Alakshmi
Alakshmi | |
---|---|
Goddess of Misfortune and Grief | |
Other names | Nirṛti |
Devanagari | देवी अलक्ष्मी |
Affiliation | Shadow of Lakshmi |
Mantra | Alakshmi nashana mantra (Mantra for destroying Alakshmi) |
Mount | Crow, Donkey |
Texts | Linga Purana[1]
Shri Suktam Padma Purana |
Personal information | |
Siblings | Lakshmi |
Spouse | Kali(asura) |
Alakshmi (Devanāgari: अलक्ष्मी; from the roots अ (a): "not" and लक्ष्मी (Lakshmi): "goddess of fortune", figurative meaning "goddess of misfortune") meaning "not Lakshmi". She is described as being "cow-repelling, antelope-footed, and bull-toothed."[2] Or she "has dry shriveled up body, sunken cheeks, thick lips, and beady eyes and that she rides a donkey."[2]
She is not mentioned by name in the Vedic, Upanishadic or early Puranic literature, but all aspects of Alakshmi match those of the Rig Vedic goddess
According to Chakrabarty, “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."[6]
See also
References
- ^ Linga Purana – Part 2, English translation by J. L. Shastri (1951), Chapter 6: "The origin and activities of Alakshmi".
- ^ ISBN 8187111585)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7914-8256-8.
- ISBN 0670049077)
- ISBN 978-0-8122-0583-1.
- ISBN 0691049092)