| “ | Lakshmi will dwell where there is nobility and righteousness, cleanliness and beauty, virtue and compassion.
Alakshmi will dwell elsewhere, attracted by sloth, envy, greed, lust and pride. |
„ |
| ~ Mother Goddess Devi |
Alakshmi, also "Alakshmi Devi", a deity in Hindu mythology, is commonly viewed as the goddess of misfortune, poverty, grief and sorrow in Hindu mythology.
The gods dispatch Alakshmi to reside among malevolent individuals, bringing them poverty and sorrow. As the asura of misfortune and grief, she is the shadowy counterpart of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and joy. Alakshmi is sometimes identified with Jyestha and is also known by the names Kalahapriya and Daridara.
Biography[]
Birth of Lakshmi and Alakshmi[]
In the Padma Purana, Alakshmi is included in the cosmology, which describes the Samudra Manthana as producing both good and bad elements. The inauspicious and negative arise first, while greater effort is needed to bring forth the auspicious and positive, as explained in the text.
In Hindu mythology, both Lakshmi Devi and Alakshmi Devi were born during the churning of the ocean by the Devas (forces of order) and Danavas (forces of chaos). Since Jyestha Devi appeared before Lakshmi, she is regarded as the elder sister and is referred to as Moodevi in South India.
This goddess represents misfortune, scarcity, destruction, famine, disease, and other negative forces, standing in stark contrast to Lakshmi Devi. Despite this, Lakshmi is always in the company of Jyestha.
While Jyestha Devi was worshipped from the Rigvedic period up until the 10th century, her veneration has significantly declined in modern times.
She is often depicted alongside her two attendants, Manthana and Manthi, her son and daughter, respectively.
As a Consort of Kali[]
According to the Kalki Purana, Alakshmi is also the second consort of Kali, the male demon of the Kali Yuga. This Purana describes the events of the current age and the ten avatars of Vishnu. When Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, ascended back to heaven, the fourth era of the Kali Yuga began, an age marked by impurity and conflict. These traits will persist repeatedly until the ultimate end of all things, making Alakshmi a fitting partner for Kali.
Alakshmi enters where there is darkness or when individuals or households stray far from the four purusharthas—dharma, kama, artha, and moksha. In simple terms, Alakshmi brings discord, jealousy, malice, hardship, and ruin wherever she goes.
Her presence leads to ignorance, lack of vision, and negativity. She causes division in families and the destruction of wealth, sowing distrust and misunderstanding among loved ones. With her arrival come sloth, gluttony, envy, rage, hypocrisy, greed, and lust. Ignorance of her influence is a sign of arrogance.
Characteristics[]
Alakshmi embodies severe ugliness and is portrayed as an old, disheveled, and filthy woman riding a donkey. Her skin is dark, wrinkled, and leathery, while her hair is matted, unkempt, and covered in dirt. She has sunken cheeks, shriveled breasts, and rough limbs. Alakshmi is drawn to places where people are consumed by ego, vanity, and selfishness. An owl always accompanies her, and her mount is a donkey. She is depicted as having traits such as "repelling cows, possessing the feet of an antelope, and having the teeth of a bull." Alternatively, she is described as having a "dry, shriveled body, sunken cheeks, thick lips, and small, beady eyes, and she is said to ride a donkey."
Legacy[]
No one worships a negative force, but it is important to recognize Alakshmi because she accompanies Lakshmi wherever she goes. Therefore, one worships Lakshmi to receive her blessings and to ward off Alakshmi. Seeking wealth and abundance can inadvertently invite Alakshmi, as wealth may carry the hidden potential to undermine Lakshmi's blessings.
In Hindu households, Lakshmi is welcomed with various pujas that include offering sweet prasada in the prayer room, while lemons and red chilies are placed outside to deter Alakshmi. The hope is that Alakshmi will consume these offerings and remain outside.
Occasionally, both the front and back doors are opened so that Lakshmi can enter and enjoy the sweet prasada, while Alakshmi is directed to leave through the back door and partake of the sour prasada outside. These practices are ritualistic, but it is essential to use discernment to differentiate between Lakshmi and Alakshmi.
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