Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and success.
She is tall and beautiful. She wears a pink sari, has beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, and her skin has a golden glow. She has four arms. Lakshmi holds a lotus flower, symbolizing beauty and fertility. One of her hands spills good coins, symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and abundance. She is often pictured with two elephants behind her, spraying water. She is also often pictured massaging Vishnu's feet. She symbolizes the dutiful, loving wife.
Lakshmi's shadow side is greed and over-consumption. She is not pleased in these situations and will not bestow her gifts if asked.
In the story of the Churning of the Milly Ocean, Lakshmi was displeased and exiled herself in the milky ocean. The land became barren, as Lakshmi is responsible for fertility and abundance. The gods began churning the ocean to bring her back, and it took 1000 years. She rose out of the ocean on a lotus flower and abundance and beauty returned to the land.
Lakshmi is related to inner sweetness and to soma, the elixir of the gods. She is related to beauty and radiance. She is related to lush landscapes and beautiful gardens. Lakshmi is related to roses.
In India, many businesses and households make offerings to Lakshmi so that she will bestow success and abundance on them. Especially during Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Lakshmi is honored and invited into people's homes.
http://www.koausa.org/Gods/God6.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/deities/lakshmi.shtml
