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Lakshmi (Sanskrit:लक्ष्मी, '','' ) is the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity (both material and spiritual). She is the wife and active energy of Vishnu. Her four hands represent the four goals of human life considered important to the Hindu way of life – dharma, kāma, artha, and moksha.〔Constantina Rhodes (2011), Invoking Lakshmi: The Goddess of Wealth in Song and Ceremony, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-1438433202, pages 29-47, 220-252〕〔(Divali - THE SYMBOLISM OF LAKSHMI ) National Library and Information System Authority, Trinidad and Tobago (2009)〕 Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments. In Buddhist sects of Tibet, Nepal, and southeast Asia, goddess Vasudhara mirrors the characteristics and attributes of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi with minor iconographic differences.〔Miranda Shaw (2006), Buddhist Goddesses of India, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0691127583, Chapter 13 with pages 258-262〕 Lakshmi is also called Sri〔 or ''Thirumagal'' because she is endowed with six auspicious and divine strength even to Vishnu. When Vishnu incarnated on the Earth as the avatars Rama and Krishna, Lakshmi incarnated as his respective consorts: Sita (Rama's wife) and Rukmini (Krishna's wife).〔''Essential Hinduism''; by Steven Rosen (2006); p. 136〕 In the ancient scriptures of India, all women are declared to be embodiments of Lakshmi.〔 The marriage and relationship between Lakshmi and Vishnu as wife and husband, states Patricia Monaghan, is "the paradigm for rituals and ceremonies for the bride and groom in Hindu weddings."〔Patricia Monaghan, Goddesses in World Culture, Volume 1, Praeger, ISBN 978-0313354656, page 5-11〕 Archaeological discoveries and ancient coins suggest the recognition and reverence for goddess Lakshmi in the Scytho-Parthian kingdom and throughout India by the 1st millennium BC.〔〔 Lakshmi's iconography and statues have also been found in Hindu temples throughout southeast Asia, estimated to be from second half of 1st millennium AD.〔Vitorio Roveda (June, 2004), The Archaeology of Khmer Images, Aséanie, Volume 13, Issue 13, pages 11-46〕〔(O goddess where art thou? ) S. James, Cornell University (2011)〕 In modern times, Lakshmi is worshiped as the goddess of wealth. She is also worshipped as the consort of Vishnu in many temples. The festivals of Diwali and Sharad Purnima (Kojagiri Purnima) are celebrated in her honor.〔Constance Jones (2011), in Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations (Editor: J Gordon Melton), ISBN 978-1598842050, pages 253-254 and 798〕 ==Etymology== Lakshmi (Lakṣmī) is one of many Hindu deities whose meaning and significance evolved in ancient Sanskrit texts.〔John Muir, , Volume 5, pp. 348-362 with footnotes〕 Lakshmi is mentioned once in Rig Veda, but the context suggests that the word does not mean "goddess of wealth and fortune," rather it means "kindred mark or sign of auspicious fortune."〔(lakṣmī ), Monier-Williams' ''Sanskrit–English Dictionary'', University of Washington Archives〕〔 In Atharva Veda, composed about 1000 BC, Lakshmi evolves into a complex concept with plural manifestations. Book 7, Chapter 115 of Atharva Veda describes the plurality, asserting that a hundred Lakshmis are born with the body of a mortal at birth, some good, ''punya'' (virtuous) and auspicious, while others bad, ''paapi'' (evil) and unfortunate. The good are welcomed, while the bad urged to leave.〔 The concept and spirit of Lakshmi and her association with fortune and the good is significant enough that Atharva Veda mentions it in multiple books: for example, in Book 12, Chapter 5 as ''punya Lakshmi''.〔""; (अथर्ववेद: काण्डं 12 ) Atharva Veda Sanskrit Original Archive〕 In some chapters of Atharva Veda, Lakshmi connotes the good, an auspicious sign, good luck, good fortune, prosperity, success, and happiness.〔 Later, Lakshmi is referred to as the goddess of fortune, identified with Śrī and regarded as the wife of ().〔 For example, in Shatapatha Brahmana, variously estimated to be composed between 800 BC and 300 BC, Śrī (Lakshmi) is part of one of many theories, in ancient India, about the creation of universe. In Book 9 of Shatapatha Brahmana, Śrī emerges from Prajāpati, after his intense meditation on creation of life and nature of universe. Śrī is described as the beautiful, resplendent and trembling woman at her birth with immense energy and powers.〔 The gods were bewitched, desire her and immediately become covetous of her. The gods approach Prajāpati and request permission to kill her and then take her powers, talents and gifts. Prajāpati refuses, tells the gods that males should not kill females, and that they can seek her gifts without violence.〔Naama Drury (2010), The Sacrificial Ritual In The Satapatha Brahmana, ISBN 978-8120826656, pages 61-102〕 The gods then approach Lakshmi, deity Agni gets food, Soma gets kingly authority, Varuna gets imperial authority, Mitra acquires martial energy, Indra gets force, Brihaspati gets priestly authority, Savitri acquires dominion, Pushan gets splendor, Sarasvati takes nourishment and Tvashtri gets forms.〔 The hymns of Shatapatha Brahmana thus describe Śrī as a goddess born with and personifying a diverse range of talents and powers. According to another legend, she emerges during the creation of universe, floating over the water on the expanded petals of a lotus flower; she is also variously regarded as the wife of Dharma, the mother of Kāma, the sister or mother of and , the wife of Dattatreya, one of the nine Śaktis of , a manifestation of as identified with in Bharataśrama, and as Sītā, the wife of Rāma.〔〔Monier Williams (Religious Thought and Life in India ), Part 1, 2nd Edition, pages 103-112〕 In the Epics of Hinduism, such as in the Mahabharata, Lakshmi personifies wealth, riches, beauty, happiness, loveliness, grace, charm and splendor.〔 In another Hindu legend about the creation of universe as described in the Ramayana,〔Ramayana, i.45.40-43〕 Lakshmi springs with other precious things from the foam of the ocean of milk when it is churned by the gods and demons for the recovery of the . She appeared with a lotus in her hand, and so she is also called Padmā.〔〔Monier Williams (Religious Thought and Life in India ), Part 1, 2nd Edition, pages 108-111〕 ;Root of the word Lakshmi in Sanskrit is derived from the root word ''lakṣ'' () and ''lakṣa'' (), meaning "to perceive, observe, know, understand" and "goal, aim, objective" respectively.〔(lakṣ, लक्ष् ) Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, University of Koeln, Germany〕 These roots give Lakshmi the symbolism: know and understand your goal.〔Carol Plum-Ucci, Celebrate Diwali, ISBN 978-0766027787, pages 79-86〕 A related term is ''lakṣaṇa'', which means "sign, target, aim, symbol, attribute, quality, lucky mark, auspicious opportunity."〔(lakṣaṇa ) Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, University of Koeln, Germany〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lakshmi」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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