The Eight Goddesses

There lived a poor shepherd by the name of Ramakant with his daughter Padma. Ramakant was a once wealthy and proud man owning fifteen acres of land. However the good fortune had got to his head and he started growing callous and arrogant. He stopped his worship of his family deities, Lakshmi and Ganesh and squandered his money. He also treated people bitterly and was prone to arguing and fighting with others over trivial matters. 

One day he killed his lead elephant Gajapati and sold all its children to a merchant in order to make a profitable deal. Lord Ganesh and Mother Lakshmi who are always worshipped together grew extremely angry due to this offence and decided to leave his house. A wealthy gambler by the name of Sushen had come to his house, demanding him to gamble with him otherwise he threatened to abduct his daughter. Ramakant had no choice but to accept the crooked man’s offer. He gambled and took all his chances but fate had it that he lost. With the exit of Lakshmi, due to his gambling, poverty struck his family suddenly and he lost all his money and property. 

He ended up in the outskirts of the village where he was meant to live as an outcast after losing his fame and honour. Head bent down and face downcast, he made a hut and lived in it till hope would finally arrive.

His daughter was the only family member he had and he didn’t want to lose her. 

But fate made it really tough for Ramakant. He was in the midst of a dense forest and was constantly in fear of wild animals, poisonous snakes and evil forest spirits. His daughter, Padma, used to gather wood everyday for lighting the fire. One day, she went out of her own will to the forest in the name of renouncing her painful life and never returned. When the father found out about this, he was heart broken and cursed the gods for his destiny. His daughter was his only prized possession.

However he was too scared to search her as he feared the dangers of the forest. As time passed, he slowly gave up hope and decided to end his life. He was searching among his belongings one day, when he found an old bag no one had opened. He looked into it and found an old book highlighting the destiny of the house and how the eighth generation of this family was doomed to ruin. He guessed that he was the eight generation and had totally given up hope when he noticed that the book was incomplete. There was another note which stated that to avoid doom one must propitiate Lakshmi and Ganesh together. In particular the Ashta Lakshmi should be venerated. 

Ramakant decided that in order to gain the eight types of wealth which he had lost, he should give up his eight sins which were cowardice, neglect, greed, attachment, ignorance, jealousy, hatred and laziness.

He took eight iron nails and nailed them to a tree symbolising his sacrifice. He prayed to the Eight Lakshmis along with Ganesh for eight years. He praised the holy names of God from morning to night , with his mind completely fixed on God and without being disturbed by the external world. He did not expect anything in return, it was only pure love which enveloped him and his God. He started developing unconditional love for God. 

 One day, he found an old conch lying under his bed. He blew it hard, not expecting anything. There are many wonders in this world but none of them could match this one. The sound of the conch startled the elephant Gajapati’s son and he rushed into the forest, knocking out all trees and climbers. He stood beside Ramakant’s house and behind him were his sons, wives and daughters. Seated on him was Ramakant’s daughter , resplendent and decked in gold. Beside her were other women, equally radiant as her.But most surprising was that on those eight elephants also rode Sushen, the crafty gambler, now radiant and divine with his hands around Padma’s waist. Ramakant came rushing out of his house at this commotion and was shocked to see this. He fell at Gajapati’s son’s feet and embraced him. Padma, ,smiling divinely said, “ Father, you may not recognise me, but I am Mahalakshmi herself. I took birth in your house because I knew of the impending doom in your family and wanted to save you from it. But I wanted you to revel in God’s eternal love before you could actually get your lost wealth. Because the truth is, with the devotion you have been propitiating me for eight years deserves not just wealth but the highest attainment. I indirectly guided you to moksha since your love for me was so selfless. I along with my eight expansions- Ashtalakshmi and Ganesh , in the form of Gajapati’s son have come to take you to Vaikuntham myself.” Truth finally dawned on her father but after seeing Sushena, his peace was sapped. “What is this wretch doing here! Stay out of my daughter’s way.” 

Sushen laughed and said, “ Ramakant, we are none other than Lakshmi Narayan and we incarnated as humans to merely help you and your forefathers.” 

Ramakant was still confused. Sushen revealed that this was just a small plan in the major scheme to make sure his ancestors too achieved salvation. Over the generations, his ancestors roamed the earth as troubled spirits as no one was there to perform their rites and ensure their spiritual evolution. So in order to rid the curse of his family, Lakshmi Narayan incarnated specifically as Padma- Sushen.

They got off the elephant and revealed their true form to Ramakant. Ramakant fell on his knees and he begged for salvation. He was done living his worldly life of riches, poverty, joy and sorrow. Before ascending to Vaikuntham, he performed the essential rites of his ancestors and another divine miracle seemed to behold him. His ancestors regained their divine bodies and fell at the feet of Lakshmi Narayana. “We have been liberated of the curse of being born as humans when we were actually Gandharvas. It could only be done by someone who has served God selflessly.” Saying so they ascended towards Swarga.

Ramakant now understood the greater plot behind him being kicked out of the city after gambling and losing his daughter. He ascended the elephant who also revealed its true form as Lord Ganesh. Once again praising all three gods, he ascended the divine chariot who had come to receive him and finally left this world of sorrows and misery.