Lakshmi the goddess of wealth, fortune and youth

Lakshmi in silver

Lakshmi (or Laksmi) is the Hindu goddess of wealth, luck, youth and beauty. She is the wife of the great god Vishnu and the couple is often worshiped in tandem as Lakshmi-Narayana. Just as her husband has many avatars when he descends to earth, so Lakshmi also takes on different forms:

  • Sita, wife of Lord Rama
  • Dharani, wife of Parashurama,
  • Queen Rukmini, wife of Krishna
  • Padma, wife of Hari
Lakshmi may also be called Lokamata, 'mother of the world' and Lola, meaning capricious, in reference to her seemingly disorderly dispensation of fortune.