(1) Shri Lakshmi-Ganesh are traditionally worshipped on the auspicious festival of Deepawali. Shri Lakshmiji is considered to be the presiding deity of wealth and prosperity. To understand its subtle meaning, some points are presented on the basis of the scriptural texts and words of revered saints.
(2) According to highly revered Nirmala Maa (disciple of Swami Sivanandaji), Shri Lakshmiji is actually the goddess of ‘name-wealth’, as chanting and singing the name of God is the most valuable wealth of human-life.
(3) It is described in Shrimad Bhagvad-Gita (Chapter 16, verse 1-3) that 26 divine virtues are the divine wealth (assets), manifestation of which is the good fortune of every human being.
(4) In the commentary of these verses in ‘Shrimad Bhagvad-Gita : Jeevan Vigyan’, Shri Dharmendra Mohan Sinha (revered ‘Nanaji’) has written that these virtues are actually inherent quality of the Self. They do not have to be acquired from outside. But, bewildered by the flow of worldly acceptances, man is unable to accept or adhere to these natural virtues.
(5) Some useful steps to adhere to these virtues are given in the commentary itself:
- First, faith in them should be strengthened. They should be deemed worthy of adherence at all times and in all circumstances.
- Then, every effort should be strengthened. They should be deemed worthy of adherence at all times and in all circumstances.
- At the same time, taking refuge in God, we should pray to Him that He may grant us such strength that these inherent qualities of ours can be illumined.
(6) In the commentary, revered ‘Nanaji’ has also mentioned two effects of these efforts:
- Our faith in these virtues is strengthened and the influence of social acceptances fails to shake us.
- By the grace of God, gradually such situations will lessen as well as become feeble in which feelings contrary to these virtues may arise or may be imbibed.
(7) Highly revered Radha Baba has indicated in the second shatak of the great epic ‘Jai jai priyatam’ that if we adorn our mind-like home with these virtues-like jewels, then there will be neither fear nor any sense of want in life:
छोटा सा ग्राम एक अद्भुत कासार तीरपर था, प्रियतम।
थे रत्नजटित सब गृह उसमें बसनेवालों के, हे प्रियतम।
देवी के कृपापात्र वे थे, निर्भय थे सभी सदा, प्रियतम।
राजा-सा जीवन था उनका, पर शीलवान वे थे, प्रियतम ||१९९ ||
(There was a small unique village on the banks of the lake, O dear beloved! All the houses of the inhabitants were studded with jewels, O dear beloved! They were blessed by the grace of the Goddess,they were all ever fearless, O dear beloved! Their life was majestic like a monarch, but they were modest, O dear beloved!)
So, on this Deepawali, let us all together be blessed by the grace of Shri Lakshmiji, become modest in mind-word-deed by adorning ourselves with the 26 divine virtues, and by the grace of Lord ShriSitaRamji, create a magnificent life for ourselves.
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