Sri Lakshmi Narayane:shti – “For Wealth and Prosperity”
ada:na do:sheNa bhave:dharidraha Daridrya do:she:na karo:ti pa:pam !
pa:pa:davasyam narakam praya:ti punardaridra: punare:va pa:pi: !!
The holy Adharva Ve:dam says: “sata hasta samhaAhA:ra sahasrahasta samkira” – ‘Earn as if you have hundred hands and donate as if you have thousand hands’. yajurve:dam has preached ‘dAnam’ (donation) as the ultimate dharma. The Upanishats have described ‘damam’ for De:vata:s (Gods and Goddesses), ‘daya’ for Asuras (ra:ksha:s) and ‘da:nam’ (giving) for Ma:nava:s (human beings) as the most important dharmas (duties) to follow.
While asking for alms, the beggar outside the temple not only remind us of our duty to give generously but also show himself as an example for the sad stage we can as well reach, by not being generous to the needy. It is said that one who does not use the riches he has for donating for the good causes will be born in poverty in his next life. Poverty will make him to commit sins. Because of the sins he commits in this life, he will be born as a poor man again in the next life. Again the possibility of sins…. Again the poverty…. He becomes a victim of poverty further and remains in the sinful, poverty-stricken life cycle.
Poverty is the most scariest of the curses. It is the very reason for unhappiness resulting in disturbed events. Hence, Lord Brahma asked Lord Vishnu – ‘What should one do to get out of this sad cycle? What should one do to end this poverty for peace and stability in this world? ‘
!!Sloka!!
Sarva da:ridrya samnam ishtime:kam savistaram !
tadvidha:na:dhikam brUhi lo:kakalya:Nahe:tave: !!
The answer to this question imparted by the ever compassionate Lord Srimannarayana is “Sri Lakshmi Nara:yane:sh:ti”.
!!Sloka!!
yatkrutva: tu nara: bhu:mau labhante: sarva sampada: !
da:ridrya bhayanirmukta:ha mo:dante: divijaissamam !!
sarva sowbha:gya bho:ga:di:n maha: vaibhava samchaya:n!
pra:pnuvanti cha te: sri:ghram ane:naiva hi karmaNa:!!
One should surrender to the divine couple to be free of the ill effects of not giving, to get relief from poverty-stricken life and enjoy all the comforts in life. Sri Lakshmi Narayana Isthi is performed to annihilate this cyclic reaction of sinful, poverty stricken life and award a purposeful, prosperous trouble free life here and an eternal blissful association of Lord there
Other Ishtis
1. Sri Sudarsana Ishti - for good health & protection
2. Sri Vynatheya Ishti - for good children
3. Sri Hayagriva ishti - for education
4. Sri Vishwaksena Ishti - for success in all endeavors
5. Sri Nrusimha Ishti - for eliminating planetary impediments
6. Sri Vaibhava Ishti - for ancestoral peace
