While Diwali closely associated with the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, the legend surrounding her sister, Alakshmi, also plays an important role during the festivities.
Alakshmi, known as the goddess of strife, poverty, and misfortune, is believed to oppose Lakshmi. According to Hindu tradition, his presence brings negativity, and during Diwali, rituals are performed to banish him and prevent him from entering homes. To explore this unique feature, we turned to Sushil Pandit Mahant, the chief priest in Ayodhya.
How did the myth of Alakshmi come about in contrast to Lakshmi, and what role does she have in Hindu cosmology?
“In Hindu cosmology, both goddesses are believed to appear during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). While Lakshmi embodies abundance and blessings, Alakshmi personifies the power of greed, indifference and hardship,” said the Mahant.
Alakshmi’s presence reflects the darker aspects of life, symbolizing the inevitable balance between prosperity and suffering. He serves as a reminder of the need to manage both wealth and potential problems.
Traditional rituals to ward off the influence of Alakshmi during Diwali
During Diwali, various rituals are performed to ward off the influence of Alakshmi and welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, into the home. “Another common practice is cleaning and decorating the house carefully. Cleanliness is believed to ward off Alakshmi, who is said to live in chaos and disorder. To invite prosperity, people make rangoli designs, light oil lamps, and make offerings of sweets,” said Mahant.
Some households burn bitter neem leaves or light oil lamps, practices believed to maintain harmony and ward off Alakshmi’s influence.
Modern Diwali celebrations still include many traditional customs, such as cleaning homes, lighting lanterns, and creating beautiful spaces to invite prosperity and good luck. (Source: Freepik)
An expression of the broader cultural beliefs of Hinduism
In Hinduism, the duality of Lakshmi and Alakshmi reflects a broader belief in balance – the coexistence of light and dark, good fortune and misfortune. “As one wants to prosper through Lakshmi, he should work hard to avoid greed and mismanagement, which is represented by Alakshmi,” said Mahant.
These two emphasize the belief that wealth alone does not guarantee happiness; it must be managed with wisdom and good manners to prevent bad luck. Such balance is evident in other aspects of Hindu philosophy, such as the relationship between karma and dharma, he said.
In today’s times, how important is the belief in Alakshmi?
Mahant notes that while the specific belief in Alakshmi “may not be common in modern times,” her symbol is still important.
“Modern Diwali celebrations still include many traditional customs, such as cleaning homes, lighting lanterns, and creating beautiful spaces to invite prosperity and good luck. “The concept of avoiding conflict is always important, although often in the form of cultural norms about order and good,” said Mahant.
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