Examine individual changes

'{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Hinduism small}} '''Śrī [[Rigveda#Sukta|Sūkta]]''', also called '''Śrī Sūktam''', is evidently the earliest [[Sanskrit]] devotional hymn (set of shlokas [[slokas|Śloka-s]]), revering [[Sri|Śrī]] as [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]], the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity and fertility<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/shri-sukta-an-introductory-exposition|title=Sri Suktam: The Earliest Hymn to Goddess Lakshmi|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>. Śrī Sūkta is recited, with a strict adherence to the [[vedic meter|Chandas]], to receive the goddess' blessings. This hymn is found in the [[Khilani|Rig Vedic khilanis]], which are appendices to the [[Rigveda]] that date to pre-Buddhist times.<ref name = Kinsley20>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|p=20}}</ref> ==Source and versions== The Śrī Sūkta forms part of the [[khilani]]s or appendices to the [[Rigveda]]. These were late additions to the Rigveda, found only in the ''Bāṣkala'' [[shakha|śākhā]], and the hymn exists in several strata that differ both in content and period of composition. For instance, according to J. Scheftelowitz, stratum 1 consists of verses 1–19 (with verses 3–12 addressed to the goddess ''Śri'' and 1–2 and 13–17 to [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]]), while the second stratum has verses 16–29 (i.e., the second version deletes verses 16–19 of the first). The third stratum, with verses beginning from number 23, similarly overlaps with the second version.<ref name = Coburn>{{Harvnb|Coburn|1988|pp=258–264}}</ref><ref name =" Sch06">{{Harvnb|Scheftelowitz|1906}}</ref><ref name = Sch21>{{Harvnb|Scheftelowitz|1921}}</ref> The first stratum is the most commonly attested and is usually appended to the [[Mandala 5|Fifth Mandala of Rigveda]]. Most of its verses were probably composed during the period of the [[Brahmanas|Brāhmaṇa]], with a few added in the [[Upanishad|Upaniṣad]]ic times. The second stratum post-dates the first; while the third is attested in a single, more recent, text.<ref name = Coburn/><ref name =" Sch06"/><ref name =" Sch21"/> ==Text and symbolism== [[File:Ravi Varma-Lakshmi.jpg|thumb|125px|left|[[Raja Ravi Varma]]'s painting of [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]]]]. The goddess ''Śrī'' appears in several earlier vedic hymns, and is the personification of auspicious and royal qualities.<ref name = Kinsley20/> Śrī Sūkta is perhaps the first text in which the homology between ''Śrī'' and ''Lakṣmī'' is drawn, and the goddesses are further associated with the god of fire, [[Agni]].<ref name = Sch06/> Since the later epic period (ca 400 CE), Śrī-Lakṣmī is particularly associated with [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]] as his wife or consort.<ref name = Kinsley19>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|p=19}}</ref> The ''Śrī Sūkta'' describes ''Śrī '' as glorious, ornamented, royal, lustrous as gold, and radiant as fire, moon and the sun. She is addressed as the bestower of fame, bounty and abundance in the form of gold, cattle, horses and food; and is entreated to banish her sister ''alakṣmī'' (misfortune), who is associated with need, hunger, thirst and poverty. The hymn also associates ''Śrī'' with (agrarian) fertility and she is described as the mother of ''Kārdama'' (mud), moist, perceptible through odour, dwelling in cow dung and producing abundant harvest.<ref name = Kinsley20/> The ''Śrī Sūkta'' uses the motifs of [[lotus (plant)|lotus]] (''padma'' or ''kamala'') and [[elephant]] (''gaja'')&nbsp;– symbols that are consistently linked with the goddess ''Śrī-Lakṣmī'' in later references. The lotus is thought to be symbolic of purity, beauty, spiritual power, life, fertility, growth or, in [[Tantra]], the entire created universe. It is a recurring motif in Hindu (as well as [[Buddhist]] and [[Jain]]) literature and a lotus growing from [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]]'s navel is said to mark the beginning of a new cosmic creation. The elephants are symbolic of royalty and, in Hindu mythology, are also related with cloud and rain; they thus reinforce ''Śrī-Lakṣmī'''s stature as the goddess of abundance and fertility.<ref name = Kinsley21>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|pp=21–22}}</ref> Later [[Hindu iconography]] often represents ''Śrī-Lakṣmī'' in the form of ''Gaja-Lakṣmī'', standing on a lotus, flanked by two elephants that are shown showering her with water with their trunks.<ref name = Kinsley21/><ref name = Singh8>{{Harvnb|Singh|1983|pp=8–10}}</ref> ==Significance== The Śrī Sūktam assumes specific significance because of Śrī [[Mahalakshmi|Mahālakṣmī]]'s presence on Lord Śrī Venkaṭeśvara, at Tirumala, or [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]]'s chest, at the Heart. Lakṣmi is the embodiment of Love, from which devotion to God or [[Bhakti]] flows. It is through Love/Bhakti or [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]] that the [[Atma (Hinduism)|Ātmā]] or soul is able to reach God or Viṣṇu. Śrī or Lakṣmī is also the personification of the spiritual energy within us and universe called [[Kundalini energy|kuṇḍalinī]]. Also, She embodies the Spiritual World or [[Vaikunta|Vaikuṇtha]]; the abode of Lakṣmī-[[Narayana|Nārāyaṇa]] or Viṣṇu, not to be confused with Heaven, as The Heavenly Planets are still part of the Material Universe. Vaikuṇtha-Dham is purely spiritual, eternal and self illuminating. She is also supposed to have the Divine qualities of God and the soul. Lakshmi is God's superior spiritual feminine energy or the Param [[Prakriti|Prākṛti]], which purifies, empowers and uplifts the individual. Hence, She is called the Goddess of Fortune. ==Recital in Tirumala== The Śrī Sūkta is one of the Pañca-Sūktam (5 Suktams) recited during the 3-hour long [[Abhisheka|Thirumanjanam]] of [[Venkateswara]], at the famed ancient Hill Shrine of the [[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. The ''Thirumanjanam'' to the main deity is performed every Friday. Śrī Sūktam is also recited during the daily Arjitha Vasanthotsavam ''seva''. ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== * {{citation| last = Kambhampati| first = Parvathi Kumar| title = [http://www.worldteachertrust.org/books_kpk_sri_suktam_e.htm#Seitenkopf Sri Suktam&nbsp;– The Nature and Characteristics of the World Mother]| publisher = Dhanishta Publications |year = 2012}} * {{citation| last = Kinsley| first = David R.| title = Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious| publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |year = 1999 | isbn=81-208-0394-9}} * {{citation| last =Coburn |first = Thomas B. | title = Devi Mahatmya: The Crystallization of the Goddess Tradition |publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |year = 1988|isbn= 81-208-0557-7}} * {{citation| last = Scheftelowitz |first =Isidor | title = Die Apokryphen des Rgveda| publisher = Breslau|year = 1906| url= http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/ind/aind/ved/rv/rvkh/rvkh.htm}} * {{citation| last = Scheftelowitz |first = Isidor| title = Sri Sukta| journal = [[Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft]] |publisher = [[Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft]] |year = 1921| volume = 75| pages = 37–50}} * {{citation| last = Singh| first = Om Prakash| title = Iconography of Gaja-Lakshmī| publisher = Bharati Prakashan| year = 1983}} ==External links== * [http://www.divyajivan.org/ashtalakshmi/sri_suktam.htm Sanskrit text and English translation] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znx82Y4glAk Youtube.com&nbsp;– Audio rendition of the Sri sukta] * {{cite web|url= http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/english/sriisuuktam.pdf |title=Prapatti.com&nbsp;– English transliteration of Sri sukta }}&nbsp;{{small|(38.1&nbsp;KB)}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sri Sukta}} [[Category:Hindu devotional texts]] [[Category:Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]] [[Category:Hindu texts]] [[Category:Sanskrit texts]] [[Category:Vedic hymns]] [[Category:Shaktism]]'