Sridevi: Goddess of wealth
Chanchala: One who is fickle and does not stay at one place
Bhumi Devi: Earth goddess
Indira: Beautiful goddess
Rama devi: Wife of Vishnu
Jalaja: Born from sea.
Aiswarya: Wealthy.

Celebration in Hindu Society
Hindus worship Lakshmi the most on Diwali, the festival of lights. According to tradition people would put small candles outside their homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them.

The importance attached to the presence of Lakshmi in every household makes her an essentially domestic deity. Householders worship Lakshmi for the well being and prosperity of the family. Businessmen and women also regard her equally and offer her daily prayers.

On the full moon night following Dusshera or Durga Puja, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings, and invite neighbors to attend the puja. It is believed that on this full moon night the goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth.

For more info:
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa100900a.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laksmi



Oh and... Did you know that LAKME (from Light + Shade/Delibes' Opera) is French for LAKSHMI?

Dieser Beitrag wurde 1 mal editiert, zum letzten Mal von Venus: 13.04.2007 07:33.

RE: *Maya Gold*

Good!!! someone has related MAYA (in Hinduism) to the ILLUSION we live in, also known as MATRIX. Yes, I have already written about it, check it where it says MOTHER GODDESS.

Mayas? Hummm.... I'd rather say the original AZTECS

Anyway, my dear Nasenbaer... we're talking about THE GODDESS, in this case... MAYA or LAKSHMI (LAKME in French) whose casade of gold coins are seen flowing from her hands, suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth or prosperity


Have a nice day!

Dieser Beitrag wurde 1 mal editiert, zum letzten Mal von Venus: 09.05.2007 08:27.