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A Lakshmi murti seated on a pink lotus with gold coins falling from her hand, diyas and lotuses in frontImage: made with AI
Deity

Goddess Lakshmi

Shri • Kamala • Padma • Mahalakshmi • Haripriya

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity, good fortune and beauty, and the consort of Lord Vishnu. According to the Bhagavata Purana (8.8), she emerged from the churning of the ocean holding a lotus and chose Vishnu as her husband. She is specially worshipped on the night of Kartik Amavasya (Diwali).

Aartis and chalisasSee the relations
Edited by the SanatanBodh editorial teamLast updated: 4 sourcesDrafted with AI, checked against sourcesReport a mistake

Lakshmi at a glance

Consort
Vishnu
Origin
From the churning of the ocean (Bhagavata Purana 8.8)
Symbols
Lotus, gold, elephant (Gajalakshmi)
Mount
Owl (folk tradition)
Avatars
Sita (with Rama), Rukmini (with Krishna)
Hymns
Shri Suktam, Kanakadhara Stotram, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
Major festivals
Diwali, Dhanteras, Sharad Purnima
Day
Friday

Lakshmi: relations

Family, scriptures, tirthas and festivals

8 relations of Lakshmi, each with its source in the texts or the tradition. Tap a name to open its own page, or its relations in the Sanatan tree.

See the whole knowledge graph
Sources: Vishnu Purana 1.8.14-16, 1.10.2 (by Khyati; the same Shri rose again later from the churning of the ocean, 1.9); Bhagavata 4.1.43; Bhagavata Purana 8.8; Bhagavata 8.8.8, 8.8.23-25 (chose Vishnu); Vishnu Purana 1.9.98-103; Tradition (Lakshmi Puja on Kartik Amavasya); Rigveda, Khila Sukta; Vishnu Purana 1.9; Tradition (night puja on Ashwin Purnima)
All 8 relations, with sources

Family

BhriguFather
LakshmiVishnuHusband
Source: Vishnu Purana 1.8.14-16, 1.10.2 (by Khyati; the same Shri rose again later from the churning of the ocean, 1.9); Bhagavata 4.1.43; Bhagavata Purana 8.8

Deities, figures and sages 1

  • Sita · Avatar (with Rama)Vishnu Purana 1.9

Scriptures and mantras 2

Tirths and places 1

Festivals 2

  • Diwali · FestivalTradition (Lakshmi Puja on Kartik Amavasya)
  • Sharad Purnima · Festival (Kojagara Puja)Tradition (night puja on Ashwin Purnima)

Emergence from the churning of the ocean

  1. The churning

    The gods and the asuras churned the Ocean of Milk (Kshirasagara), using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope.

    Bhagavata Purana 8.7

  2. Lakshmi appears

    After many treasures had come out of the churning, Lakshmi appeared holding a lotus. The elephants of the directions (diggajas) bathed her with water from golden pitchers; this is the Gajalakshmi form.

    Bhagavata Purana 8.8

  3. She chooses Vishnu

    Looking over the gods, sages and asuras, Lakshmi placed the wedding garland on Vishnu, and Vishnu gave her a place on his chest.

    Bhagavata Purana 8.8

Avatars and forms

  • Sita and Rukmini

    When Vishnu became Rama, Lakshmi became Sita, and in Krishna’s time, Rukmini.

    Vishnu Purana 1.9

  • Daughter of Bhrigu

    The Vishnu Purana first describes Lakshmi as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and Khyati; her reappearance from the churning of the ocean is a later story.

    Vishnu Purana 1.8–1.9

  • Ashtalakshmi

    In tradition, the eight forms of Lakshmi, such as Adi, Dhana, Dhanya, Gaja, Santana, Veera, Vijaya and Vidya Lakshmi. The list of names varies somewhat between traditions.

  • A pink lotus in bloom among lotus leaves on a pond

    Lotus

    She is seated on a lotus and holds a lotus in her hand; it is regarded as a symbol of staying pure even while blooming in mud.

Images: symbolic pictures made with AI

Lakshmi Puja on Diwali

On the night of Kartik Amavasya, during Pradosh Kaal, it is the custom to worship Lakshmi and Ganesha together. The auspicious time for the puja differs from city to city; see the Diwali page for the muhurat in your city.

Diwali Lakshmi Puja: flower-decked murtis of Lakshmi and Ganesha, with lamps, a rangoli and a puja plate in frontDiwaliThe date and the Lakshmi Puja muhurat for your city

Lakshmi in the scriptures

हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम् ।चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह ॥
O Agni, bring to me Lakshmi, who shines like gold, wears garlands of gold and silver, and is cool as the moon and golden.Shri Suktam 1 (Rigveda, Khila Sukta)
राघवत्वेऽभवत्सीता रुक्मिणी कृष्णजन्मनि ।
When (Vishnu) became Raghava, (Lakshmi) became Sita, and at Krishna’s birth, Rukmini.Vishnu Purana 1.9
नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।
O Mahamaya, seated on the Shri Peetha and worshipped by the gods, salutations to you.Mahalakshmi Ashtakam 1
  • Bhagavata Purana 8.7–8.8
  • Vishnu Purana 1.8–1.9
  • Rigveda, Khila Sukta (Shri Suktam)
  • Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

Festivals of Lakshmi

Worship of Lakshmi

Lakshmi: Aarti, Chalisa, Mantra and Namavali, each on its own page

Vrat kathas

Frequently asked questions

How was Goddess Lakshmi born?

According to the Bhagavata Purana (8.8), she emerged from the churning of the ocean, holding a lotus. The Vishnu Purana (1.8–1.9) also describes her earlier as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu.

What is Lakshmi’s mount?

In folk tradition, the owl. In the Gajalakshmi form, two elephants bathe her, based on the churning episode in the Bhagavata Purana (8.8).

Which avatars of Lakshmi appear with Vishnu’s avatars?

According to the Vishnu Purana (1.9), Sita with Rama and Rukmini with Krishna are forms of Lakshmi herself.

What is the Shri Suktam?

A hymn from the Khila (appendix) portion of the Rigveda, in praise of Lakshmi. Its recitation is central to Lakshmi Puja.

Sources

Checked against sources
  1. Bhagavata Purana 8.7–8.8
  2. Vishnu Purana 1.8–1.9
  3. Rigveda, Khila Sukta (Shri Suktam)
  4. Mahalakshmi Ashtakam

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