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Treasures of Lakshmi: The Goddess who Gives
Treasures of Lakshmi is the culmination of the much-loved goddess series, brilliantly curated and edited by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal. This trilogy, which began with In Search of Sita and continued with Finding Radha, examines the mystical realms of Hindu thought and practice, celebrating the essence of the sacred feminine. Whether it is Lakshmi's 108 names or a sahasranama of a thousand appellations, her blessings are multidimensional and eternal. as the third and final instalment of this remarkable trilogy, Treasures of Lakshmi takes readers on a unique journey of exploration, unravelling the compelling narrative of 'the goddess who gives'.
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2024
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40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 1, 2024
Beautiful
A most beautiful book on Lakshmi Mata. I learnt a lot from this book but I was disappointed that although the 1000 names of Lakshmi Maa was mentioned it was not listed and explained.
A most beautiful book on Lakshmi Mata. I learnt a lot from this book but I was disappointed that although the 1000 names of Lakshmi Maa was mentioned it was not listed and explained.
April 13, 2024
"Treasures of Lakshmi" stands as an enlightening foray into the heart of Hindu mythology, bringing to light the multifaceted goddess of wealth and prosperity. The book is a harmonious blend of scholarly research and engaging storytelling, presenting Lakshmi in a light that transcends her traditional role as a mere harbinger of material riches.
The narrative is meticulously divided into sections that peel back the layers of historical and cultural significance surrounding the goddess, offering readers a chance to question and redefine their understanding of the sacred feminine. The prose is accessible and fluid, making complex concepts easy to grasp and the wisdom of ancient scriptures relevant to contemporary readers.
This book is a celebration of diversity and depth, providing a platform for a variety of voices to share their interpretations of Lakshmi's lore. It's an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, making it a valuable addition to the library of anyone fascinated by the richness of Indian heritage or the enduring power of myth.
The narrative is meticulously divided into sections that peel back the layers of historical and cultural significance surrounding the goddess, offering readers a chance to question and redefine their understanding of the sacred feminine. The prose is accessible and fluid, making complex concepts easy to grasp and the wisdom of ancient scriptures relevant to contemporary readers.
This book is a celebration of diversity and depth, providing a platform for a variety of voices to share their interpretations of Lakshmi's lore. It's an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, making it a valuable addition to the library of anyone fascinated by the richness of Indian heritage or the enduring power of myth.
February 21, 2024
I am not a religious person but I do enjoy the religious festive holidays. To me religion isn't about worshipping but more of a cultural thing, a culmination of Indian history. So, I read the book as a guide to the mysterious journey of 'the goddess who gives'.
The final book of the well researched and much loved Goddess trilogy, curated by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal is Treasures of Lakshmi. It was unveiled at the Jaipur Literature Festival this year by Gokhale. I attended the session and when she was reading an excerpt from the book, it was a story relating to the goddess, I understood that the text is going to be not only informative but also interesting.
Definitely, the Hindu mythology and system of belief can't be contained in a single book due to the vastness of inscriptions written and passed through generations over more than thousands of years, but this book has certainly tried to touch the enigmatic multiplicity of the said goddess.
I loved chapter 26 where there is the mention of the Tantric songs which acknowledge women as the living embodiment of the goddess. Women are considered as the extension of the essence of Lakshmi and women can only give birth to prosperity for her family. The chapter by Constantina Rhodes is about the know-how of invoking Lakshmi in a household is really interesting.
Chapter 30 by Balaram Das tells a beautiful story of the marital discord of Lord Jagannath and his wife Lakshmi. I loved the tale of the goddess and a chandaal woman Shriya and how the visit to her poor abode transformed Jagannath's perception.
Well, there are so many intriguing tales and interpretations of suktas/shlokas around the goddess and each one has been dealt with great precision in this book.
Thank you @penguinindia and Smridhi for this beautiful book.
The final book of the well researched and much loved Goddess trilogy, curated by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal is Treasures of Lakshmi. It was unveiled at the Jaipur Literature Festival this year by Gokhale. I attended the session and when she was reading an excerpt from the book, it was a story relating to the goddess, I understood that the text is going to be not only informative but also interesting.
Definitely, the Hindu mythology and system of belief can't be contained in a single book due to the vastness of inscriptions written and passed through generations over more than thousands of years, but this book has certainly tried to touch the enigmatic multiplicity of the said goddess.
I loved chapter 26 where there is the mention of the Tantric songs which acknowledge women as the living embodiment of the goddess. Women are considered as the extension of the essence of Lakshmi and women can only give birth to prosperity for her family. The chapter by Constantina Rhodes is about the know-how of invoking Lakshmi in a household is really interesting.
Chapter 30 by Balaram Das tells a beautiful story of the marital discord of Lord Jagannath and his wife Lakshmi. I loved the tale of the goddess and a chandaal woman Shriya and how the visit to her poor abode transformed Jagannath's perception.
Well, there are so many intriguing tales and interpretations of suktas/shlokas around the goddess and each one has been dealt with great precision in this book.
Thank you @penguinindia and Smridhi for this beautiful book.
March 26, 2024
The numerous interpretations of spiritual wisdom, weaved through the multiple facets of essence, have always brought with them a sense of curious thirst for me. India’s spiritual richness is not unknown to anyone, and every insight into its divinity and vastness always feels like an experience in itself.
‘Treasures of Lakshmi’ by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal is a well-researched compilation that amalgamates the essence of Goddess Lakshmi through multiple interpretations. Whether it’s the story of her origin or her mystic powers, whether it's her multiple forms and their significance, or the story of her sister Alakshmi, whether it’s her significance in different cultures and religions, or her interpretation as the goddess of wealth and prosperity, each and every narrative is comprehensive and, at times, on the verge of challenging conceptions that have been passed on through generations.
The entire compilation of 36 narratives has been divided into 4 sections, where each section provides a different lens for the reader to comprehend, which includes the divine interpretations, the creative interpretations, the cultural interpretations, and the folk interpretations.
Even though each story had a unique style of its own, I loved how everything came together in the form of a beautiful lyrical narration that is not only insightful but also spiritually enlightening. I, personally, have gained a lot of insights through this book, and I realized how many unexplored facets there are when it comes to spiritual manifestations of different forms of power. The explanations of the shlokas were an added bonus for me.
If you are someone who has a curiosity for anything spiritual or divine, I would highly recommend this book to you. I would also like to appreciate the efforts taken by both authors in bringing together this compilation.
‘Treasures of Lakshmi’ by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal is a well-researched compilation that amalgamates the essence of Goddess Lakshmi through multiple interpretations. Whether it’s the story of her origin or her mystic powers, whether it's her multiple forms and their significance, or the story of her sister Alakshmi, whether it’s her significance in different cultures and religions, or her interpretation as the goddess of wealth and prosperity, each and every narrative is comprehensive and, at times, on the verge of challenging conceptions that have been passed on through generations.
The entire compilation of 36 narratives has been divided into 4 sections, where each section provides a different lens for the reader to comprehend, which includes the divine interpretations, the creative interpretations, the cultural interpretations, and the folk interpretations.
Even though each story had a unique style of its own, I loved how everything came together in the form of a beautiful lyrical narration that is not only insightful but also spiritually enlightening. I, personally, have gained a lot of insights through this book, and I realized how many unexplored facets there are when it comes to spiritual manifestations of different forms of power. The explanations of the shlokas were an added bonus for me.
If you are someone who has a curiosity for anything spiritual or divine, I would highly recommend this book to you. I would also like to appreciate the efforts taken by both authors in bringing together this compilation.
June 8, 2024
"Treasures of Lakshmi: The Goddess who Gives," edited by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal, offers a rich and multifaceted exploration of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. The book is thoughtfully divided into three sections, each addressing different aspects of Lakshmi’s mythology, cultural significance, and spiritual dimensions. Contributions from multiple authors provide a diverse range of perspectives, enriching the reader’s understanding of Lakshmi’s role in Hindu tradition.
One of the book's strengths is its comprehensive approach, combining scholarly essays, personal reflections, and beautiful illustrations. This diversity in content makes the book both informative and visually appealing. However, the occasional repetition of themes and ideascan disrupt the narrative flow.
A particularly engaging chapter is the one comparing Kuber and Lakshmi, which delves into the nuanced differences and similarities between these two deities associated with wealth. This chapter stands out for its insightful analysis of their respective roles and significance in Hindu mythology, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the cultural and spiritual nuances that differentiate them.
"Treasures of Lakshmi" is a valuable read for anyone interested in Hinduism, mythology, or cultural studies. The book provides a thorough and engaging exploration of Lakshmi, offering insights into her significance that go beyond mere folklore. Its blend of academic rigor and accessible prose makes it suitable for both scholars and general readers, making it a worthwhile addition to any collection on religious studies or Indian culture.
One of the book's strengths is its comprehensive approach, combining scholarly essays, personal reflections, and beautiful illustrations. This diversity in content makes the book both informative and visually appealing. However, the occasional repetition of themes and ideascan disrupt the narrative flow.
A particularly engaging chapter is the one comparing Kuber and Lakshmi, which delves into the nuanced differences and similarities between these two deities associated with wealth. This chapter stands out for its insightful analysis of their respective roles and significance in Hindu mythology, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the cultural and spiritual nuances that differentiate them.
"Treasures of Lakshmi" is a valuable read for anyone interested in Hinduism, mythology, or cultural studies. The book provides a thorough and engaging exploration of Lakshmi, offering insights into her significance that go beyond mere folklore. Its blend of academic rigor and accessible prose makes it suitable for both scholars and general readers, making it a worthwhile addition to any collection on religious studies or Indian culture.
February 15, 2024
A brilliantly crafted anthology. This book was launched on Jaipur literature festival.
Everything that you wanted to ask about goddess Lakshmi is here. It's a trivial collage that challenges old beliefs about goddess Lakshmi and exploring true meaning through symbols and interprets of the verses from Puran.
The book is divided into 4 sections that unfolded to cultural interpretations, folk interpretations, creative interpretations, Lakshmi's essence, the divine interpretations and hymns.
It covers the time of her early appearance in Rig Veda and then slowly unveils the question is she really a symbol of material wealth or Dharma and also of abundance and social equilibrium. Not only spiritual aspects but avoiding the metaphysical perspective and trying to decode the definition of her appearances is another accomplishment that let us ponder over this Devi.
It's an absolutely marvelous collection for anyone who wants to read about Hinduism, society and culture.
The writings are collected from renowned authors which is beautifully expressed the information and exploration became highly intriguing to make me glued to the book.
Verdict - don't miss
Everything that you wanted to ask about goddess Lakshmi is here. It's a trivial collage that challenges old beliefs about goddess Lakshmi and exploring true meaning through symbols and interprets of the verses from Puran.
The book is divided into 4 sections that unfolded to cultural interpretations, folk interpretations, creative interpretations, Lakshmi's essence, the divine interpretations and hymns.
It covers the time of her early appearance in Rig Veda and then slowly unveils the question is she really a symbol of material wealth or Dharma and also of abundance and social equilibrium. Not only spiritual aspects but avoiding the metaphysical perspective and trying to decode the definition of her appearances is another accomplishment that let us ponder over this Devi.
It's an absolutely marvelous collection for anyone who wants to read about Hinduism, society and culture.
The writings are collected from renowned authors which is beautifully expressed the information and exploration became highly intriguing to make me glued to the book.
Verdict - don't miss
January 10, 2025
The fact that I love mythology of any kind is no secret and I was drawn to Treasures Of Lakshmi, a collection of essays, poems, mythological verses and narratives, etc., curated and edited by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal, the final of their three-part Devi series (the first two being based on Sita and Radha).
As is the risk with any collection, some essays are good and some average. I didn't care for the more 'creatively' written ones, and definitely enjoyed the ones that were more straight-up mythology, using references from the Vedas, historical art works and literature, etc. Having said that, some of those were quite tough to understand.
In general, I liked that the essays explored various facets of Lakshmi and dispelled the narrative that places her in the single bucket of that of the Goddess of wealth.
Hindu mythology is particularly complex, with timelines and stories often being contradictory, not to mention each part of India having their own story. Hence, reading this book in one go tended to get confusing, but nonetheless, enjoyable.
As is the risk with any collection, some essays are good and some average. I didn't care for the more 'creatively' written ones, and definitely enjoyed the ones that were more straight-up mythology, using references from the Vedas, historical art works and literature, etc. Having said that, some of those were quite tough to understand.
In general, I liked that the essays explored various facets of Lakshmi and dispelled the narrative that places her in the single bucket of that of the Goddess of wealth.
Hindu mythology is particularly complex, with timelines and stories often being contradictory, not to mention each part of India having their own story. Hence, reading this book in one go tended to get confusing, but nonetheless, enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews