Purana Bulletin
710,357 words
The “Purana Bulletin” is an academic journal published by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in India. The journal focuses on the study of Puranas, which are a genre of ancient Indian literature encompassing mythological stories, traditions, and philosophical teachings. The Puranas are an important part of Hindu scriptures in Sa...
Goddess Laksmi
bhagavati laksmih [Goddess Laksmi] (da0 narendranatha sarma caudhuri, samskrtavibhagadhyaksa, dilli visvavidyalaya) / 103-111
[In this article the learned author has discussed the various aspects of Goddess Laksmi and her relation with Visnu, Sarasvati and Usa. Laksmi is regarded as the wife of Visnu, and Sarasvati has also been regarded as her co-wife. In the Rgveda Goddess Usa has been conceived both as gold-coloured (f) and white coloured (g); gold-colour signifying her gold giving capacity, and the white colour her knowledge-bestowing capacity. In course of time the Vedic deity Usa evolved into the Puranic and Tantric goddesses Laksmi (conceived as gold-coloured and wealth-bestowing), and Sprasvaty (conceived as white coloured, and bestower of knowledge). The worship of Laksmi has been prescribed on the occasions of the Kojagara-Purnima of the lunar month Asvina, and the Dipavali-Amavasya (of the Kartika month). The author has criticised the custom of gambling on the occasions of Laksmiworship, although it has been prescribed by Raghunandana in his Tithitattva. The custom might be due to a confusion between the aksas (the casts of gambling) and the aksamala (which really means 'rosary') of Goddess Laksmi. On account of her wealth-bestowing capacity Laksmi has also been associated with Kubera whose worship is recommended along with the worship of Laksmi.] bhagavatya laksmyah prasiddhirasmin bharate varse sutaram sarvatraiva vartate | rgvedasya khile srisukte, saubhagyalaksmyupanisadadisu ca deviyam samyak samamnayate |
104 puranam - PURANA [Vol. IV, No. 1 asyah pujanam mahatmyam ca purane tamtre'pi visesena varnitamasti | "laksmih padmalaya padma kamala sriharipriya " (1-4-54 ) ityadayo'sya amarakosadhrta vacakah sabdah | tesu ca sririti nama nitaram prasiddhyati | athasyah purane tantre ca varnanam kidrsam ? kim va tasya tatparyam ? kascasyah sambandhah sarasvatya, visnuna, usasa ca ? kimcasyastattvam rahasyam ca ? ityetatsarvamatra samasena vivicyate | laksmih khalu samudramanthanasamaye pradurabhuditi sastre samiritam | atra bharatam - " sriranantaramutpanna ghrtat panduravasini " | (1-18-35 ) atra bhagavatam ca | "tatascavirabhutsaksacchi rama bhagavatpriya " | ( 8-8-8 ) atha kidrsamasya rupamityatra smarta- raghunandanasya tithitattve konagarakrtye adityapuranadhrtam dhyanam yatha- "pasaksamalikambhoja srnibhiryamyasaumyayoh padmasanastham dhyayecca sriyam trailokyamataram || gauravarnam surusam ca sarvalankarabhusitam | raukmapadmavyagrakaram varadam daksinena tu " || ( candicaranasmrtibhusanaprakasitam tithitattvam, kojagara - krtyam, prsthamkah 381 ) dhyanadasmadavagamyate yad bhagavatiyam padmasanastha, gauravarna, hastadvayena kesamcinmate hastacatustayena va pasam, rudraksajapamalam, padmamankusam ca bibharti | parametat sarvametasyah karmajatam hi prakatikaroti | tatha hi laksmito jananam mayabandhanam pasena, dharmadikarma ca rudraksanasamalaya, saundarya sampadananda-vardhanam ca padma ेna, duhkhotpadanam camkusena vyajyate | evam ca bhagavatiyam dhanadidevata vartate | tatasca dhanad yatha bandhanam duhkham ca bhavati, tatha dharmah sukhamanandam ca sanjayate | ityeva dhyanenanena sucitam | iyam hi devi laksayati pasyati prasanna prapannamiti laksmih, srayati va visnumiti srisca nigadyate |
Jan. 1962] "srim " bhagavati laksmih 105 ityasyah prasiddho bijamantrah | dhyanena yadrupamupatisthate tadeva bijamantrarthah | esa tavad visnornarayanasya patniti giyate | vagdevi sarasvati vartate | asyah sapatno atha laksmih khalu candrasvinamasasya ko jagarapaurnamasyam visesena samarcyate | tasyam ratri aksairjagaranam ca sastre vihitam | yatha tithitatve kojagara krtye | raghunandanah - " aksairjagaranam caret " ( candicaranasmrtibhusana prakasitam tithitattvam kojagarakrtyam, prsthamkah 380 ) yatha ca punastatraiva-- "nisithe varada laksmih ko jagartiti bhasini | tasmai vittam prayacchami aksaih kridam karoti yah | ( pr0 380-381 ) hi rgvede'pi aksasuktam param vidhanametat durvidhanamivabhati | tatha vartate, satyam, kintu tatra aksanindaiva krta vedapurusena, aksakrida ca nisiddha ; yatha-- 'aksairma divyah krsimit krpasva ' ( 10-34-13 ) | srimahabharate'pi sabhaparvani astapamcadasa'dhyaye durodarasya nindaiva vihita bhagavata vyasena ; yatha-- " dyutamanarthamulam " (11 ), yatha ca punastatraiva ekonasastitame'dhyaye- "devanam papam " (5); tathapi kojagara- ratrau kathankaram vihitaksakrideti vicitramivaitat pratibhati | paramatraitat sambhavyate yat purane varnitaya laksmidevya haste sthitaksamalikaiva vidhanasyasya hetuh | kintu purvametaduktameva yat saksamalika tattvato rudraksamalaivasti, na tu dyutaksah | ataeva vidhirayam sruti- bharatadismrtiviruddhah svarthasiddhyartham kenacit praksipta iveti samamananti vidvamsah | evam ca laksmih dipanvitayamamavasyayamapi pradose pujyate, yatastasyameva ratrau mahapralayat param mahasaktih punah srstyartham pradurabhut | atha laksmidevya sakam kuberasyapi sastre puja vihita | kuberah khalu munervisravasah "idavida " - namadheyayam "milavila " - namadheyayam va bharyayam jatah putrah | ayam hi dhanadhipatryambakasakho yaksaranascasti | nikasa-nandanasya raksasarajasya ravanasyayam vaimatreyo bhrata ca vartate | kutsitangah kusthi 14
106 puranam - PURANA [Vol. 1V, No. 1 ceti kubera iti namnayam vyapadisyate | parantu laksmidevyah bhasakathayamuktam yat kuberah laksminarayanayoh putro'stiti | kimidam ? kim va casya mulam ? ucyate | dhanasambandhad dhanadhipah kubero'pi dhanadhidevataya laksmyah kalakramena loke putratvam lambhita ityeva samgacchate | anyatha yaksarajasya naravahanasya manusyadharmanah kuberasya laksminarayanayoh putratvam durusapadameva vidyate | kinca rgvedasya khile srisukte devasakhah ( sivasakhah ) iti namna kuberah sruyate "srida " iti nama kascid rsisca laksmyah putra iti cannayate | "srida " iti kuberasya namantaramiti ca kosato jnayate | atah kuverasyapi kathancit laksmyah putratvam srutisiddhamevastiti ma vocah, yatah sridasya srisukte rsitvena srutatvat kuberasya tu tatha prasiddhatvacceti dik | " atha kutreyam laksmih prativasatiti prasne srimahabharate anusasanaparvani, ekadase'dhyaye laksmivakyam- " vasami nityam subhage pragalbhe, dakse nare karmasu vidyamane | akrodhane devapare krtajne jitendriye nityamudirnasattve || " (6) yatharthametat | idrsa eva jano laksmyah param bhajanam bhavati | jagatyasmina samrddhaye satyam pranidhatavyametadasti | atha tantra- sastre srilaksmih kamala ba, kalyadimahavidyasvanyatama vidyate | iyam hi kancanasannibha, sindurarunakantirva cakasti | caturbhirga- jairhastaksipta-hiranyakrtavatai sicyamana, caturbhuja ca vartate | asya astau saktayah santi | tasu ca usa devi sarasvati canyatama vidyate | vaisnavacaranaprakasite krsnanandasya tantrasare mahalaksmimantraprakarane- "umadyah patramadhyastha saktirastau yajet kramat | athoma srisarasvatyau durga dharanisamyuta | | yatha gayatri devyusa ceti padmahasta susobhana || iti (prsthamka 130 ) na kevalam dhanarthina, vidyarthinapi sadeyam sevya dhyatavya carkamandale ityapi tantrasare laksmikavace, laksmiprayoge coktam (prsthamkah 419, 473 )
Jan. 1962] bhagavati laksmih 107 atha sarasvatya api martandamandala eva dhyanam tantrasare sarasvatiprayoge ( prsthamkah 473 ) vihitam | iyam ca sarasvati devi subhrakantih, sitabje nisanna, vidyadhidevata, vidyadayini, sakalavibhava- siddhida ca prokta | yatha sarasvati laksmyah saktistatha laksmirapi sarasvatyastanurvartate | yatha tithitattve pancamiprakarane- "laksmirmedha dhara pusti gauri tustih prabha dhrtih etabhih pahi tanubhirastabhirmam sarasvati || " ( prstha0 138-139 ) api ca srisabdo yatha laksmivacakastatha sarasvativacako'pi | atra khalu tithitattve - ( prsthamkah 136 ) "pancamyam srirapi sriyam || " iti, " pancamyam pujayelaksmi puspadhupannavaribhih | masyadharam lekhanim ca pujayenna likhettatah || maghe masi site pakse pancami ya sriyah priya | tasyam purvahana eveha karyah sarasvatotsavah || " ( prsthamkah, 136 138 ) iti ca sastravacanam samuddhrtya, "laksmi-sarasvati-dhi-trivarga- sampad- vibhuti-sobhasu | upakarana-vesaracanasu ca sririti prathita | " iti vyadikosam ca pradarsya smartena raghunandanenapi srisabdasya sarasvatiparatvamapi supratipaditamasti | athaitebhyo vacanadibhyah spastamidam pratiyate yad vedasya kacit suryamandala sambandhini prasiddhaiva devi mahabhagyat karmaprthaktvat purane tantre ca laksminamna sarasvatinamna ca rupabhedena ca prthak pujyate | param nastyanayostattvattah kascid bhedah | anyathanayorubhayoh suryamandalasambandhah sriprabhrti - namadheyasamyam karmavisesadisamyam ca nopapadyate | atha kasau mahabhaga vaidiki devi ya purane tantre ca laksmih sarasvati ca sanjateti prasne procyate - vaidiki usa eva sa devata cakasti | katham ? sruyatam | rgvede laksmisabdah khalu "saktamiva titauna " ityadimantre "bhadvaisam laksmirnihitadhivaci | " ( 10-71-2 ) ityatra sakrdeva sruyate | na tatrasti
108 puranam - PURANA [Vol. IV, No. 1 srisuktam na va laksmisuktam | yatsarasvatisuktam rgvede drsyate tattu nadiparam na tu vidyadevi paramiti tu nirvivadameva | param tatra khilabhage srisuktamekamavasyam vartate | tattu pascat samyojitamiti tasya khilanamna siddhameva | parantu rgvede bhagavati usadevi khalu suprasiddha | sa ca "hiranyavarna " ( 7-70- 2 ) "subhra " ( 4-51-6 ) ceti, "revati " ( 3-61-6 ) "pracetasceti " ( 3-61 - 1 ), "suryasya yosa ' (7-75-5 ) ceti ca varnyate | ataeva drsyate yat usa laksmivat suvarnavarna, sarasvativat subhravarna ca | iyam na kevalam dhanadhidevata, jnanadhidevata ca | laksmivadasyah pradhanam karma na kevalam dhanadanam, parantu sarasvativat jnanadanam ca | iyam ca suryasya patni | ato'sya aparam nama "surya " iti sruyate | atra yaskah -- "surya suryasya patni | esaivabhi srstakalatama | " ( niruktam, 12-7-2 ) asya vyakhyane durgah- " esaiva usah abhisrstakalatama yatha suryasyodayakalam pratyabhisrstatama bhavati gatatama bhavati, tatha tatha saisa usah surya sampadyate | " itthamavadatametad yat usa devi, vaidikasya visnoh patni, dhyanadisaukaryartham pujadisaukaryartham ca, suvarnavarnena samam suvarnadirupasya dhanasya, subhravarnena ca samam nirmalasya jnanasya ca samyojanena, purane tantre ca laksmih sarasvati ca sampanna| tena ca, vede satyamapi prasiddhayau, usadevi purane tantre ca, tena rupena na pujyate na va drsyate, yatah khalviyam tatra rupantarameva prapta, ataeva punastatra uporupenavirbhavasyavasyakataiva nalokyate | matasyasya pustih khalu rgvedasya khilat srisuktat sutaram nayate | tatha ca srisukta srayate- "candram hiranmayim laksmim jatavedo ma avaha | " anyacca - " sriyam devimupahvaye | " aparam ca - " adityavarne | " kinca - "suryam hiranmayim laksmim jatavedo ma avaha | " api ca- mahalaksmyai ca vidmahe visnupatnyai ca dhimahi | tanno laksmih pracodayat |
Jan. 1962] bhagavati laksmih 109 athaitebhyah srisuktasrutivakyebhyo vijnayate yat srilaksmirmahalaksmiscaika eva devata | iyam hi hiranyavarna, adityavarna, subhravarna ca | iyam punah suryasya patni surya, visnupatni ca | padyate | J evancanena laksmya vaisistyena samamatra drastavyam yanmahabhaga bhagavati usa- devyapi narbhasa, prakrtya, pratidinam pratyusah, hiranyavarna, tatascadityavarna, tadanantaram ca subhravarna samalokyate | iyam punarmadhyakasavartino visnusamjnakasya suryasya patni surya iti ca sruyate | api ca bhagavatiyam vibhatasamaye savanadikarmasu preranad dhanam, tatasca svadhyayadikarmasu preranacca jnanam janayati | ataeva iyameva varnakramadibhedad usasi laksmirupam, tatasca sarasvatirupam pratipadyate tena ca laksmisarasvatyoh suryamandalasambandhidevatatvam parasparasaktitvam namadyabhedascopa- evanca laksmyah kancanakantitvam, sindurarunakantitvam ca, tatha prabhatakiranatoyairdiggaja sicyamanamurtitvam upasah saktitvam ca sarvam susamanjasameva bhavati | aparam ca tamah samudrat pratarusasah pradurbhava eva samudramanthanat laksmya avirbhavarupena purane varnita eva iti yat tadapi suvacameva bhavati | ittham ca "idam visnurvicakrame tredha nidadhe padam " iti srutya rgvedasthaya (1-22-17 ) pratipadito madhyakasavartisuryabhinno visnureva purane usasah khalvabhinnaya laksmyah sarasvatyasca patirupenopavarnyate | atha kim svarupah khalu pauraniko'yam visnuriti prasne prasiddhayam pujapaddhatau visnordhyanam yatha- "visnum pitavasasam caturbhujam vanamalavibhusitam | laksmi sarasvatikantam " garudasanamasrame " || evam ca pauranikasya visnoh suryabhinnatvam visnoh rupantarabhutasya narayanasya prasiddhat dhyanat samyak pratiyate | yatha- " dhyeyah sada savitrmandalamadhyavarti narayanah " | iti | - api ca-- " idam visnurvicakrame " iti rgveda-srutau visnostridha padanidhanam khalu sakapunyadibhirmanisibhirbhinnarupenaivakalitam varnitam ca | atha etadeva visnoh padatrayanidhanam kincid rupantaram purane vamanabalisamvade dhrtavamanarupe
110 purogam - PURANA [Vol. IV, No. 1 visnau praptam | ataeva devya usasah patirvediko visnureva purane tantre ca upasastavadabhinnaya laksmyah sarasvatyasca vallabhatvamavapta ityadi sarvam sastradrstya suslistamevopapannam | atha laukikadrstya devya usasah purane tantre ca rupadvayasya kim karanamityasya nipunam vicare kriyamane drsyate'smabhiryat sampradayadi- vidvesadikamapyatra kila karanam bhavet | pura pauranikayugaprarambhe bharatavarse dhanisampradayasya jnanisampradayasya ca madhye tatha nama vaimanasyamasid yatha sampradayadvayena na punaryatha pura dhanaya jnanaya ca ekasya eva devataya usasah samabhyarcanam sambhavamabhut | tena ca mahabhagyat karmaprthaktvadva laksmirupena sarasvatirupena ca rupadvayamusasah sampradayadvayena svarthasiddhaye prakalpitam | evam ca sapatnitvena laksmyah sarasvatyasca kalpanaya tayorekatravasthanam khalu duskaramiva samapadyata | ittham dhanisampradayasya jnanisampradayasya ca madhye saumanasyabhavena devatabhedad desasya, samajasya, janaganasya ca samabhyudayo vyahata eva samanani | idamavitatham yadanayoh sampradayayormadhye sauharde satyeva sarvatra bhadramanamayam santisca sambhavati | tadeva ca desasya samajasya ca netrnam kavinam ca paramam kamyamasit | param tattatha tadanavartata | etatsarvam samskrtavanmayasya samyagadhyayanadavadatameva sampadyate | bahoh kalatpurvamavirbhutena kavina kalidasenapi sarvametadantara'ntara samasena susthu prakatikrtam | tatha coktam tena vikramorvasiye- "parasparavirodhinyorekasamsrayadurlabham 1 sangatam srisarasvatyorbhuyadudbhutaye satam || (5-24 ) ittham dhanijnanisampradayavirodho'pi tavadusasah pauranike yuge murtidvayagrahanasya nidanantaram syaditi matam yuktiyuktamiva pratibhati | atha laksmyah kim tattvam, kim va rahasyamiti prasne vadamo yadiyam laksmih khalu tattvattah kalasakteh kalyah karmabhedat kamalamurtya rupantaramevasti | iyam bhagavatah suryasya parasaktih, patnirupa, sarasvatyabhinna, srimadusasah parinamabhuta, bhadrakali, dhanarogyavidyanandakari, paramesvari, vibhatasamaye pratidinamavirbhuya,
Jan. 1962] bhagavati laksmih sarvebhyah sutaram sreyah preyasca vitarati | 111 esa khalu yatharthato naiva stri na va puman vartate tathapi mahadeviyam sadhakanam sadhanadisaukaryartham matrrupenanisam dhyayate pujyate ca | asyah svarupasyasya vijnanena sadhakasya saktyabhinna brahmarupatvameva sidhyati | athaitadeva bhagavatya laksmyastattvam rahasyam ca vibhati | purana-ratnani sampadam hetubhuta ca vipattih sarvadehinam | vina vipattermahima kesam padma bhavedbhave || ( brahmavaivartta0, anandasrama0, 2 /6/90 ) cedasti saktirdravyadane tataste, datavyamevarthine kim vicaryam | no cetsantah parakaryani kuryu- rvagbhirmanobhih krtibhistathaiva || ( brahmapurana, vemkatesvara0, gauta0 ma0, 40 /39 )