Slokam 4

Goddess Lakshmi emerges from the churning.  More appropriately,  all the qualities and powers of Goddess Lakshmi,  emerge from the churning,  and take on the ethereal form of the supreme mother.

As can be expected, Goddess Lakshmi attracts everyone.  Everyone wants all of the eight qualities that she can dispense.  She is provided a throne bedecked with gems by Indira.  She is also consecrated by the sages using materials and chants from the scriptures.

Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word consecration literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups. The origin of the word comes from the Latin stem consecrat, which means dedicated, devoted, and sacred. A synonym for to consecrate is to sanctify, a distinct antonym is to desecrate.

Goddess Lakshmi is anointed by the sages as the creator and holder of the totality of the wealth of the entire society.

We may wonder why Goddess Lakshmi is being assigned the responsibility by the Paramathma.  This is explained when we look at the constitution of the structure of each family.  The material wealth of the family is primarily used to provide for the well being of the women and children of the family.  It is their needs that provides the karmic impetus for the success of the man in his chosen occupation. The Lakshmi of the house is the source of this power.  Those of us men who have experienced an improvement in our job positions immediately after marriage or birth of children will acknowledge the source of this well being.

The mother feeds,  teaches, induces courage,  begets progeny.  The father is always engaged in discharging the karmic activity required to provide material security for the family.

May we acknowledge and respect the source from which our material well being emerges. 

May we,  like the Paramathma,  keep the Lakshmi of the house always in our hearts.