Navaratri Swadhyaya —1
It is the beginning of celebration of Shakti worship. This is the occasion of sadhana (practice) for grace of Bhagavati (omnipotent Goddess). Bharat has always been praying to all forms of Shakti (Force). Maha Saraswati the goddess of knowledge realisation has always been idolised by our seekers engaged in paramount research of knowledge. Mahadurga is eulogised by the kingly leaders of the society practicing power as the ultimate way to valour. This has saved us in all the turmoil and even today commitment to valour is the only way. It is the speciality of Hindu Way of life to convert all the important aspects of life into the path of practices of self-seeking.
The third important dimension of human life is sought in the Mahalakshmi form of Bhagavati. The practice of the path of Mahalakshmi includes Manufacturing (Krishi), Cow protection (Dairy), industry and commerce. This is not just related to Economic development. To earn money by any means or hook and crook is not the goal of life. Worship of Mahalakshmi is the Bharatiya model of holistic, integrated and universal development. Hence there are eight forms of Mahalakshmi. This series of articles aim to study various dimensions of Bharatiya Economic thought this Navaratri by interpreting the eight Lakshmis.
The first of the Ashtalakshmis is AdiLakshmi (the original or primal Lakshmi). This is original manifestation of Mahalakshmi. According to Puranas, AdiLakshmi incarnated during the great ocean churning – Samudra Manthana. She became the consort of Shri Vishnu. She bore the whole existence in her womb. Hence, she is the Prime Force Adishakti and mother of the whole universe.
Her glorious manifestation is seated on a Lotus. Four hands bestow blessings and security. This is considered the original form of Mahalakshmi. The fruits of AdiLakshmi worship are not just material but also self realisation.
Contemporary interpretation of this Pauranika discourse can provide us a few insights of the Dharma-based (Sustainable) development. Manufacturing has always been the basis of Bharatiya Prosperity. AdiLakshmi is mother hence goddess of creativity. Krishi (Production) has always held the highest pedestal and honour in the Bharatiya Economic thought. Best is production (Krishi), Trading is moderate and employment is worst has been the status of livelihood. Agriculture is a small though prime part of production. Sowing a seed reaps thousandfold in agriculture. This is only original production in the Nature. All next levels of manufacturing are in reality transformational only. As cotton is agricultural product. Which in turn is transformed into yarn, clothes and apparel respectively. The whole process is called Krishi in Sanskrit. Original production is in farming hence in time, Krishi was limited being used in the sense of Farming only. The root of term Krishi is ‘Karshana’ meaning the fore that pulls or attracts. Hence, the meaning is related to all the forms of production. So, when it is said that Bharat’s prosperity is based on Krishi, it refers to all the industrial production. The sale of the prime product of agriculture namely food grains is prohibited by Bharatiya texts. Grains are used freely without cost to feed the whole society. Thus industrial manufacturing and agricultural produce as its raw material has been the foundation of Bharat’s prosperity. Mineral wealth is another original raw material. But it’s secondary to agriculture. The natural resources converted and stored for more than millennia can only be mined or extracted. Its replenishment in the same period is not possible. Hence, in Dharmic industry the use of minerals has restricted to the bare minimum necessity.
The worship of Adilakshmi endows the Prasada of Nihshreyasa (Inner Growth) more than Abhyudaya, the material development. Controlled or contained consumption has been the Bharatiya ideal in the field of economics also. Abundant production yet contained consumption has been the Mantra of Bharat’s extraordinary millennia long growth story, the real Hindu Rate of Growth.This has been instrumental in spread of Bharatiya Civilisational values along with global trade through ages.
The deity of first Navratri – Shailaputri represents all the above iconography. The daughter of the great Mountain Himalaya does tapas (Penance) to attain motherhood by marrying Shambho. Adilakshmi also resonates similar teachings that all prosperity is incomplete without the real progress towards self realisation. Come let’s pray AdiLakshmi to reestablish Samutkarsha — the balanced development.
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