| Description |
1 online resource (xii, 279 pages) |
| Contents |
Invoking Lakshmi; Invoking Lakshmi; Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction: The Goddess Arrives in Delhi; What Does It Mean to Invoke a Goddess?; On the Format of This Book; Sources: Sanskrit Texts and Popular Worship Manuals; PART ONE: The Divine Personalities of Laksmi; CHAPTER 1: The Awesome Power of Auspiciousness: Laksmi of the Vedic Traditions; The Primordial Lotus Goddess; The Goddess of Auspiciousness: Sri's Essence, Laksmi's Form; Alaksmi, the Inauspicious; CHAPTER 2: Living the Good Life: Laksmi of the Puranic Traditions; The Burgeoning World of the Puranas |
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Laksmi and the Lords of the Three Realms: Indra, Visnu, and BaliAll Women Are Embodiments of Laksmi; Laksmi, Embodiment of the "Four Wealths" (Caturartha); The Absence of Laksmi: Is Lady Luck a Fickle Goddess?; CHAPTER 3: Living the Powerful Life: Laksmi of the Tantric Traditions; The World According to Tantra; Laksmi as Kundalini; Laksmi, Siva, and the "Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses" (Dasamahavidyas); The Grace-Bestowing Mother; Laksmi as Siddhi: Magical Attainment, Spiritual Power; PART TWO: The Power of Poetry to Summon the Goddess |
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CHAPTER 4: The Power of Vedic Hymns: Generating AuspiciousnessReciting the Hymns (Suktas); Ritual Application of the Vedic Hymns; CHAPTER 5: The Power of Puranic Songs: Drawing Down the Goddess; Reciting the Songs of Praise (Stotras); The Propitious Glance of the Goddess; Fruits of the Recitations (Phala); CHAPTER 6: The Power of Tantric Songs: Waking Up the Goddess; Alchemy of the Goddess: The Magic of Transformation; The Potency of a Woman's Recitations; Literary Genres of the Tantric Songs; Structure of the Tantric Songs; PART THREE: Ceremony |
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INTRODUCTION: Invoking Laksmi in Ceremony: Laksmi PujaCreating Space to Receive the Goddess; The Ancient Art of Hospitality; Structure of the Ceremony; Laksmi Puja Text; Preparation and Purification; Heart of the Ceremony: Receiving the Goddess; Outline of the Laksmi Puja; PART FOUR: Song; Vedic Hymns to Laksmi; Hymn to Sri(Sri Suktam); Hymn to Laksmi(Laksmi Suktam); Puranic Songs to Laksmi; Song for Laksmi, Gracious Bestower of Blessings (Prasannavarada Sri Laksmi Stotram); Song for the Glorious Lotus Goddess (Sri Kamala Stotram) |
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Lord Indra's Song for Laksmi (Devaraja Indrakrta Laksmi Stotram)The Heavenly Gods' Praise-Song for Laksmi (Sri Daivakrta Laksmi Stotram); Eight Verses Praising Mahalaksmi (Mahalaksmyastakam Stotram); Tantric Songs to Laksmi; The Secret Heart of Laksmi (Sri Mahalaksmi Hrdayam); Praise-Song for the Bestower of Wealth(Dhanada Stotram); Song-Amulet of the Bestower of Wealth (Dhanada Kavacam); Praise-Song for the Lotus Goddess (Kamala Stotram); 108 Names of the Glorious Lotus Goddess (Sri Kamala Astottarasatanama Stotram); Song-Amulet of the Lotus Goddess (Kamalatmika Kavacam) |
| Summary |
Beautiful, beloved Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, happiness, and abundant good fortune. This fascinating book is the first comprehensive guide to this celebrated goddess, her worship, and the deeper spiritual domain of prosperity she reveals. Constantina Rhodes presents over five hundred elegantly translated Sanskrit verses, including devotional songs, mantras, visualizations, and ceremonial instructions that devotees use to invoke Lakshmi |
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Rhodes uses these texts to develop a richly detailed portrait of Lakshmi, revealing unexpected dimensions of this enigmatic deity. Even as Lakshmi is best known as a goddess of wealth and well-being, she also maintains a strong esoteric presence, expressing herself as Siddhi, the magnificent Tantric goddess of spiritual power, and as Kundalini Shakti, the transformative cosmic force that exists within each individual. These identities express the "prosperity consciousness" that is the essential nature of the goddess and the divine source of all wealth. Invoking Lakshmi is not only a matter of calling upon the external form of the goddess but also of aligning one's consciousness with the very essence of prosperity. --Book Jacket |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| Subject |
Lakshmī (Hindu deity) -- Cult
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Lakshmī (Hindu deity) -- Prayers and devotions -- History and criticism
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| SUBJECT |
Lakshmī (Hindu deity) fast |
| Subject |
Hindu hymns -- History and criticism
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RELIGION -- Hinduism -- Theology.
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Hindu hymns
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Cults
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Prayers and devotions
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| Genre/Form |
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9781441687005 |
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1441687009 |
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1438433220 |
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9781438433226 |
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