Third day of talking about Ashta Lakshmi

Dhanya Lakshmi is one of several forms the Mother Goddess Lakshmi, assumed to satisfy the necessities of human beings. In this Avatar, she is responsible for the equitable distribution of grain or food and regarded as the provider of agricultural wealth. Farmers pray to her for reaping a bountiful crop and poor people invoke her blessings to provide them with food to satisfy their hunger. Praying to her before partaking of food is practiced by many as a token of gratitude. The act of offering food to others is considered a virtue which greatly pleases the Goddess and she showers her bounty on those who do so with selfless intentions. The Goddess is generally portrayed, attired in green garments, symbolizing the greenery of agricultural land which results in a rich harvest. Green is also associated with growth, renewal and resurgence, which replenishes the land with fresh new resources. Goddess Dhanya Lakshmi is depicted as an eight armed Goddess, wielding various agricultural products in three of her hands, two of her hands are shown holding lotuses, and one wields a mace. Her other two hands are in Abhaya Mudra and Varadh Mudra which signify her objective of providing grains and charity for the poor and hungry. Legend has it that during the Mahabharata era, the Pandavas found it difficult to find food during their time of exile in the forest. It is because of the blessings of Dhanya Lakshmi that they survived the ordeal and were able to satisfy their hunger. The Divine Mother is said to have come to their aid and provided them with a wooden bowl which produced food perennially and thus they were able to take care of their needs. Devotees offer flowers and light lamps to welcome the Goddess into their houses. The Goddess is easily appeased and those who pray to her sincerely are assured of her munificence. She does not differentiate between rich and poor, since everyone needs her blessings for survival. Chanting the Dhanya Lakshmi Stotram and Mantra with a clean heart is said to please the Goddess greatly and forms an instant connection with her. Mantras - अयिकलि कल्मष ना‍शिनि कामिनि वैदिक रुपिणि वेदमये। क्षीर समुद्रभव मंगल रुपिणि मंत्रनिवासिनि मंत्रनुते। मंगलदायिनि अम्बुजवासिनि देवगणाश्रित पादयुते। जय जय हे मधुसूदनकामिनि धान्यलक्ष्मी परिपालय माम्।