Lakshmi was visualised both as an independent goddess and as Vishnu’s consort, seated on his lap or at his feet. In them, the goddess came to be projected as one of the three primary forms of the supreme mother-goddess, the other two being Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, and Kali or Durga, the goddess of power. The mythology of Lakshmi acquired full form in the Puranas, chronicles of gods, kings and sages that were compiled between 5 AD. In the Harivamsa, appendix to the Mahabharata, Manmatha, the god of love, lust and fertility, was described as her son. As folk heroes such as Rama and Krishna were viewed as incarnations of Vishnu, their consorts Sita, Radha and Rukmini became increasingly identified with Lakshmi. Gods and demons fought over her and both strove to churn her out of the ocean of milk. Stories of Lakshmi first appeared in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharta, that were composed between 300 BC and 300 AD, a period that witnessed the waning popularity of Vedic gods and the rise of gods who offered moksha such as Shiva and Vishnu. Just as the word ‘ aum’ is associated with the mystical side of life, the word ‘ shri’ is associated with the material side of existence. Ascetics are not addressed as Shriman as they have renounced worldly riches unmarried men and women are not addressed as Shriman and Shrimati as they are still in preparation for the householder’s life. Married men and women are addressed as Shriman and Shrimati as they have Lakshmi’s blessings to harness the wealth of the world to support family and sustain society. Whatever follows the word is imbued with divine blessing.

When the word is spoken or written, an aura of holiness is established. The word evokes amongst other things: grace, affluence, abundance, auspiciousness, authority. Shri is written atop most documents and spoken before addressing a god, a teacher, a holy man or any revered individual. The popularity of Lakshmi can be gauged by the fact that her sacred name-Shri. Shri is the sacred sound of cosmic auspiciousness and abundance since Vedic times.

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