Did Lord Vishnu have a wife before Lakshmi?

 In Vedas , Aditi is the wife of Vishnu. That doesn't mean Lakshmi is not the wife of Vishnu .

As per Aditi suktam , In Rigveda she is the primordial god and mother of devatas .

• अदितिर्द्यौरदितिरन्तरिक्षम्
• अदितिर्माता स पिता स पुत्रः ।
• विश्वे देवा अदितिः पञ्च जना
• अदितिर्जातमदितिर्जनित्वम् ॥
• “Aditi is heaven; Aditi is mid-space;
• Aditi is mother, and she is father and son.
• Aditi is all the gods and the five peoples;
• Aditi is what has been born and what is yet to be born.”

Taittariya aranyaka clearly mentions her spouse which is Vishnu. Vedas don't have multiple Aditis. She is the same Aditi from rigveda with similar characteristics of power

• ध्रुवा दिशां विष्णुपत्न्यघोरा
• ऽस्येशाना सहसो या मनोता ।
• बृहस्पतिर् मातरिश्वोत वायुः
• संधुवाना वाता अभि नो गृणन्तु ॥
• विष्टम्भो दिवो धरुणः पृथिव्या
• अस्येशाना जगतो विष्णुपत्नी ।
• विश्वव्यचा इषयन्ती सुभूतिः
• शिवा नो अस्त्वदितिरुपस्थे ॥
• “Firm, of the directions, Viṣṇu's wife, unassailable, sovereign of strength, she who is intelligence/impulse…”
• “The support of heaven, the foundation of earth, sovereign of the world, Viṣṇu's wife; all-pervading, impelling, well-being—may Aditi be auspicious in our presence.”

As far as Lakshmi devi is concerned . She is praised in Lakshmi suktam as the wife of Vishnu. Lakshmi suktam is pretty much a part of vedic composition in ashvalayana samhita which is even quoted by Patanjali in 3BCE and it's considered much older than upanishads dating . So , neanderthals should not bring this stupid argument that laksmi suktam is not a part of Sri suktam. Sayanacharya literally includes Lakshmi suktam after Sri suktam verses.

• Āśvalāyana V.89
• Mahālakṣmī, the “Great Goddess Lakṣmī,” ... Lakṣmī as the wife of Viṣṇu.

So , vedas pretty much mention Lakshmi as the spouse of Vishnu. Vishnu is called yonder adithya in shatapatha brahmana and uttaranarayana anupama only refers to him.

Who is vamamurti of Devi lakshmi and of Devi saraswati?

 According to the Kālikā Purāṇa (Chapter 74):

1. Vāmamūrti of Devi Lakṣmī: Dahanabhairavī
2. Vāmamūrti of Devi Saraswatī: Vāgbhairavī

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• For Devi Lakṣmī:

The Kālikā Purāṇa states:

लक्ष्म्यास्तु वामिकामूर्तिरुक्ता दहनभैरवी ।

याग्निदाहं पुरग्राममन्दिरेष्वकरोदियम् ॥

अपूजिता महालक्ष्मीर्देहल्यां तां तु पूजयेत् ॥ २०९ ॥

(Kālikā Purāṇa 74.209)

Meaning: Dahanabhairavī is declared to be the left-side (vāmikā-mūrti) of Goddess Lakṣmī. When unpropitiated, she brings conflagrations and fires upon villages, cities, and houses; therefore, she must be worshipped upon the threshold of the home.

• For Devi Saraswatī:

The text continues:

वाग्भैरवी सरस्वत्या वामिकामूर्तिरीरिता ॥ २१० ॥

तस्या मन्त्रं पुरा प्रोक्तं शुक्लवर्णा तु सा स्मृता ।

(Kālikā Purāṇa 74.210–211a)

Meaning: Vāgbhairavī ("The Bhairavī of Speech") is proclaimed to be the left-side (vāmikā-mūrti) of Goddess Sarasvatī. Her mantra has been given earlier, and she is traditionally described as possessing a pure, radiant white complexion (śukla-varṇā).

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Broader Context in Chapter 74

In this same section, the Kālikā Purāṇa also identifies the vāma counterparts of other prominent deities:

• Brahmā’s Left Form: Mahāmoha (Cārvāka-pravartakaḥ, vv. 205–206)
• Viṣṇu’s Left Form: Narasiṁha (viṣṇorvāmātmikā mūrtirnārasiṁhāhvayā bhavet, v. 206)
• Sūrya’s Left Form: Mārtaṇḍa-Bhairava (v. 212)
• Gaṇeśa’s Left Form: Agnivetāla (v. 213)

Is goddess Lakshmi unable to enter in rasleela?

 

In Vishnu Sahasranamam there are two beautiful namas - lakshmIh and lakshmIvAn - meaning Vishnu is Lakshmi.

They are only One.

Wherever Krishna is, there will be Lakshmi Devi also. No doubt.

As the Rasa Leela was about to begin, Manmatha (Cupid) appeared before Krishna. When Krishna asked why he was there, Manmatha replied, "I have conquered the gods—including Brahma and Indra. If I conquer You as well, I shall be truly invincible." Krishna pointed out, "You did not conquer Shiva, did you?" Manmatha explained that it was impossible because Shiva was deep in penance at the time. When Krishna noted that he had failed to touch Rama too, Manmatha reasoned that Rama was devoted to a single wife (Eka-patni-vrata). When asked what gave him the courage and idea to attempt this now, Manmatha pointed to the Gopis surrounding Krishna and admitted that the sight had tempted him. Krishna simply said, "Very well, you may try."

Standing behind a tree, Manmatha prepared to shoot an arrow at Krishna as the Rasa Leela commenced, but he hesitated, seeing both men and women present. As he wondered whom to target, a brilliant beam of light appeared. Within it, Goddess Lalita revealed Herself, bearing a noose, a goad, a sugarcane bow, and floral arrows. Manmatha was overwhelmed and lost his composure upon seeing the Goddess surrounded by other divine figures like Anangasena, Anangamalini, Madayanti, and Bala. He dropped his bow and arrows and prostrated at the Goddess's feet. That Goddess was none other than Radha Devi, the presiding deity of the Rasa Mandala. What role was there for Manmatha in such a realm?

The sages and the mantras of the Upanishads—who had performed penance over countless lifetimes, awaiting liberation—had taken birth as the Gopis of Gokulam. Krishna bestowed liberation upon all of them. Goddess Radha was the facilitator of such a magnificent event.

Goddess is only one in different forms.

Subhamastu

Is the goddess Lakshmi powerful? Why are there so many stories that belittle her?

 Disclaimer: This answer is from a Vaishnava perspective and is not intended to diminish or invalidate other traditions or viewpoints.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!

Is the goddess Lakshmi powerful?

She is ParaBrahman and Bhagavati Herself, so I’ll let the scriptures describe Her glory:

The Lakshmi Tantra states:

mahālakṣmīḥ samākhyātā sāhaṃ sarvāṅgasundarī mahāśrīḥ sā mahālakṣmīścaṇḍā caṇḍī ca caṇḍikā bhadrakālī tathā bhadrā kālī durgā maheśvarī triguṇā bhagavatpatnī tathā bhagavatī parā

Translation:

“She is called Mahālakṣmī, the all-beautiful one with every limb perfectly formed. She is Mahāśrī, Mahālakṣmī, and also Caṇḍā, Caṇḍī, and Caṇḍikā. She is Bhadrakālī, Bhadrā, Kālī, Durgā, and Maheśvarī. She is the three guṇas themselves, the consort of Bhagavān, and the supreme Bhagavatī.” - Lakshmi Tantra 4.39-40

The Sri Suktam states:

dhanam agnir dhanaṃ vāyur dhanaṃ sūryo dhanaṃ vasuḥ dhanam indro bṛhaspatir varuṇaṃ dhanam aśnute

Translation:

“O Mother, You are the Power behind Agni; You are the Power behind Vāyu; You are the Power behind Sūrya; and You are the Power behind the Vasus. You are the Power behind Indra, Bṛhaspati, and Varuṇa; You are the All-Pervading Essence underlying everything.” - Sri Suktam 20.1-2

The Devi Suktam states:

a̱hame̱va vāta̎iva̱ pravā̎myā̱rabha̍māṇā̱ bhuva̍nāni̱ viśvā̎
pa̱ro di̱vā pa̱rae̱nā pṛ̍thi̱vyai tāva̍tī mahi̱nā samba̍bhūva

Translation:

“I only breathe forth, like the wind, while holding together all living creatures. I am so vast in greatness, that I am beyond heaven and this earth.” - Rig Veda 10.125.8

The Srimad Bhagavatam says:

yuvāṁ tu viśvasya vibhū jagataḥ kāraṇaṁ param iyaṁ hi prakṛtiḥ sūkṣmā māyā-śaktir duratyayā

Translation:

“My Lord Viṣṇu and mother Lakṣmī, goddess of fortune, you are the proprietors of the entire creation. Indeed, you are the cause of the creation. Mother Lakṣmī is extremely difficult to understand because she is so powerful that the jurisdiction of her power is difficult to overcome. Mother Lakṣmī is represented in the material world as the external energy, but actually she is always the internal energy of the Lord.” - Srimad Bhagavatam 6.19.11

The Vishnu Purana states:

nityaiva sā jagan-mātā viṣṇoḥ śrīr anapāyinī yathā sarva-gato viṣṇus tathaiveyaṁ dvijottamāḥ

Translation:

“She is the eternal mother of the universe, the goddess of fortune of Lord Viṣṇu, and she is never separated from Him. In the same way that Lord Viṣṇu is present everywhere, so is she, O best of brāhmaṇas.” - Vishnu Purana 1.8.15

The Devi Bhagavatam states:

“She (i.e., Lakshmi) is of the nature of Śuddha Sattva (Higher than Sattva Guṇa) and is Kṛṣṇa’s Presiding Deity of all wealth and prosperity. This very beautiful Lakṣmi Devī is the complete master of the senses; She is of a very peaceful temper, of good mood and all-auspicious. She is free from greed, delusion, lust, anger, vanity and egoism. She is devoted to Her husband and to Her Bhaktas; Her words are very sweet and She is very dear to Her husband, indeed, the Life and Soul of Him. This Devī is residing in all the grains and vegetables and so She is the Source of Life of all the beings. She is residing in Vaikunṭha as Mahā Laksmī, chaste and always in the service of Her husband. She is the Heavenly Lakṣmī, residing in the Heavens and the royal Lakṣmī in palaces and the Griha Lakṣmī in the several families of several householders. O Nārada! All the lovely beauty that you see in all the living beings and all the things, it is She; She is the glory and fame of those that have done good and pious works and it is She that is the prowess of the powerful kings. She is the trade of merchants, the mercy of the saints, engaged in doing good to others and the seed of dissensions in those sinful and vicious persons as approved of in the Vedas. She is worshipped by all, reverenced by all.” - Devi Bhagavatam 9.1

Why are there so many stories that belittle her?

This is Her leela (i.e., divine play).

These stories may sometimes apparently belittle Her to us, but there is a deeper reasoning.

Hare Krishna

Why are Laxmi and Ganesh worshiped together in Hindu tradition?

 

In some temples and photos, there are images depicting Goddess Lakshmi seated on the thigh of Vigneshwara.

Let us see why is it like that?.

This Goddess Lakshmi is not Vishnu's consort; she is the presiding deity of wealth and prosperity (Aishwarya). Furthermore, the deity depicted is not the standard Vigneshwara we usually envision, but rather Mula Ganapati, Maha Ganapati, or Lakshmi Ganapati.

When Lord Maha Vishnu instructed Sage Vyasa, "The Kali Yuga is approaching, and living beings will face great hardships; organize the Vedas systematically so that they may easily attain salvation and peace of mind," Vyasa set out to classify the Vedas and compose the eighteen Puranas and eighteen Upapuranas. However, he could not make any progress—not even a single sentence or letter would come forth. Astonished and perplexed, he meditated upon Lord Brahma. Upon receiving Brahma's vision and explaining the situation, Brahma said, "Parameshwara had commanded me to begin the work of creation. I did not understand what to do or how to proceed. It was then that I meditated upon Ganapati, and He granted me a vision. He appeared thus:

vakratunda mahAkAya

kOTi sUrya samaprabha “

It was upon beholding Him that my delusion vanished, and I was able to carry out the task of creation without obstacles." Hearing this, Sage Vyasa also meditated upon Ganapati and, through His grace, was able to bestow upon us a magnificent wealth of knowledge.

He is the very same Maha Ganapati, Vallabha Ganapati, or Lakshmi Ganapati.

He is eternal and beginningless (Anadi). He is so ancient that even the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati commenced with the worship of Ganapati. On Vinayaka Chavithi, even when various forms of Ganapati—such as Chintamani, Siddhi, Lakshmi, and Pushti—are installed, the initial worship is always offered to "Haridra Ganapati" (the Turmeric Ganapati). He manifests in numerous forms; notably, the Lord bestows His grace through thirty-two distinct forms. There is nothing He cannot grant to His devotees.

The idol is installed in that manner to signify that He is the bestower of prosperity.

Subhamastu

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)

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🪷 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_

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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_

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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.

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

Image credits - pinterest

What is a list of the consorts of Lakshmi?

 Rukmiṇī Satyabhāmābhyāṃ Sahithaṃ Kṛṣṇamāśraye.

Thank you for the A2A‚ Alberto Borgato.

Bhagavathī Vaikuṇṭhēśvarī, the glorious Empress of Vaikuṇṭha, is united solely with Her eternal Consort, Bhagavān Vaikuṇṭhēśvara.

Bhagavathī Lakṣmī, the epitome of purity and chastity, remains eternally blemishless. Her devotion and unwavering fidelity are solely to Her divine Consort, Śrīman Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Lord.

❝It is definite that She (Śrī) is the Mother of all Dēvas and the worlds. She has no other husband than Nārāyaṇa, Vāsudēva, the Supreme Brahman, the Lord of all, the excellent Puruṣaḥ.❞ [Skaṅda Mahāpurāṇa 2.9.14.33-37.]

All Glories to Śrī Śrī Lakṣmī Nārāyaṇa‚ the divine Couple of Vaikuṇṭha.

Thank you for reading.

Rukmiṇī Satyabhāmābhyāṃ Sahithaṃ Kṛṣṇamāśraye.