Daśa Mahāvidyā दश महाविद्या

10. कमलात्मिका Kamalātmikā

Kamalātmikā also known as Kamalā is the last of Mahāvidyā-s. She is the Consort of Viṣṇu and this is the only Mahāvidyā that is not directly related to Shiva. Kamala means lotus and hence she is also known as lotus goddess. She has four hands; in the rear two hands, she holds a lotus flower each and in the front hands she shows abhaya (removal of fear) and varada (conferring boons) mudras. She is extraordinarily radiant and is considered as an embodiment of auspiciousness and that is why she is just called श्री Śrī, which means light, lustre, radiance, splendour, glory, beauty, grace, loveliness, prosperity, welfare, good fortune, success, auspiciousness, wealth, treasure, riches, etc. To add to Her grandeur, she is often depicted with either two white elephants, one on each side or four white elephants, two on each side, showering water on her. It is said that these elephants shower nectar of Bliss on Her. Elephants, water, lotus, resplendence are the signs of auspiciousness. Further, Viṣṇu is considered as one of the most auspicious Gods and obviously His consort is also considered as an embodiment of auspiciousness. She is also known as Mahālakṣmī, Śakti of Nārāyaṇa/Viṣṇu. She is worshiped more than any other goddesses of Mahāvidyā-s on two counts. One, She is the symbol of auspiciousness and secondly, she is the provider of material wealth. Like Śiva and Śakti, where they become part of each other, say for example Ardhanārīśvara or Śakti sitting on the left lap of Śiva, Lakṣmī is seated in the chest of Viṣṇu and this part of the body of Viṣṇu is called śrīvatsa. She is described with a radiant white saree denoting peace and bliss.

Pañcadaśī mantra of Lalitāmbikā becomes Ṣoḍaśī (laghu) mantra by suffixing Lakṣmī bīja श्रीं śrīṁ (this is also known as rama bīja, where rama means pleasing, delighting, rejoicing, etc). Usage of śrīṁ in any mantra increases the devotion to a particular god or goddess; this bīja acts as a catalyst and causes quicker fructification of a mantra. This bīja also causes fertility. There are stories which say that Indra prospers only due to Her Grace. Virtually all the Kings worshiped Her for prosperously sustaining their kingdoms. Her glories are explained in detail in Lakṣmī Tantra. Pāñcarātra is one of the important Vaiṣṇava doctrines and Lakṣmī Tantra occupies a prime position amongst Pāñcarātra āgama-s. Lakṣmī Herself says in this Tantra (50: 8-10) “I am His (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa) supreme eternal Śakti known as Śrī. I am free from all blemishes. I fulfil all His (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa) desires and with the fragment of my own self as the foundation I manifest both as pure and impure (being both good and bad at the same time is the unique omnipresent nature of Brahman). I am attached to all His functions and perpetually remain in the state of perpetual absoluteness.” Her full glory is described in Śrī Sūktaṁ. In this hymn, Lakṣmī is invoked to shower Her Grace for auspiciousness and material benefits. The hymn ends like this; “Invoke for me, Agni (Agni because Agni is supposed to carry our oblations to the respective gods), that Goddess Lakṣmī who is ever unfailing, being blessed by whom I shall have wealth in plenty.”

There are certain arguments connecting Her to Śiva, as Her Sahasranāma has names such as Śiva, Gaurī (consort of Śiva). But this argument cannot be accepted as both Śiva and Gaurī mean auspiciousness. But as Mahālakṣmī She is the creator of Sarasvatī, Lakṣmī and Mahākālī and these goddesses in turn produced Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Rudra and their Consorts.

Aṣṭalakṣmī-s (अष्टलक्ष्मी):

These are eight of Her manifestations with different forms for different aspects of life.

आदिलक्ष्मी Ādilakṣmī (She is known as Mahālakṣmī or primordial force); धनलक्ष्मी Dhanalakṣmī (wealth); धान्यलक्ष्मी, Dhǎnyalakṣmī (grains); गजलक्ष्मी Gajalakṣmī (She is with elephants);  सन्तानलक्ष्मी Santānalakṣmī (progeny); वीरलक्ष्मी Vīralakṣmī (courageous); विजयलक्ष्मी, Vijayalakṣmī (victorious) and विद्यालक्ष्मी, Vidyālakṣmī (knowledge)

HER MANTRAS:

1. Single bīja mantra:

श्रीं॥ śrīṁ ||

2. Four bīja mantra:

ॐ ऐं श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं॥ om aiṁ śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ ||

3. Ten bīja mantra:

ॐ नमः कमलवासिन्यै स्वाहा॥ om namaḥ kamalavāsinyai svāhā ||

4. ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ kamale kamalālaye prasīda prasīda śrīṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ ||

5. ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं सौं जगत्प्रसूत्यै नमः॥

om aiṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ klīṁ  sauṁ jagatprasūtyai namaḥ ||

6. सिद्धलक्ष्मी Siddhalakṣmī mantra:

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं श्रीं सिद्धलक्ष्म्यै नमः॥

om śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ śrīṁ siddhalakṣmyai namaḥ ||

There are other mantras as well, with some modifications and rearrangements of bījākṣara-s.