Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Is Laxmi, the wife of Vishnu, a powerless goddess?

 Bhagavatī Lakṣmī is far from powerless. The Purāṇas, Tantras, and Āgamas describe Bhagavatī Lakṣmī, the eternal consort of Bhagavān Viṣṇu, as the supreme force of the cosmos, the Mūla Prakṛti, the creator of the universe, and a warrior who defeats mighty demons. The scriptures say she possesses boundless strength, and without her power, even the Supreme Lord would be unable to sustain creation.

🌷Ahirbudhnya Samhita, Chapter 6 -

That Lord Narayana is the eternal Supreme Soul. His power (Shakti) consists of the nature of "I-ness" and shares His attributes.

Without power (Shakti), no powerful being is the cause of anything. And power does not exist without the powerful being.

Raja Ravi Varma (public domain)

🪷 MahaLakshmi Ashtakam -

Salutations to you, seated on Garuda, cause of fear for Lord
Saturn, remover of all sin, Goddess LakShmi, salutations to you (2)

The great terror of gross and subtle (wicked
beings), supreme power, engulfing all, redemptress of the universe,
remover of the great sins, Goddess LakShmi, salutations to you. (6)

Seated on a lotus, the Goddess, whose nature is the transcendent
infinite, transcendent ruler, mother of the world, Goddess LakShmi,
salutations to you. (7)

🪷Kamala Stotram -

Oh, Pretty one, who is complete. who is always wealthy, who defends those who seek her protection, You are primeval of the universe, you are the creator of the universe, please become pleased with me. (5)

Oh Pretty one, you have the form of Brahma and the sun and the world shines because of you, You are the form of the universe, you are the chosen one, please become pleased with me. (6)

Oh, pretty one, The earth, the water, the fire, the wind and the sky, which are the five elements are your form, And you are the reason for the properties of these elements, please become pleased with me. (7)

Oh pretty one, you are the mother of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, you order the Brahma, You Make Brahma act and oh queen of devas, you are clear as well as not clear, please become pleased with me. (19)

🪷MahaLakshmi Hrudaya Stotram -

Oh primeval illusion, you are the egg of the universe, You are the one with form as well as one without form, You are the one, who supports Shiva, Brahma and others, And your story is great, Oh Goddess, who is with Vishnu (67)

🪷Lakshmi Stotra [Indra] -

You are the real form of Lord Vishnu, And you are the all carrying mother earth, You are the form of the purest essence, And you are the one who chants the name of Narayana. (9)

You the divine mother for every one, And the one who is friend and relation of all, You are the formed personification of all Dharma, Wealth, desire and the ultimate salvation. (11)

Image credits - @anujra0_


According to the scriptures, Vaiṣṇavī Lakṣmī is the dynamic force that sustains and nurtures all of creation.

🌺Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa Saṃhitā, Khaṇḍa 1, Chapter 4, Verses 22-25 -

The creator is said to be Rājasa, Rudra emerged from his brow. The destroyer is Tāmasa, Viṣṇu became that from the heart. The nourisher is Sattva, they are endowed with their own powers. The woman who is situated in the body of Brahmā is called Brāhmī, his consort. She is called Sṛṣṭi, and she is the half of Brahmā, indeed. Rudra's power is his Rudrāṇī (Raudrī), Śivā is called Hara's consort, the chaste one. Vaiṣṇavī is Viṣṇu's power and is also known as Lakṣmī. These three, nourish, destroy, and maintain creation.

🌺Varāha Purāṇa, Chapter 89, Verse 28 -

The Goddess who is beautiful due to her red color and slim waist, holding a conch and disc, is known to be Vaiṣṇavī Kalā. She protects the entire world and is known as Viṣṇumāyā

🌺Mahābhāgavata Purāṇa, Chapter 23, Verses 44b-45 -

...You are Vaisnavi, the nourisher, and Mahalaksmi the beloved of Hari. (44) You are the Sakti of Visnu, the wielder of conch and wheel and identified with Visnu. You are Visnupriya, the beloved of Visnu, the Maya of Visnu and the only darling of his heart.

Image credits - @anuran_basu_


Other pramāṇāni -

🪻Skanda Purana, Brāhma-khaṇḍa, Setu-māhātmya, Chapter 50, Verses 66-74a -

Obeisance to you, O mother of the universe, O goddess with Viṣṇu's broad chest for your abode. Obeisance to you, O Daughter of the Ocean, O Mahālakṣmī, O beloved of Hari. Perpetual obeisance to Siddhi, Puṣṭi, Svadhā and Svāhā. Repeated obeisance to Sandhyā, to Prabhā, to Dhātrī, to Bhūti. Obeisance, Obeisance to Śraddhā, to Medhā and to Sarasvatī. O Yajñavidyā ('science of sacrifice'), O Mahāvidyā, O Guhyavidyā ('science of the secret things'), O highly splendid one, O Ātmavidyā ('science of Atman'). O goddess of Devas, O bestower of salvation on all the embodied beings, O mother of the universe, O goddess, the embodiment of three Vedas, O protectress of the universe! Save me by your benign glance, O goddess, the cause of creation, sustenance and annihilation. Again and again, obeisance to you, O mother of Brahmā, O great goddess

🪻Skanda Purana, Vaiṣṇava-khaṇḍa, Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya, Chapter 9, Verses 99-105 -

Obeisance to Śrī, the mother of the worlds. Obeisance, obeisance to the mother of Brahmā... Obeisance, obeisance to you, the (Vedic) lore in the form of Ṛk, Yajus and Sāma. Be pleased, O daughter of the Ocean; look at us with your benign glances. Those who are seen by you shall attain the status of Brahmā, Rudra and Indra.


So no, she isn’t powerless. In fact, the scriptures say the opposite: without her, even Vishnu cannot act.

Image credits - pinterest