Alakshmi - Goddess of Misfortune
Introduction
Alakshmi or Jayestha is the elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi. She represents everything that is opposite of Lakshmi. She is the Goddess of misfortune, strife, poverty, 'durbhagya' or bad luck, inauspiciousness and extreme ugliness of both external and internal nature.
Alakshmi represents extreme ugliness. She is depicted as an old, haggard, dirty, messy woman riding a donkey. Her skin is dark, leathery and shrivelled. Her hair is dishevelled and matted, full of dirt and grime. She likes to live where people are full of ego, vanity, and selfish mindset.
Background
She is described as being “cow-repelling, antelope-footed,and bull-toothed." Or she “has 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. There are many myths surrounding her origins. One legend says her sister was born from the radiance of Prajapati’s face, while Alakshmi was born from his back. Another says her sister was born from the churned ocean of milk, while she rose from the Kalakuta poison dripping from Vasuki Nāga’s mouth. Still others simply say both were born from the ocean of milk, but Alakshmi is always the oldest of the two. According to one source, “It was 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. Lakshmi 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.”
Connection with Other Goddesses
A book on the Nakshatra constellations says the deity of the nineteenth lunar mansion of Mula is Nirriti, the goddess of destruction who has the power to “ruin, destroy or break things apart (barhana shakti).” It also says Nirriti commonly takes the form of the goddess Kali. Alakshmi is another name for Nirriti.
Alakshmi is said to co-exist with Lakshmi. Where there is Lakshmi, there is Alakshmi. Some legends believe she is invisible in existence while some believe she is always near Lakshmi in the form of a owl.
Appearance
Unlike Maa Lakshmi, Alakshmi is depicted as someone who has antelope or hoof-like feet, has bull teeth, her body is shriveled with sunken cheeks and beady eyes. She is seen riding a donkey. She is also depicted as the owl that follows Maa Lakshmi everywhere. The owl is a symbol of arrogance and stupidity that is a gift of wealth. If these take over, misfortune will follow.
She has a dried shriveled up body, sunken cheeks, thick lips, and beady eyes and she rides a donkey.
Who Follows and Propagates Alakshmi?
Some people who allow Alakshmi to live in their lives and propagate her principals are people who are extremely selfish. They have wealth but live in poverty. They never seem to have enough since they have a beggar's mindset. They can sit on a pile of gold yet they remain stingy.
These people's miserliness makes them squander their wealth to all the wrong people and wrong projects and purpose. They have highly inflated egos and think they always know best. They wonder how other people have so much to spend and consider every expenditure extremely extravagant and unnessary. These people find it very easy to take the path of 'Adharma' or sin.
Alakshmi symbolically represents a big lesson to us. She signifies that when one is blessed with Lakshmi or wealth, one should not become arrogant, evil, or full of pride. One should instead strive for a feeling of thankfulness and gratitude. Only this thinking will double Lakshmi and keep Alakshmi at bay.
She likes to live where people are full of ego, vanity and selfish mindset.
Legends
A Traders Tale:
Once Goddess Lakshmi visited a trader. He was extremely happy to see her and welcomed her in his home. However, he was soon dismayed to see that behind the radient goddess followed her extremely ugly sister, Alakshmi.
The trader was smart. He quickly regained his wit and bowed to both the goddesses with respect. He then uttered that Lakshmi looks beautiful as she enters a home and Alakshmi looks beautiful as she leaves a home. In saying so, Lakshmi or wealth and splendour moved with him to his home while, misfortune, dischord, and poverty moved away from his home.
How Lord Vishnu controls Alakshmi:
It is said that Alakshmi can only be kept at bay by Goddess Swarsati or sound knowledge and good judgement. Everyone knows that 'wealth corrupts' yet we need wealth and riches for nearly every aspect of our lives. It is thus very important to have a sound understanding of goddess Alakshmi. Be aware of her destructive nature and know that caution and awareness are one's only solution to preserving wealth.
Lord Vishnu knows this secret. It is believed, Goddess Swarsati stays hidden on Vishnu's tounge and through knowledge keeps him steadfast on the path of 'Dharma' or righteousness. He is never swayed by the cunning tricks of Alakshmi and so Ma Lakshmi never leaves his side - ever.
Acknowledge Her!
One should always acknowledge Alakshmi as she accompanies Lakshmi everywhere. she is the negative energy or force that silently comes with rising wealth. one must be very careful to not let riches corrupt them. Auspicious wealth has invisible seeds of sinful pride, arrogance, sloth, surrounding it.
Ritually, one keeps sweets in the house for Lakshmi Ma while lemons and chillies are kept outside the house for Alakshmi. Symbolically, Lakshmi is welcomed through the decorated main front door and Alakshmi is seen off through the little back door. One should also practice cleanliness, discipline, selflessness, and hardwork. Further, keeping Swarasati or sound knowledge and judgement awake in one's heart and mind will protect and grow one's wealth.
When we believe that we do not have enough: not enough beauty, not enough youth, not enough friends, students, time, we start to feed into the belief that we are not enough. The “not enough” mentality causes two common actions: you negate the gifts you have already received from Lakshmi; you encourage Alakshmi to bestow her charms of self-doubt, belittlement, envy, and greed.
Sources
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