Originally, the presence of goddess Lakshmi never meant to be the goddess of wealth and material opulence. A Rig Vedic verse ‘भद्रैषां लक्ष्मीर्निहिताधि वाचि’ (‘bhadraiṣāṁ lakṣmīrnihitādhi vāci’) meaning ‘an auspicious fortune is attached to their words’ shows that Lakshmi is connected with ‘auspiciousness’ or ‘divinity’, not wealth or riches that are related to material possessions (meant for sense-gratification).
Although Sri Suktam (a Vedic hymn addressed to Her) mentions in the first hymn that with Her blessings there comes the supremacy over wealth, cattle, horses and men, She is called Sri who personifies absolute divinity and auspiciousness for She is the Divine energy of Lord Vishnu and commands the presence of Kuvera.In the following hymn (Sri Suktam), it is made clear.
‘upaitu māṁ devasakhaḥ kīrtiśca maṇinā saha
prādurbhūto’smi rāṣṭre’smin kīrtimṛddhiṁ dadātu me.’
‘O Sri (Lakshmi)! I am born in this land with the heritage of wealth. May the friend of Lord Siva (Kubera) and Kirti (fame) come to me.’
In the above verse, the devotee prays that ‘upaitu māṁ devasakhaḥ’. ‘devasakhaḥ’ means the friend (sakha) of Shiva (Maha Deva, the lord of gods). The closest companions of Shiva in the Cosmic Himalayas, as given in the Bhagvat Purana (4.6.34)are the Four Kumaras and Lord Kubera who sit with Shiva and discuss divine subjects.
Lord Kubera is regarded as the god of wealth and the leader of superhuman Yakshas. Originally Kubera was the master of evil forces (spirits) who ruled the Lankan land before getting conquered by his stepbrother Ravana. Following the defeat, he started for North (Himalayas) where the greatest Yogi Shiva resides and settled in Alaka. There he attained the status of a demigod (deva).‘Kubera’ or ‘Kuvera’ derives from kumba meaning ‘to hide’. There are suggested meanings. ‘Ku’ means ‘earth’ and ‘vira’ means ‘hero’; the one who rules the earth (with wealth and opulence).
The differences between Lakshmi and Kubera are:
- Lakshmi is connected with divinity, auspiciousness whereas Kubera is connected with material prosperities acquired in the form of wealth, opulence and riches.
- Laskmis is of divine origin for She is an auspicious energy of Vishnu whereas Kubera acquired the status of demigod through his struggle and Shiva’s blessings.
- Lakshmi is fortune personified. Fortune in a broader sense covers opulence and enlightenment. For example, Arujna was fortunate enough to receive enlightenment from the Lord on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. Kubera is material leadership personified. He is the Keeper of wealth whereas the wealth, opulence, spiritual strength and the like originate from Sri (Lakshmi).
Once these differences are understood, one’s perspective towards Lakshmi changes and prays to Her in a new sense altogether.
