Editing Lakshmi (section)

== Etymology and epithets ==
{{Hinduism}}[[File: Tanjore Paintings - Big temple 01.JPG|thumb|left|A painting of Lakshmi on the inner walls of the [[Brihadeeswarar Temple|Tanjore Big temple]]]]
Lakshmi in [[Sanskrit]] is derived from the root word ''lakṣ'' ({{lang|sa|लक्ष्}}) and ''lakṣa'' ({{lang|sa|लक्ष}}), meaning 'to perceive, observe, know, understand' and 'goal, aim, objective', respectively.<ref>"[http://faculty.washington.edu/prem/mw/l.html lakṣ, लक्ष्]." ''Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary''. Germany: University of Koeln. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520235132/http://faculty.washington.edu/prem/mw/l.html|date=20 May 2015}}</ref> These roots give Lakshmi the symbolism: ''know'' and ''understand'' your goal.<ref name="carol">[[Carol Plum-Ucci|Plum-Ucci, Carol]]. ''Celebrate Diwali''. {{ISBN|978-0-7660-2778-7}}. pp. 79–86.</ref> A related term is ''lakṣaṇa'', which  means 'sign, target, aim, symbol, attribute, quality, lucky mark, auspicious opportunity'''.''<ref>"[http://faculty.washington.edu/prem/mw/l.html lakṣaṇa]." ''Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary''. Germany: University of Koeln. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520235132/http://faculty.washington.edu/prem/mw/l.html|date=20 May 2015}}.</ref>

[[File:Lakshmi (Banteay Srei, Angkor) (6843511981).jpg|thumb|left|Gaja Lakshmi, Cambodia, ca. 944-968]]
Lakshmi has numerous epithets and numerous ancient [[Stotram]] and [[Sutra]]s of [[Hinduism]] recite her various names:<ref name="Rhodes">Rhodes, Constantina. 2011. ''Invoking Lakshmi: The Goddess of Wealth in Song and Ceremony''. State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-1-4384-3320-2}}.</ref><ref name=vkumara>Vijaya Kumara, 108 Names of Lakshmi, Sterling Publishers, {{ISBN|978-81-207-2028-2}}</ref> such as ''Sri'' (Radiance, eminence, splendor, wealth), '' Padmā'' (she who is mounted upon or dwelling in a lotus or She of the [[Padma (attribute)|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), ''[[Padmavathi|Padmavati]]'' (She who was born from a lotus),'' Śrījā'' (Jatika of Sri), ''Narayani'' (belonging to [[Vishnu|Narayana]] or the wife of Narayana), ''[[Vaishnavi (Matrika goddess)|Vaishnavi]]'' (worshipper of Vishnu or the power of Vishnu), '' Viṣṇupriyā'' (who is the beloved of Vishnu), ''Nandika'' (the one who gives pleasure). Shaktas also consider [[Tripura Sundari|Lalita]], who is praised with 1,000 names in the [[Lalita Sahasranama]], as Lakshmi.{{Sfn|Brooks|1992|p=67}}

Lakshmi Sahasranama of [[Skanda Purana]] praises Lakshmi as ''[[Mahadevi]]'' (she who is the great goddess), ''Mahamaya'' (she who is a great illusion), ''Karaveera Nivasini'' (The Goddess Who lives in Karaveera/[[Kolhapur]]) and ''Maha Astha Dasa Pithagne'' (she who has 18 great [[Shakta pithas]]). She is also praised as ''Mahalakshmi'' (she who is great Lakshmi), ''[[Mahakali]]'' (she who is great Kali), and ''Mahasaraswati'' (she who is great Saraswati) who are the primary deities in [[Devi Mahatmya]]. The other prominent names included in this text are, ''[[Bhuvaneshvari]] (she who is the Queen or ruler of the Universe), ''[[Katyayani]]'' (she who is the daughter of sage Katyayana), ''[[Kaushiki]]'' ([[Shakti]] that came out of the sheath (or Kosha) of [[Parvati]]), ''Brahmani'' (She who is the power of [[Brahma]]), ''[[Kamakshi]]'' (she who fulfils desires by her eyes), ''[[Chandi]]'' (she who killed [[Mahishasura]]), ''[[Chamunda]]'' (She who killed [[Chanda and Munda]]), ''Madhu Kaidabha Bhanjini'' (she who killed [[Madhu-Kaitabha|Madhu and Kaidabha]]), ''[[Durga]]'' (she who killed Durgamasura), ''Maheshvari'' (she who is the power of Maheshvara), ''[[Varahi]]'' (she who is the power of [[Varaha]], a form of [[Vishnu]]), ''Narasimhi'' (she who is the power of [[Narasimha]], a form of [[Vishnu]]), ''Srividyaa'' (she who is [[Sri Vidya]]), ''Sri Manthra Raja Rajini'' (the queen of Sri Vidya), ''Shadadharadhi devata'' (she who is the goddess of the six [[chakras]]).<ref>{{cite book|title=Kolhapur: A Study in Urban Geography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1gw8AAAAMAAJ|page=3|author=Prabhakar T. Malshe |publisher=University of Poona|year=1974}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Lord Vishnu & Goddess Lakshmi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RbBNCgAAQBAJ |publisher=Osmora Publishing|author=Munindra Misra|date=4 August 2015|isbn=978-2-7659-1672-7}}</ref> ''Dutch author Dirk van der Plas says, "In Lakshmi Tantra, a text of Visnuite signature, the name Mahamaya is connected with third or destructive of Goddess' three partial functions, while in supreme form she is identified with Lakshmi"''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ops3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA72|title=Effigies Dei: Essays on the History of Religions|author=Dirk van der Plas|publisher=Brill|year=1987 |page=72}}</ref>''

Her other names include:<ref name="Rhodes" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-02 |title=Sri Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamavali - śrī lakṣmī aṣṭōttaraśatanāmāvalī |url=https://stotranidhi.com/en/sri-lakshmi-ashtottara-shatanamavali-in-english/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Stotra Nidhi |language=en-IN}}</ref> Aishwarya, Akhila, Anagha, Anapagamini, Anumati, Apara, Aruna, Atibha, Avashya, Bala, [[Bhargavi]], [[Bhumi (goddess)|Bhudevi]], Chakrika, [[Chanchala]], Chandravadana, Chandrasahodari, Chandraroopa, [[Devi]], Deepta, [[Dhrti|Dhruti]], Haripriya, Harini, Harivallabha, Hemamalini, Hiranyavarna, Indira, Jalaja, [[Jambavati|Jambhavati]], Janaki, Janamodini, Jyoti, Jyotsna, Kalyani, Kamalika, Ketaki, Kriyalakshmi, Kshirsha, Kuhu, Lalima, Madhavi, Madhu, Malti, Manushri, Nandika, Nandini, Nikhila, [[Niladevi|Nila Devi]], Nimeshika, Padmavati, Parama, Prachi, Purnima, [[Radha]], Ramaa, [[Rukmini]], Samruddhi, Samudra Tanaya, [[Satyabhama]], Shraddha, Shreeya, [[Sita]], Smriti, Sridevi, Sudha, Sujata, Swarna Kamala, Taruni, Tilottama, Tulasi, Vasuda, Vasudhara, Vasundhara, Varada, Varalakshmi, Vedavati, Vidya, Vimala, and Viroopa.