Without God, the Goddess of Fortune is an Illusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the pursuit of wealth without recognizing the Supreme Lord is a path of illusion. The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, is the eternal consort of Lord Viṣṇu and can never be separated from His divine service.

The Illusion of Wealth Without the Lord

Pursuing material opulence without acknowledging the Supreme Lord is a grand illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that without Viṣṇu, the goddess of fortune is an illusion. We should therefore seek the protection of Viṣṇu instead of directly seeking the protection of the goddess of fortune. Those who are driven by sense gratification fail to understand this vital principle; these men are always after the mercy of the illusory goddess of fortune, but they do not know that the goddess of fortune can live only under the protection of Viṣṇu. Although Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, is worshiped by all materialistic men, including big kings, and demigods in heaven, she is always after the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even though He does not require her service. Ultimately, material opulences are controlled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His different potencies and specifically the goddess of fortune.

The True Proprietors of the Creation

All wealth and resources are the absolute property of the Supreme Lord. Devotees must think always that the money which is accumulated is the wealth of the Lord. Wealth is considered to be the goddess of fortune (Lakṣmī), and the Lord is Nārāyaṇa, or the husband of Lakṣmī. Thus, the proper use of money is to try to engage Lakṣmī in the service of Lord Nārāyaṇa and be happy. Recognizing this proprietorship is essential, as stated: My Lord Viṣṇu and mother Lakṣmī, goddess of fortune, you are the proprietors of the entire creation. Indeed, you are the cause of the creation. It is a severe misunderstanding to view the Lord as a common beggar; Nārāyaṇa is the master of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, and only fools think that He somehow becomes poverty-stricken. Dismissing concocted ideas, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that nowadays it has become a fashion, daridra-nārāyaṇa-sevā, to give protection to the daridras, but Nārāyaṇa is not daridra; Nārāyaṇa is the husband of Lakṣmī.

The Goddess's Unalloyed Devotion

Although she is worshipped by the entire universe, the goddess of fortune remains the humblest servant of the Lord. Even the highly placed demigods worship the goddess of fortune, but the goddess of fortune, Maha-Lakṣmī herself, is always seeking the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While many demigods such as Lord Brahmā seek the pleasure of the goddess of fortune, the goddess of fortune herself, with a lotus flower in her hand, is always ready to render service to the Supreme Lord. Her devotion is unparalleled; great demigods cannot obtain the favor of the goddess of fortune even by prayers, but this very goddess renders service unto the Lord, although He is unwilling to have such service. In return, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased with His consort, the goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand.

The Inseparable Divine Couple

The Supreme Lord and His internal energy are never separated. The rule is absolute: whenever and wherever the Lord is present, the goddess of fortune is also there because the goddess of fortune never lives alone without her husband. This is true in all circumstances, just as the goddess of fortune mother Sītā followed her husband, Rāmacandra, when He went to the forest. Her proper place is always under His shelter. As Śrīla Prabhupāda points out, the woman must always be protected by her husband, which is why we always speak of the goddess of fortune as being placed on the chest of Nārāyaṇa. Thus adorned, Lord Viṣṇu looked extraordinarily beautiful because the goddess of fortune and a garland were situated on His chest, radiating a smiling attitude which can captivate the entire world.

Attaining the Favor of the Goddess

The true method to attain all wealth and fortune is unalloyed devotion to the Supreme Lord. Anyone who takes to the worship of the Supreme Lord automatically receives the blessings of the goddess of fortune. The process is completely assured; the devotees who always engage in the service of Nārāyaṇa (nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa) can easily achieve the favor of the goddess of fortune without a doubt. By elevating one's consciousness, goddesses of fortune can be seen automatically if we are attracted by the bodily features of the Lord. Ultimately, spiritual success is guaranteed through this divine service, as demonstrated when by worshiping the Lord, Pṛthu Mahārāja attained perfection, and by serving the lotus feet of the Lord, the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, attained perfection.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings obliterate the illusion that true wealth can be separated from the Supreme Lord. Without Lord Viṣṇu, the goddess of fortune is simply a mirage that drives materialistic men into deeper bondage. Lakṣmī is the eternal, inseparable consort of Nārāyaṇa, and her singular desire is to serve and please her husband. To seek her favors while ignoring the Supreme Lord is the height of foolishness, for all opulences belong exclusively to Him. However, when a living entity surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and utilizes everything in His service, they are no longer chasing an illusion. By dedicating their lives to Nārāyaṇa, devotees automatically receive the boundless grace and eternal blessings of the supreme goddess of fortune.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God and His Goddesses of Fortune. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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