What are the 64 forms of Goddess Lakshmi?

 I know only some of the forms of Devi Lakshmi..

Mahalakshmi

Ashtalakshmi / Mahalaxmi

1 ..Dhan Lakshmi

2 . Dhanya Lakshmi

3 . Dhairya Lakshmi

4 . Veer Lakshmi

5 .. Aadi Lakshmi

6 . Vidya Lakshmi

7 . Santan lakshmi

8 .Gaj Lakshmi

These are collectively called “Ashtalakshmi”.

Santan Lakshmi

Aadi Lakshmi

Veer Lakshmi

Devi Sita worshipping Devi Gauri

Other forms are:-

Vijay Lakshmi,

Shridevi

Bhu devi

Kamla devi

Vedvati

Padmavati

Satyabhama and Jambhanti is also considered as Forms of Lakshmi

Sita

Rukmini

Tulsi

Shaligram is also considered as Form of Devi Lakshmi.

Belpatra ( it is said that Belpatra is also a form of Lakshmi) .

Is goddess Lakshmi unable to enter in rasleela?

 Without Lakshmidevi, the whole Raasakreeda was impossible. Because for Krishna to even touch the Gopikas, they need Lakshmi Sannidhana within them. The Gopikas themselves admit that Lakshmidevi had made Vrindavana, Her residence, in the Gopi Geetam.

गोप्य ऊचुः

जयति तेऽधिकं जन्मना व्रजः श्रयत इन्दिरा शश्वदत्र हि ।
दयित दृश्यताम् दिक्षु तावकास्त्वयि धृतासवस्त्वां विचिन्वते ॥ १ ॥

The Gopis said: "O Beloved! By Your advent, the land of Vraja flourishes exceedingly, so much so that Indira (Goddess Lakshmi) has made it her eternal abode. But look at us, Your maidservants, who belong entirely to You. We sustain our very life-breath only for Your sake, yet we search for You anxiously in every direction. Please, reveal Yourself to us!"

[Srimad Bhagavatam, Dashama Skandha, Gopi Geetam]

SriVaadiraja Swamiji, in the Rukmineesha Vijaya, says that when Krishna came to Nanda Gokula, Lakshmidevi had already come there. She was doing ananda tandava there because Her husband had come to Nanda Gokula. When Krishna went to Vrindavana, Lakshmidevi too came there and made it her residence. She entered everything in Vrindavana that Krishna used. Even when Krishna was playing His flute, Lakshmidevi would enter the flute holes.

Krishna would place His lips, which resembled the bimba fruit, on the front hole of the flute. Lakshmidevi would occupy that very place and kiss the lips of Lord Krishna. Nobody is allowed there except Lakshmidevi, because She is His wife. She would be the sweet music coming out of the flute. Even before Raasakreeda, the Gopikas worshipped Kaatyayani Durgadevi to get Krishna as their husband. That Kaatyayani is Lakshmi only.

They pray to Kaatyayani Devi, “O Devi! We offer you these flowers, so that in the future, Krishna will put flowers in our hair buns like this and be with us. We offer you SriGandha so that in the future, Krishna will also apply the SriGandha He applied on His body to us,” and like this. Because, to please Krishna, we need the grace of Lakshmidevi, and without the grace of Lakshmidevi, Krishna, being Narayana, doesn’t bless. So, for this Lakshmi Kataksha, the Gopikas were doing the Kaatyaayani Vrata.

Lakshmidevi had entered the Gopikas, and hence they had the sannidhana of Lakshmidevi within them. And SriJagannatha Dasa says that whatever was the name of the Gopika, by that same name Lakshmidevi was present in them. So, there is not a single point in the Vraja leela where Lakshmidevi wasn’t present. Isn’t Krishna the same Narayana, who has Lakshmidevi in His heart? Yes. And ultimately, even during the raasaleela, Krishna actually did the real raasaleela only with Lakshmidevi, giving ananda to Her, and hence making the Gopikas too experience the ananda of the Raasaleela.

But there is a thing which Bhagavata says: ‘The Gopikas got the ananda which even Sri, the goddess of fortune, also didn’t get.’ But one must note that this is told metaphorically and not literally. It describes the level of ananda which the Gopikas experienced by doing Raasakreeda along with Krishna. Even during Narasimhavatara, Lord Narasimha says to Prahlada that He loves Prahlada even more than Brahma, Shiva, and Lakshmidevi. Does He literally mean it? No, because these devatas, especially Lakshmidevi, who is even superior to Brahma and Shiva, are infinitely greater than Prahlada in Bhakti. So, it is being said metaphorically and not literally.

Plus, it is impossible that Lakshmidevi cannot attain that ananda which Gopikas attain. She is present in the heart of Lord Vishnu. And that very Lord Vishnu is Lord Krishna. Lakshmidevi, as Yogamaya, had incarnated as the daughter of Yashoda, but hadn’t incarnated in Vraja as a Gopika. The Bhagavata Purana itself tells about Lakshmi’s incarnation as Rukmini Devi. Why would the Bhagavata remain silent about the incarnation of Lakshmidevi as a Gopika in Vraja? So, all the Gopikas present there were Apsara Strees who had done penance to experience the sanga of Krishna before their upanayana.

So, as per that boon, they were born as Gopikas, and with the sannidhana of Lakshmidevi within them, they were able to do Raasakreeda with Lord Krishna. So, Lakshmidevi was present in each leela of Bhagavan. At the beginning, She as Yogamaaya, assisted Bhagavan. She incarnated as the daughter of Yashoda and Nandagopa. When Krishna came to Nanda Gokula, Lakshmi entered everything. She was present in the ornaments Krishna wore, His flute, His peetambara, His heart. She was present in the Gopika Strees.

After Krishna came to Mathura and then went to Dwaraka, She was present with Krishna as Rukmini and Satyabhama. The rest of the queens had the presence of Lakshmidevi within them. Even during the Kurukshetra Yuddha, She was present behind Arjuna’s chariot, in the form of Durgadevi. As Durgadevi, She blesses Arjuna with victory as Arjuna prays to Her. So, like this throughout the Krishnavatara, She was always present with Krishna, and mainly She is present in the heart of Lord Krishna literally every time, everywhere, and in every second.

Hope this helps!
Jay SriRam!
SriLakshmiramana SriKrishnarpanamastu!

Is Kamadev the son of the goddess Lakshmi, not just as the Pradyumna son of Rukmini?

 Yes, Kamadeva is considered the son of Goddess Lakshmi (Shri).

त्वं श्रीरुपेंद्रसदने मदनैकमातर्ज्योत्स्नासि चंद्रमसि चंद्रमनोहरास्ये।
सूर्ये प्रभासि च जगत्त्रितये प्रभासि लक्ष्मि प्रसीद सततं नमतां शरण्ये ॥ ८१ ॥

81. You are the glorious lustre in the abode of Upendra (Viṣṇu). O sole mother of Madana(Kama), you are the moonlight in the Moon, O goddess with a face captivating the mind like the Moon. You are the splendour in the Sun. You shine with all refulgence in all the three worlds. O Lakṣmī, the sole refuge of those who bow down always, be pleased with me.

—Skanda Mahapuran, Kashi-khanda purvardha, chapter 5

In the Dwapara Yuga, he was reborn as the son of Maa Lakshmi (in her incarnation as Rukmini).

Siva said:

17-19. Lovely lady, don’t worry! You shouldn’t be embarrassed! Young girl, simply by you recollecting him, Kama will become visible. He is called “Mind-born” because he is thought of in the mind. He will fulfil your desires and you will become highly thought of, because when he(Kama) will be reborn in Laksmi by Visnu, your husband will become famous amongst people under the name of Pradyumna. He will live, Illustrious woman! Go now to your home!

—Ganesa Purana, chapter 89

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

---

• 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).

---

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