LAKSHMEE PATTABHISHEKAM
Smt. Malathi Balaji
It is our paramabhAgyam to remember Lakshmi avatAram, Lakshmi PaTTAbhishEkam and Lakshmi KalyANam on the auspicious day of Panguni uttram. The churning of the milky ocean (ksheera-sAgara manthanam), the birth of Lakshmi and Her marriage with VishNu were crucial to maintaining the cosmic order of the universe. Once upon a time, the dEvas were rendered weak by the curse of durvAsa maharshee. They approached VishNu for help. VishNu advised them to rope in asuras and churn the milky ocean along with them in order to obtain an immortal nectar called amRuta. With vAsuki snake as the rope, mount mantAra as the churning rod, the asuras and devas started churning the milky ocean (ksheerasAgara). Mount mantAra was slipping and hence VishNu flew on GaruDa and held the summit tight from above. He shone majestically with a thousand arms. Now the base of the mountain was wavering. Vishnu again took on the shape of a huge tortoise (koorma avatAra) and held the mountain intact from under. Lord VishNu also gave His power to the dEvas, asuras and snake vAsuki to churn the ocean. The nectar still did not appear. So, Vishnu appeared in the form of Lord ajita having four hands and churned the ocean Himself.
At first, a deadly poison called “hAlahala” emerged to destroy the universe. Lord Shiva recited achyutA, anantA, gOvindA, drank the poison, and retained it in his throat which became blue. He was named neelakaNtha since then. Later, many divine beings like the celestial cow kAmadhEnu or surabhee, the Goddess of divine beverage vAruNee dEvi, wish-fulfilling kalpavRuksha tree, the ethereal apsaras, the moon God chandra, the divine horse uchchaishravas, the divine elephant airAvata, the precious gem kaustubha mani, and the divine doctor dhanvantari with the nectar pot emerged from the milky ocean. Finally, the immensely radiant Lakshmi dEvi holding the lotus in her hands and seated on the thousand petalled lotus, emerged from the ocean. The eight elephants bathed her with sacred waters (paTTAbhishEkham). The rishis recited shreesooktams. The gandharvas sang and the apsaras danced.
SwAmi dEsikan beautifully captures the PaTTAbhishEkam of Lakshmi in his Shree Stuti 13 and 14
अम्भॊराशॆरधिगत सुधा सम्प्लवाद् उत्थितां त्वाम् |
पुष्पासार-स्थगित भुवनै: पुष्कलावर्तकाद्यै:
क्लृप्तारम्भा: कनक कलशै:-अभ्यषिञ्चन् गजॆन्द्रा: ||
agrE bhartu: sarasijamayE bhadrapeeThE nishaNNAm
ambhOrAshEradhigata sudhA samplavAd utthitAM tvAm |
puShpAsAra-sthagita bhuvanai: puShkalAvartakAdyai:
klRuptArambhA: kanaka kalashai: abhyaShinchan gajEndrA: ||
Oh dEvi! You arose from the flood of nectar on the milky ocean and sat opposite to Your Lord on the auspicious throne made of lotus flower. The clouds showered so many flowers on You that the world almost disappeared. Then, the eight cardinal guardian elephants bathed you with waters from golden pots. Thus, the coronation ceremony was started by the pushkalA and vartakA clouds and concluded by the ashTadik-gaja elephants.
Then, Lakshmi arose carrying a garland in her hand and married VishNu by garlanding Him and taking a permanent seat on His chest (vakshasthalam).
शापाक्रान्ता: शरणमगमन् सावरॊधास्सुरॆन्द्रा ।
लब्ध्वाभूयस्त्रिभुवनमिदं लक्षितं त्वत्कटाक्षै:
सर्वाकारस्थिरसमुदयां सम्पदं निर्विशन्ति ॥
AlOkyatvAM amRutasahajE viShNuvakShasthalasthAm
shApAkrAntA: sharaNamagaman sAvarOdhAssurEndraa |
labdhvAbhooyastribhuvanamidaM lakShitaM tvatkaTAkShai:
sarvAkaarasthirasamudayAM sampadaM nirvishanti ||
The dEvas who were sad due to durvAsa’s curse prostrated and surrendered to Lakshmi resting on the chest of Lord VishNu. The moment Lakshmee’s glance fell on them, they regained the three worlds, all types of wealth, and prosperity.
Let us also always remember and surrender to shreedEvi who is “vishNuvaksha-sthalasthitA” and whose auspicious glance grants bhukti and mukti.
Nitya Shree Nitya Mangalam.
