Veera Lakshmi

Veera Lakshmi is the courageous aspect of Lakshmi. Veera means hero or brave, and she is called on in times of difficulty to give the strength to endure. Among the eight she is the one who turns Lakshmi from a calm giver into a warrior goddess, which is why she is shown with weapons and a lion. In some lists the name appears as Dhairya Lakshmi, meaning the Lakshmi of steadiness, which is an example of how the eight forms vary from one region to another.

She has eight arms holding a discus, a conch, a bow, an arrow, a trident, a sword and a palm-leaf scroll, with one hand showing fearlessness. Her colour is red or saffron and her mount is a lion. The mantra Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Veera-Lakshmyai Namah salutes her by name. A tradition connects her with the Vijayanagara rulers, and the Mahalakshmi temple at Hospet is cited for this link, though the historical claims of such stories should be read with care.

Her day is Tuesday as well as Friday, and she is remembered during Navaratri and on Vijayadashami. A common practice is to recite her mantra at dawn and offer red hibiscus. The scroll in her hands reminds worshippers that courage in this tradition is joined to knowledge rather than force alone.