US Hindu Holy Figure: "Lakshmi"

This is a poster of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune. Hindus often display posters and figures of Hindu gods in their homes.

The wife of Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s most important gods, Lakshmi is said to have taken different forms in order to be with Vishnu in each of his incarnations. For instance, when Vishnu was the incarnation King Rama, she was his queen Sita.

In the most common story of Lakshmi’s birth, she rose from the churning of the ocean of milk, an important event in Hinduism, seated on a lotus and holding another blossom in her hand.

Lakshmi is often represented in sculpture seated on a lotus, symbolizing fertile growth of life. She often has coins pouring from her hand.

She continues to be worshipped by modern Hindus. She is worshipped specially on Diwali, the festival of lights, when Hindus put out small oil lamps to attract Lakshmi’s blessings.

Hinduism is the oldest living religion, about 4,000 – 5,000 years old. Hindu people believe that Brahman is the creator, preserver and transformer of existence. Gods that are part of Brahman include Vishnu, the preserver god, and Shiva, the god of destruction. Hinduism came from India. No one person founded the religion. There are many Hindu holy books. Hindus honor their deities through worship. Hindus tell stories of the ways that the gods interact with each other and with humans. Hindus believe in rebirth after death (reincarnation); their goal is to escape the movement of the soul into another body and to become one with Brahman.  
Source:
"Lakshmi." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.
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