Maa Laxmi Empowering Woman

Manabasa Gurubara- a festival celebrated by Hindus in Odisha. Goddess Laxmi is the main deity. The festival is held on every Thursday in the month of Margasira. Celebrated among all caste and creed. It is believed that Maa Laxmi brings lot of happiness and removes all sorrow from house.

But if we read the “Laxmi Purana” we will understand that Ma too had gone through lot of hurdles in her life because she is a woman. She is worshipped but she is a lady. She also seeks permission just to step out of her house. She has to handle all the household activities. She has to take responsibilities of cooking, serving and responsibilities of husband, brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

When Maa Laxmi once passed by the house of Shriya a scavenger, low caste woman; she was dragged towards her house as she was melted by the rituals of the low caste women. But the male members of Ma Laxmi family shouted, humiliated Maa. And her husband – “Lord Jagannath” didn’t even think for a while and vigorously outraged Maa Laxmi from home. Lord Jagannath too behaves like now-a-days husband didn’t even listen to the wife’s prayer and didn’t try to enquire into the matter. Lord Jagannath didn’t allow Ma to enter the house. Ma was questioned about her social activities and why she went against the elders of the family. At that time Maa too thought about the promises which Lord Jagannath gave her during the marriage, the vows i.e. to stand with her in all odds. But Lord Jagannath behave as a normal Male-Silent, Mute, agreeing to the family and speaking all ill about Maa Laxmi’s family and her upbringing.

Forcibly when Maa Laxmi started walking out –Lord Jagannath Shouted from back- “Take away all your jewelleries, sell them and try to get at-least food for your survival”, the way Lord said it hurts the soul of Maa Laxmi. It affects the self-esteem and pride of Maa. She decided to walk away dignified in her confidence. Did a Male can ever understand the importance of a Wife, the pride of a wife? Neither Lord Jagannath understood nor did the Male of today’s world will. But when a woman is questioned she can never survive so do Maa- threw away all jewelleries and cursed them to go through prolonged ordeal without food, water and shelter. “Twelve years you will survive as a beggar, you will not even get food, cloth, you will roam every-where, but only a low caste woman will offer you food at last”. Maa Laxmi didn’t even go to her father’s house. She held her head high and went away.

Lord Jagannath and his brother went through the curse, roam around and didn’t even get food and water. Worshipped as God worldwide but passed through the ordeal. At last they understood that disrespecting Maa is disrespecting food. Remember a family will never grow nor live happily if the woman of the family stays in pain. Lord when felt guilty and understood his mistake he came back to Ma and as a normal wife Ma Laxmi too scold Lord Jagannath and melted down.

The main aim of writing this story is “Every Women go through this dilemma in life; she has to be strong and has to go through this phase by using both her heart and brain. And those women who pass this hurdle in true sense become Maa Laxmi. Thrown out by her husband still performs her duties and responsibilities honestly without losing her dignity and integrity. Every woman should be given her own space, her own identity, individuality and must be respected by the family”.

Laxmi Puja is all about empowering women. A woman should be strong, bold but should never lose her womanly nature especially- simplicity, empathy, caring, tolerance, nurturance and succorance.