Why Is External Worship of Lakshmi Devi Important?

The next mantra –
उपैतु मां देवसखः कीर्तिश्च मणीना सह
प्रादुर्भूतोऽस्मि राष्ट्रेऽस्मिन् कीर्तिमृद्धिं ददातु मे

Not only wealth, come to me with gems and fame, fame arising out of knowledge and affluence both. उपैतु मां कीर्तिश्च मणीना सह
I am born into this world only because of your grace, give me fame and wealth.

क्षुत्पिपासां मलां ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं नाशयाम्यहम्
अभूतिं असमृद्धिं च सर्वान् निर्णुद मे गृहात्

क्षुत् – hunger
पिपासा – thirst
मलम् – everything that is unclean – lack of cleanliness is associated with Alakshmi. If you keep your house unclean, Alakshmi will come and occupy. Prosperity cannot come to a place that is unclean, only Alakshmi will come.

ज्येष्ठा – is again Alakshmi – Alakshmi is considered to be the wife of Dussaha – Kali devata.
Alakshmi is Dussahapatni – Kali vallabha.

अभूतिः –
Bhuti means abundance of houses, land, gardens, servants, wealth.
Abhuti means lack of all these.

असमृद्धिः – remove all these from my home.

सर्वान् निर्णुद मे गृहात्

The next mantra –
गन्धद्वारां दुराधर्षां नित्यपुष्टां करीषिणीम्
ईश्वरीं सर्वभूतानां तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम्

गन्धद्वाराम् – द्वारम् means gate – what is the gate through which Goddess Lakshmi is attained?

Gandha –
गन्धं पुष्पं च धूपं च दीपं च सुमनोहरम्
लेह्यं मधुरसंयुक्तम् शाल्यन्नं च निवेदयेत्
प्रियाणि लक्ष्म्याः पुष्पाणि कमलानि विदुर्बुधाः

Gandha means chandana.
Chandana represents chandana, pushpa (especially lotus flowers which are her favorite), dhupam, deepa, naivedya. These upacharas are the gate through which she is attained. Her formal worship using all these is the gate through which she is attained.

Gandhadwara –
Gandha has another meaning:

यथा वृक्षस्य संपुष्पितस्य दूराद्गन्धो वाति
एवं पुण्यस्य कर्मणो दूराद्गन्धो वाति

This is the interpretation Sayanacharya gives while interpreting the term 'Sugandhim' in Mrityunjaya mantra – 'Sugandhim pushtivardhanam'.

Imagine a tree like champaka or parijata in blossom. Even from a distance, you get to know the fragrance. Punya karmas are also like this. They spread their fragrance far and wide. So gandha means punya karma.

And she is Gandhadwara – she makes you do punya karma. She can be accessed through punya karma.

दुराधर्षाम् – she cannot be attained, accessed, if you do not follow the prescribed methods of her worship. You cannot just do something out of your whim and fancy and complain that nothing happened. There are prescribed methods for her worship like Lakshmi vrata, like Shree Sukta homa if you want to attain Goddess Lakshmi.

नित्यपुष्टाम् – she always has abundance. People are rich in the first week of the month when salary comes and become poor again by the end of the month. Mata is not like that. Her abundance does not deplete, does not diminish. No matter how much soever she gives, her abundance does not get less. She is nityapushta.

सर्व काल सर्व देश सर्व वस्तुष्वपि सर्वदा पुष्टाम्

करीषिणीम् – कर्षवतीम् – मृद्वतीम् – कर्षमृत् is the freshly ploughed mud of the fields. This is very suspicious and a favorite of Goddess – the freshly ploughed mud of the fields. Because that is from where cultivation starts, prosperity starts, abundance starts.

ईश्वरीं सर्वभूतानाम् – she is the Ishvari, Swamini of all bhutas – all beings – of devas, asuras, gandharvas, humans, siddhas, rishis – Ishvari of everyone.

तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम् – calling her here, inviting her here. Now that the Alakshmi has been sent away, Lakshmi Devi is being invited.

There is a beautiful interpretation of the term 'Shri' combining various roots:

शृणाति निखिलान् दोषान् श्रीणाति च गुणैर्जगत्
श्रीयते चाखिलैर्नित्यं श्रयते च परं पदम्

She destroys all doshas, she fills her devotees with all gunas, she is praised by everyone always, and she accords the parama pada.

• Why ask for gems and fame along with wealth?
  Because Lakshmi’s grace includes reputation grounded in knowledge and good conduct; this protects wealth, attracts right work, and strengthens family trust.

• What is fame born of knowledge versus fame born of money?
  Knowledge-fame is stable and respected; money-fame is fragile. The first lifts your health habits and decision quality; the second tempts waste.

• What does it mean to be born and sustained by grace?
  Your life itself is a gift from Bhagavan; gratitude expressed through service, study, and restraint keeps opportunities opening.

• Are hunger and thirst only about the body?
  No. They include restless craving. Sattvik food, fixed mealtimes, and short daily japa quiet inner hunger and improve sleep.

• Why is uncleanness linked to misfortune?
  Dirt and clutter signal neglect. Clean body, clean speech, and a clean home invite order, better immunity, and calmer relations.

• Who is Alakshmi in practical terms?
  She is disorder showing up as filth, lies, waste, debt spirals, and bitter talk. Remove these and you remove her hold.

• What is being asked when we say ‘send away all inauspiciousness from my home’?
  Evict habits that drain: late-night chaos, unpaid dues, hoarding, gossip, and unhealthy food cycles.

• What is the ‘gandha’ or gate to Lakshmi?
  Two gates: disciplined offerings (chandana, flowers, dhupa, deepa, naivedya) and the ‘fragrance’ of punya karma that travels far and draws grace.

• Why insist on prescribed methods like vrata and homa?
  Because devotion needs form to stay steady. Method removes guesswork, prevents laziness, and channels emotion into results.

• What does ‘duradharsha’ teach a devotee?
  You cannot bypass discipline. Random experiments and mood-based worship fail; correctness and consistency succeed.

• What is ‘nityapushta’ abundance and how is it lived?
  It is non-depleting prosperity. Live it through budgeting, timely charity, debt avoidance, and simple tastes that keep health strong.

• Why highlight freshly ploughed soil (‘karishini’)?
  Prosperity starts with first effort. Wake early, plan the day, do the hard beginnings; the field yields when the ground is prepared.

• If Lakshmi is Ishvari of all beings, how should I behave at work and home?
  Be fair, pay on time, speak respectfully to staff and family, and avoid exploitation. Respect secures her stay.

• Why invite auspiciousness only after cleansing?
  Space must be made. Declutter, settle dues, apologize where needed; then light the deepa and begin offering.

• What does ‘Shri’ removing faults and planting virtues look like daily?
  Drop one vice, adopt one virtue: stop harsh speech, start truth with kindness. Relationships and health stabilize.

• How does this touch love and marriage?
  Shared puja once a week, transparent money decisions, and clean language. Lakshmi rests where tenderness and order meet.

• What is the ‘fragrance of merit’ today?
  A reputation for reliability, hygiene, punctuality, and helpfulness. It precedes you and brings right alliances.

• How can I practice the gate in 7 minutes?
  Sweep a spot, wash hands, place water and a flower, offer deepa, chant one nama of Vishnu, and share prasad with family.

• How do I know the prayer is working?
  You see timely help, fewer quarrels, clear choices, better digestion and sleep, and steady progress without drama.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi