By Dhanvanti Keshavrao On Diwali days, the whole celebrations are geared on welcoming Lakshmi Devi, the Goddess of Wealth.
But true to Hindu traditions of keeping everything in the proper prospective, there is a variation of goddess Lakshmi, whom you are not supposed to even mention during the happy/prosperous festival.
That is Alakshmi, the goddess of ill luck! This is the concept, that tells you, that you should not lose your dharma due to the blessings of Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth.
Unless you take care in this responsibility, the Alakshmi, the reverse of Lakshmi will be your lot.
In fact, Alakshmi is supposed to be the elder sister of Lakshmi Devi, both having come out of the mythical churning of the 'shirsagar" the abode of God Vishnu during Amrit Manthan, the famous epical event.
Alakshmi appeared prior to the manifestation of Lakshmi Devi from the shirsagar...
In fact she is known, in religious lore as Jyeshta Devi, as she was born before Lakshmi Devi! In many parts of rural India especially Bengal, care is taken to ensure that Alakshmi is clearly informed that she is not welcome during Diwali.
The oldest lady in the house, preferably a widow, sweeps out the whole house, to drive out this goddess.
Images of the deity are made out of cow dung, dragged through the streets (like Old year is treated at the advent of New Year), and the image's ear and nose chipped off.
The tradition is that, humiliated by this outburst, Alakshmi will leave the house and takes her abode in the nearest aswatta tree.
In places such as the villages of Orissa, during Diwali she is frightened away by the beating of pots and pans.
Often an ugly image of her is burned before a beautiful image of goddess Lakshmi is installed.
"It is said that when she entered a household, Alakshmi brought jealousy and malice in her trail.
Brothers fell out with each other, families and their male lineages (kula) faced ruin and destruction." According to one story, Alakshmi was upset because her younger sister was wife to Vishnu and was living in the Vaikuntha paradise, while she had neither husband nor abode.
God Vishnu i then decreed "Mrityu, god of death, decay, and degeneration will be Alakshmi's husband and she will dwell wherever there is dirt, ugliness, sloth, gluttony, envy, rage, hypocrisy, greed and lust." Alakshmi is described as being "cow-repelling, antelope-footed, [and] bull-toothed." or she "has [a] dry shriveled up body, sunken cheeks, thick lips, and beady eyes and that she rides a donkey." She sometimes takes the form of an owl that is portrayed accompanying Lakshmi.
It is believed the owl is the representation of "arrogance and stupidity that often accompanies fortune [brought by Lakshmi] and heralds misfortune." It is for this reason that Lakshmi's devotees are wary of the owl.
In many south Indian temples, carved during the Pallava era ( A.D 750 to A.D 1000), sculptures of Jyeshta Devi/Alakhsmi goddess exist.
The winnowing fork used in harvest is shown as her weapon, and she rides a donkey and has crow as her banner..
There are three references Alakshmi even in the Sri Suktam, the most important Sanskrit hymn on Lakshmi Devi.
One of passages states ."I destroy the poverty (Alakshmi) which is the cause of hunger and thirst, which is the elder sister of Lasksmi, and which is impure.
O Goddess, please get the paucity of wealth from my abode obliterated and all the hurdles in the way of the acquisition of wealth be removed." Esoterically, churning of milky ocean means practising of severe penance or austerity, inherent ignorance denoted by Alakshmi in this mantra is expelled from the sea of consciousness, whereafter the Goddess of fortune emerges smiling in all her splendour.
Many unlucky women in Indian epics are supposed to be the avataras of Alakshmi.
Duryodhana had married Bhanumathi, the daughter of the king of Kashi even before Draupadi Svayamwara.
Bhanumati is said to be actually an incarnation of Alakshmi.While Pandavas ultimately achieved power, duryodhana lost it.
Another manifestation of Alakshmi is said to be Manthara who poisoned the ear of Kaikeyi-queen of King Dasharata to banish Lord Rama for 14 years of exile.
One Andhra pradesh fable relates that long, long ago, the two sisters Lakshmi and Alakhsmi had a bitter argument as to who was the more beautiful.
They argued for days and days, but neither was able to convince the other.
To settle their argument, they agreed to ask the opinion of a shopkeeper.
"Tell us," said the divine sisters to the startled shopkeeper, "which of us is the more beautiful.
And do not lie or else you will be punished." The truth was simple.
Lakshmi was much more beautiful by far.
But this shopkeeper was a very clever person.
He knew, that if he said so, then Alakshmi was sure to curse him with poverty.
But, if he declared Alakshmi to be more beautiful, then that would be a lie and he would be punished.
What should he do? Then one solution struck him.
He bowed to both the devis and requested them to walk in front of his house so that he can judge all the beauty merits.
After this parade he bowed to Alakshmi and told her "Devi, your back appears so charming, when you are leaving anybody's abode" and turning to Lakshmi Devi told her "Mahalakshmi, when you are entering a house, your front appearance is so beautiful".
Both the devi's were pleased and left the shopkeeper in peace.
The departure of poverty is as beautiful as the arrival of wealth.
