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
பத்மாலயாம்பத்மகராம்பத்மபத்ரநிபேக்ஷணாம்
வந்தேபத்மமுகீம்தேவீம்பத்மனாபப்ரியாமஹம்
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 வைகுன்யமாயாந்திஸீலாத்யா: சகலாகுணா:
பராங்முகீஜகத்தாத்ரீயஸ்யத்வம்விஷ்ணுவல்லபே
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.’
ஷறீராரோக்யம்ஐஸ்வர்யம்அறிபக்ஷ்க்ஷ்யஸுகம்
தேவித்வத்த்ருஷ்டித்ருஷ்டாநாம்புருஷாணாம்நதுர்லபம்
Calls her 'Mother'
In the initial set of verses, he refers to her as DEVI. In the 10thverse, 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.
இதிசகலவிபூத்யவாப்திஹேது
ஸ்துதிரியமிந்த்ரமுகோத்கதாஹிலக்ஷ்ம்யா:
அநுதிநமிஹபட்யதேந்ருபிர்யை
வசதிநதேஷுகதாசிதப்யலகக்ஷ்மீ
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.