SRI LAKSHMI
The tale goes that the Gods were in need of renewal, and a plan was made to churn the great Ocean of Milk to make soma, the divine food that grants immortality, in the same way that cream is churned to butter. This was done on the requisite grand scale by using Mount Mandara as the churning paddle. The great snake Vasuki was wrapped around the mountain and pulled by the Gods on the one side and the Asuras or demons on the other. This produced a lot of heat (much like a bow-type firestarter works) and eventually, though the poor serpent was pretty uncomfortable being yanked this way and that, many great treasures were produced: the hoped-for soma; Parijata, the Tree of Paradise; Varuni Goddess of Wine; the Apsaras; the Sun and the Moon; and finally Lakshmi Herself, seated on an open lotus. Vishnu fell in love with Her immediately and They were wedded.
Lakshmi is a beautiful and much-beloved Goddess, and in fact Vishnu is often referred to with the title "Husband of Lakshmi". She is called the "Lotus Goddess" and is often shown holding one as Her emblem. She is also Goddess of abundance, fertility and wealth. Holly basil is sacred to Her and said to bring children. Lakshmi is sometimes represented as a basket full of rice and is depicted on coins, or with coins falling from Her hands."
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Ma Lakshmi is a benevolent Mother. She didn't hesitate to bless me, when I went to pray to Her at a Temple, in a neighbouring town, last month. She granted all my requests and sent me back home with extra Blessings.
THANK YOU, MA.
Ma didn't mind at the fact that I'm a Muslim. The High-Priest didn't mind, either. No one seemed to care. Everyone was more than happy to be of assistance. Even Allah didn't mind.
I cannot help it. I believe that God/Universe is present everywhere; in every House of Prayer/Worship, just as the 13th Century Muslim Sufi Poet Rumi, believed.
The origin is the same ONE for all of us. You can call it, whatever name you like. No one can change a fact. This fact is the TRUTH.
I'm begining to undestand why my life is, and the way it has been.......I knew about Christianity even before I knew about my own religion. Our live-in cook, was of Christian Faith.He used to tell me all the stories of Christ and Mary. We used to look through the art history books that belonged to my sister, when I was a little girl. Gomez Bhai would tell me all the beautiful stories from the paintings, and I would listen as if they were fairy tales. My sister, then was a student of Dhaka Art College. There were plenty of Westen and Eastern Art History books, at hand. I loved listening to stories.
Then I moved with my parents to a foreign country, where I couldn't have cadbury's chocolate. Unfortunately, then it was the law in that specific country_All types of business transactions were prohibited with the Jewish Community/Origin, around the world.
Guess what? Several years later, in the same country, I along with my parents were invited for dinner, by my dad's friend's family, who were Jewish. I had a hearty meal. The family was very nice and kind. :)
I think I was trained, from my childhood, by God/Universe alone, not to get caught up in one Faith. I am extremely fortunate to have this understanding. I feel that I live in the ocean and not in a well.
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