Even those with bad qualities can become good human beings if they invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi
Start reciting the Vishnu Purana Sri Stuti every day and experience the positive change in the mind set
Three
ancient literary works extol the greatness of Sri. It speaks of Alavanthar’s
greatness in just four verses he has been able to communicate the role and
power of Sri in such an expressive way that this is considered the fountain
head of praise on Sri. And almost all the succeeding exponents have based their
commentary and analysis on the description provided by Alavanthar in the
Chatusloki. Vedanta Desika’s Sri Stuti is rich in text and content and is
considered a fundamental piece defining our philosophy.
However,
the earliest stotras on Sri is found in the Vishnu Purana where Devendra, the
King of Gods has showered verses of praise on Sri for having helped him regain
his kingdom that had been previously as a result of the curse of Sage Durvasa. Delighted
at having secured all his powers and having personally experienced success,
Indra, in a thanking gesture, describes in detail the role of Goddess Lakshmi in
our lives. Indra, thus provides the earliest clarification on SRI as compared
with Lord Narayana. He showcases her distinctive qualities. Vishnu Purana like
the four Vedas is so full of good values. We don’t see the God residing inside
us. We are constantly exploring outside. We should look inward because
otherwise the outside things will pull us in the wrong direction.
Parasara
Bhattar is seen explaining these verses of praise to his disciple Maitreyi who
was keen to more about the story of SRI.
She is all Lotus
பத்மாலயாம் பத்மகராம்
பத்மபத்ர நிபேக்ஷணாம்
வந்தே பத்மமுகீம்
தேவீம் பத்மனாபப்ரியாமஹம்
She
is the mother of all worlds. She took birth in Thiruparkadal in a lotus petal
and resides in the Lord’s chest. He praises her as having beautiful Lotus eyes
and is seen holding a lotus in her hand. Indra credits her with having the power
to purify the entire universe. He says she is everything in this world- the
Nectar, the Day and the Night.
In
different avataras she has taken many different forms and is seen everywhere
along with the Lord.
In
a beautifully described verse, he asks who else has the right to reside in the
Lord’s chest other than her. There is a glittering shine on the Lord only because
of her. Ait is only through her blessings that a husband gets a good wife, has
children, a good home and happiness.
Blemish-less One
She
is the one with the authority and owner to provide victory on many fronts. She
provides true devotees with wealth, good health, fearlessness against enemies
and takes care of our possessions. He
prays that she should not desert her true devotees. Indra calls here the
Blemish-less one. Without her nothing will be possible in this earthly world.
Transformative powers
With
her blessings, even those born with bad qualities are converted to ones with
good qualities, such are her powers. He then goes one step further. If one has
her blessings right in the beginning, then it is likely that they will be born
in a good and noble family.
Unequalled Powers
Even
Brahmma cannot equal her Thiru Kalyana characteristics and qualities. She has
the power to remove all hurdles and provide happiness to true devotees. He says
that if you praise Lord it also includes Thaayar. He pleads with her to not let
our treasury go. He says that she is the one with the power to cleanse and
purify our sins. Indra asks her for her blessings for his own benefit and for
the protection of his relatives and friends. However, if you are not pleased with the behaviour of any one and if you feel that they are not offering their prayers with sincerity, you have the powers to convert them into poor people in all respects .
ஸத்யோ வைகுன்ய மாயாந்தி
ஸீலாத்யா: சகலா
குணா:
பராங்முகீ ஜகத்தாத்ரீ
யஸ்ய த்வம்
விஷ்ணு வல்லபே
Lord
constantly looks at his chest to make sure that she is present. Like how the Lord
is present everywhere, she too is present everywhere. We should speak of his
and her powers separately because she has just as much powers as the Lord and has
very distinctive qualities.
Only
she has the right and the power to decorate the Lord’s chest. Now it is her
role to keep the universe growing and keep it going in a positive way.
Affirmative Praise and then a double negative
Sri
is the one responsible for all positives in this world. Indra turns affirmative
in this verse and says that with her blessings anything is possible. And then
he uses the double negative to praise her ‘There is nothing one cannot get if they have her blessings.’
ஷறீராரோக்யம் ஐஸ்வர்யம்
அறிபக்ஷ்க்ஷ்ய ஸுகம்
தேவி த்வத்த்ருஷ்டித்ருஷ்டாநாம் புருஷாணாம் ந
துர்லபம்
Calls her 'Mother'
In
the initial set of verses, he refers to her as DEVI. In the 10th
verse, for the first time, he refers to her as Mother (AMBA). He says that this
world is full of good and dumb. The two of you have created this world. Words
have been constructed beautifully. The thread cannot be seen, only the outside
pearls can be seen. Lord is inside knitting together the pearls.
த்வம் மாதா சர்வ லோககானாம் தேவ தேவோ ஹரி:பிதா
த்வயைதத் விஷ்ணுநா சாம்ப ஜகத் வ்யாப்தம் சராசரம்
Indra
pleads with SRI to not go away from her house and from his heart. He credits
her with the powers to cleanse all the sins of true devotees who offer their
sincere prayers to her. He calls her AMALE, the righteous one who resides in the Lord’s chest. He says
that if Goddess Lakshmi moves away, the good qualities of the people too will
go away immediately.
She
has powers that can transform the bad into good, provided the devotees
are sincere in their prayers.
Grants boons to Indra
Pleased
with his prayers, SRI asked if he would like anything. He asked for two boons:
to be ever present in this world and to protect the true devotees at all points
of time. SRI acceded to his request and
said that those who recite these stotras, morning and evening, with sincerity
will be blessed by her. To these true devotees she says she will be ready to
ignore even their mistakes. SRI
was totally thrilled with these Abhishekam of stotras that she instantly
granted Indra with these boons.
While
Lord is the one who grants Moksha, Goddess Lakshmi is ever present in him as a
pillar of strength and support and it is with her approval that he takes any
decision. Whenever the Lord emerges as God, she takes the form of Goddess. When
he takes the form of a man, she takes the form of a woman. If he becomes
Ranganatha, she becomes Andal.
Parasara
who extolled the greatness of SRI to his disciple Maithreyi through these
verses concluded saying that those who simply listen to these stotras will be
blessed by Goddess Lakshmi. In their clan,
Goddess Lakshmi will not leave their clan for three generations. And is a house
when SRI resides, no negative will happen as one will be protected by her
shining force.
இதி சகல விபூத்ய வாப்திஹேது
ஸ்துதிரியமிந்த்ர முகோத்கதா ஹி லக்ஷ்ம்யா:
அநுதிநமிஹ பட்யதே ந்ருபிர்யை
வசதி ந தேஷு கதாசிதப்யலகக்ஷ்மீ
Hence
we should continuously recite these stotras without fail and seek her blessings
at all points of time to keep us on the right and noble path.
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