Page:Hindu Feasts Fasts and Ceremonies.djvu/121

Rh The ocean of milk presented her with a wreath of never-fading flowers and the artist of the gods decorated her with heavenly jewels and gems. The picture of Lakshmi is generally drawn thus in this night’s worship—with the goddess seated on a full-blown lotus, elephants on both sides pouring water over her from gold vases lifted up in their trunks, &c. After Lakshmi was thus bathed, attired and adorned, she cast herself on the breast of Hari—Vishnu—and became his bride ever since that time. Rudra, the chief of the gods, extolled her powers as soon as she. sprang out of the ocean and called her the mother of all beings, the superhuman power incarnate, and the purifier of the universe. Lakshmi to a Hindu is the presiding deity of Prosperity, and her worship is deemed to bring good fortune in every household.

The following account of Lakshmi is from the Ramayana translated by R. T. H. Griffiths:—