In the Sri Suktam, the 15 verses to the Goddess Sri Devi, the auspiciousness that permeates the universe, She is known to be ‘triptaam tarpayantim’ which means She who is so satisfied, there are no ends to how much She can give. Tarpana is oblations by water often given to ancestors during New Moon as we owe them this life and prosperity so they can liberate from cycles of death and rebirth. Water has many meanings, it is prosperity, the nectar that nourishes life and also represents our emotions. It is said that Lakshmi is born of water and Her nature is that of moistness as suggested in names like ‘Sarva teertha sthitha’ (She who is in all sacred waters), ‘Aapyaa’ (She who is water), ‘Vaaridhi’ (She who is the ocean) and Ardraam (the one wet with compassion). To be Lakshmi and to have all kinds of wealth is to understand the sentience and nature of water.
Lakshmi resides everywhere, like water, She takes up the shape of the vessel She is poured into which reminds us to constantly refine ourselves so She can come forth like spring, gushing and cleansing all that we hold on to. Devi is eternally moist teaching us the necessity of compassion, to give and give like a river quenching the thirst of those who need it, to never hoard for oneself. She washes away and cleans like water does but not only externally, we must not possess every pain, every desire and attach it to ourselves like dirt. Like Soma, Sri Devi gladdens and beautifies the universe with Her presence and so She teaches us the art of joy and bringing joy to others. She supports and gives pleasure to Vishnu, the one who sustains the universe which shows us the virtue of balance and to move with dharma (purpose) in our lives.
During the auspicious festival of Dipawali, a common tradition is to give gifts and money to others as a way to share our fortune. However, if one commits to giving, sharing and bringing joy to others, every day feels like a festival. Giving is the hardest thing to do in this world that we live in because the quantity of one's possessions have become a way to signal one’s prosperous status. There’s indeed value in material objects, but the value is also given to these things by us, showing that the rigidity of our minds, the agitation caused by the interactions with the external world and the burden of herd mentality conceals our true nature as eternally pure, auspicious and without any labels of value, quality etc. Lakshmi literally means the goal and She is glimmering forever because She is authentic to Her nature of flowing, moving and constantly giving.
To give is to live a life of complete satisfaction for you know that nothing is taken from you, and nothing was yours to begin with in the first place. To go from a rigid and solidified state of mind that is shaped by logic, numbers, external validation to a serene liquified ever-flowing nectar that is offered to the Goddess is what true joy is about.
Happy Diwali!
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