In Kali Yuga, wealth is everything for many people. So
Goddess Lakshmi is widely worshipped, as she is the Goddess of wealth and
prosperity. But Goddess Lakshmi is Chanchala – volatile and unstable. She does
not reside in a place for long period. If we want to have constant blessings of
the Goddess then we need to worship her along with Narayana.
Worship Lakshmi Narayana not Lakshmi Alone.
Narayana, Lord Vishnu, is the embodiment of virtues. Wealth
without values is like being on a boat with a hole in the middle of sea.
Virtues, values and inner goodness is what keeps our lifeboat steady in the
rough sea of life.
Lakshmi feels lonely when Narayana is not around and is sure
to leave and go in search of her consort.
But if a person follows Dharma, then Narayana is always
present with him. He himself has told in the Bhagavad Gita that he takes
numerous avatars to protect those that follow the Dharma.
The problem of Kali Yuga is that we try to imprison Goddess
Lakshmi forcibly through our Adharmic practices – greed, dishonest, cheating,
trickery, hoarding etc. We have no regard for virtue – we knowingly or
unknowingly support Adharma to accumulate money. Some even murder people for
wealth. Relatives and families spend more time in settling financial disputes
instead of leading a normal happy life together. We are not ready to share the wealth.
The appetite for wealth can never be appeased.
Because of all this hatred and hostility, Lakshmi will
surely abandon us and in the process, we also make Narayana angry. This is the
reason why we get to hear about the sudden fall of business tycoons.
But when we offer prayers to Lakshmi Narayana together, we
value both wealth and virtue. We only take what is necessary for us from Mother
Earth. When a person is blessed by both Narayana and Lakshmi, he will enjoy
complete bliss, love and prosperity.
A portion of wealth should always be utilized for good
causes. This earns merit and blessings of the gods. When wealth is used for
righteous activities, it also helps in purifying our inner self.
Wealth is like water. It is essential for surviving. But we
can also drown and get killed in the same water.
Abhilash Rajendran
www.hindu-blog.com
Abhilash Rajendran
www.hindu-blog.com