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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya

Good morning.

Today marks the beginning of the festival of Diwali, which is celebrated by various Eastern traditions, including Hinduism. There are five days of festivities culminating in a welcoming of the new year for communities belonging to Gujarat in the north of India.

Diwali is a centred around worship of the goddess Lakshmi who is representative of all types of wealth, including monetary wealth. One might ask how a tradition which values spirituality so highly can include the worship of something mundane like wealth. The fact is that we need wealth in order to live and get by in this world; as Hindus we are encouraged to recognise that wealth is as much part of God’s creation as anything else, and therefore worthy of worship. A holistic vision enables us to live life happily. We are encouraged to acknowledge our needs and desires so that we might work to fulfil them, rather than living in denial.

Lakshmi is depicted in various forms, all representing different types of wealth. The first is known as ‘Ādi Lakshmi’, literally meaning, ‘the first’. The goddess is seen as the origin of creation, and isn’t it true that in order to create anything, we need wealth in the form of resources?

She also appears as the goddess of harvest and grains; of patience; of power and strength; of progeny, courage, victory, and knowledge – all of these being different forms of wealth that we seek which help us in life.

With Her blessings, may we recognise the presence of Lakshmi in our lives. May we be grateful for the wealth we have; in whatever form it exists. May She bless us with abundance to share what we have with those who are in need.

Namaste, Hari Om.