|| Shlok 1 ||

Om, Hiranya varnam harinim
Suvarna rajatasrajam
Chandraam hiranmayim
Lakshmim jatavedo ma avaha

Translation

O all-knowing fire-god (Agni), would you kindly propitiate Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity, one whose body has the golden color; one who is decked with gold and silver garlands; one whose sari is yellow colored and one Whose face is like the full moon and whose eyes bless humanity with soothing grace. O Jata Veda, the fire-god, kindly tell Her of our supplications.

Respect, Thankfulness and Glorious life

It is foremost to understand that why Shri Suktam starts by invoking Agni (God representing fire) before we try to understand economics of life. Not only in Shri Suktam but every ritual that I read or observed, it is very common to invoke God Agni (Fire) first. Here is the humble effort to understand Shlok 1 on the basis of science of evolution and psychology.

Agni-Fire

When I was in school, I was taught that �Fire� is one of those basic discoveries by which Humans had changed living remarkably. Imagine their wonder when they first saw Fire spark! The first ever fire in the history of human life!I think, it was godly feeling for them who never experienced Fire before, power which is beyond their imagination. Certainly, over the period of time, with new learnings, they came across many such superpowers, externally (Wind-Pavan, Air-Vayu, Surya-Sun) as well as internally (Knowledge � Saraswati, Intellect �Pragna, Vak � Speech); they might have started giving respect to those extraordinary learnings, they gave them human form, they worshiped them to express gratitude and yet they did not forget basics that how fire helped them exploring all these new ways to live life better way. And that might be the reason for fire worship known not only in Vedic culture but in various other cultures across this planet in different times (Evidences found in Jews, Zoroastrians, Hebrew Bible, Graeco-Roman tradition, The Greeks etc.). Agni is considered as messenger for all other known super-natural strengths. So, to even understand Goddess of wealth, Shri Lakshmi, We invoke God Agni first. A highest way to express gratitude by highest intellects!

Lakshmi � motherly figure

Personification of qualities is very essential when we want to convey great qualities to forthcoming generations. And when those qualities are pure and unconditional love, joy, care � to me, it is well understood by feminine figure. In psychology, they have similar concept called �archetype�. An archetype is an original model of person, object, or concept from which similar instances are derived or patterned or emulated. In this sense, motherly figure is described by all above mentioned qualities. And when we are talking about Goddess of wealth, her description in Shri Suktam identifies mother figure with certain additional qualities like Gold, Silver, glory on face, humanity in eyes and soothing grace. Learning starts with behavior of acceptance. So, we need to open ourselves and remove all doubts to learn lessons of life. We will make every effort to provide you brighter vision in this fuzzy atmosphere.

First shlok gives us one sure message that economics of life is about gratitude, blessings, humanity, and glory. Also, last but not the least, Gold and Silver.

My Life Learning – The economics way

• Respect nature, they are our highest wealth.
• When I say God is within me, Fire(Feelings of great warmth and intensity) must prevail in me and my actions. Actions ignited by fire within and my readiness to worship mother Lakshmi will only determine my richness and not laziness or blemish lifestyle.

Are we ready to understand importance of different types of wealth, beyond and above Paper money? Yes is the answer for those who wants to understand economics of happiness.

Stay tuned for shlok 2 next week!

{Images :

1) http://www.askganesha.com/images/Lakshmi.jpg

2) http://www.flickr.com/photos/dragoncito/166536062/}