page_title: Lakshmi
section_title: Names
hierarchical_section_title: Lakshmi / Names
caption_attribution_description: Fronton avec Lakshmi entre deux éléphants Banteay Srei veut dire "citadelle des femmes", c'est le nom moderne du temple d'Ishvarapura, "ville du seigneur". Il a été construit en grès rose, un matériau très résistant qui a permis - d'une part de réaliser des décors d'une grande finesse - d'autre part, de les conserver jusqu'à nos jours. Ce temple est consacré au dieu "seigneur suprême des trois mondes" en 967, à la fin du règne du roi Rajendravarman II (944-968). Il a été construit par l'un des conseillers du roi. C'est l'archéologue français Henri Marchal (1876-1970) qui en 1931 a entrepris la restauration du temple en utilisant la technique de l'anastylose. Le premier travail de restauration a en réalité démarré en 1924 après la tentative de vol de sculptures par André Malraux. C'est cet évènement qui paradoxalement a accéléré la restauration de ce temple et empêché les pillages qui se sont produits tout au long du XXème siècle sur d'autres temples comme par exemple celui de Koh Ker. Article de Wikipedia sur le temple de Banteay Srei fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banteay_Srei
context_page_description: In Hinduism, Lakshmi is the Goddess who leads to one's goal, or lakshya, and was first mentioned in the Śrī Sūkta of the Rigveda. She is both the wife and divine energy of Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism and the Supreme Being in the Vaishnava tradition. She is often depicted with Saraswati and Parvati as forming the holy trinity.
  For mankind, 8 types of goals are necessary according to Hinduism: spiritual enlightenment, food, knowledge, resources, progeny, abundance, patience, and success. Hence there are Ashta Lakshmis: Aadi, Dhaanya, Vidya, Dhana, Santaana, Gaja, Dhairya, and Vijaya Lakshmi.
  In Hindu religion, Lakshmi emerged from the churning of the primordial ocean, choosing Vishnu as her eternal consort. As mentioned in Vishnu Purana, when Vishnu descended on the Earth as the avatars Rama and Krishna, Lakshmi descended as Sita, Rukmini and Satyabhama. Lakshmi is also known by the honorific Shri, as she is endowed with six auspicious qualities. She represents the material world of the earthly realm as the mother goddess, referred to as Prithvi Mata; she is also known by her twin identities as Bhudevi and Sridevi, and in another form, as Nila Devi.
context_section_description: Lakshmi has numerous names and numerous ancient Stotram and Sutras of Hinduism recite her various names:
  Padmā: She of the lotus (she who is mounted upon or dwelling in a lotus)
  Kamalā or Kamalatmika: She of the lotus
  Padmapriyā: Lotus-lover
  Padmamālādhāra Devī: Goddess bearing a garland of lotuses
  Padmamukhī: Lotus-faced (she whose face is as like as a lotus)
  Padmākṣī: Lotus-eyed (she whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus)
  Padmahasta: Lotus-hand (she whose hand is holding [a] lotus[es])
  Padmasundarī: She who is as beautiful as a lotus
  Sri: Radiance, eminence, splendor, wealth
  Śrījā: Jatika of Sri
  Viṣṇupriyā: Lover of Vishnu (she who is the beloved of Vishnu)
  Ulūkavāhinī: Owl-mounted (she who is riding an owl)
  Nandika: The one who gives pleasure, vessel made up of clay and Vishnupriya (she who is the beloved of Vishnu)
  Her other names include: Aishwarya, Akhila, Anagha, Anumati, Apara, Aruna, Atibha, Avashya, Bala, Bhargavi, Bhudevi, Chakrika, Chanchala, Devi, Haripriya, Indira, Jalaja, Jambhavati, Janamodini, Jyoti, Jyotsna, Kalyani, Kamalika, Ketki, Kriyalakshmi, Kuhu, Lalima, Madhavi, Madhu, Malti, Manushri, Nandika, Nandini, Nila Devi, Nimeshika, Parama, Prachi, Purnima, Ramaa, Rukmini, Samruddhi, Satyabhama, Shreeya, Sita, Smriti, Sridevi, Sujata, Swarna Kamala, Taruni, Tilottama, Tulasi, Vaishnavi, Vasuda, Vedavati, Vidya, and Viroopa.
caption: Gaja Lakshmi, Cambodia, ca. 944-968
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