The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Value of wealth

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Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Value of wealth

CHENNAI: Scriptures assign to Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu, the power to bestow prosperity. She is described as the daughter of the milky ocean since she came into being when it was churned to obtain nectar.

Adi Sankara is said to have composed the Kanakadhara Stotram, a hymn in praise of the Goddess, when as a Brachmacharyin, (bachelor) he was touched by the compassion of a woman belonging to a poor family. On a Dvadasi day he had approached her house seeking alms. Having nothing else to offer, and not wanting to send him away empty handed, she offered him an Amla fruit (gooseberry). Sankara was able to see the poverty in the household as much as he could see her genuine desire to offer much more than what she had. There arose in him a desire to help this family. He immediately invoked the Goddess and entreated Her to shower prosperity on this couple and alleviate their poverty-ridden status.

It is believed that as Sankara recited the 21 verses in praise of Goddess Laksmi, there was a downpour of Amlas in gold in the household, and the family lived in prosperity thereafter.

Though Sankara composed it spontaneously at a very young age, the hymn has in it the distilled knowledge and wisdom of an evolved saint, pointed out Sri B. Madhavan in his discourse.

The value of the hymn goes beyond securing material benefits, as one cannot underestimate the role of money, wealth, or prosperity in one's life. Just as it can confer good living, it can also destroy the good nature in people, when it becomes the cause of greed, or the path to power. Sadly enough the truth is that he who remains unsatisfied is actually a poor man. It is also important that wealth has to be acquired by honest means and spent in an unselfish manner.

That is why the nature of the wealth as advocated by Sankara in the Phala Stuti of this hymn is the kind of wealth that is acquired by the grace of Goddess Lakshmi, who is praised as the embodiment of compassion, and the mother of the Universe. Sankara vouches that the chanting of the hymn will bring about a qualitative transformation in one's persona, worthy of being praised by elders and scholars, and what is more, ultimately help in attaining liberation.

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