Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha, Why Together!

Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha, Why Together! 

We have observed that Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha are depicted together. One may be curious about the relationship among them. According to one mythological legend, Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha are the offspring of goddess Durga. That is why they are together. If it is so, then why Kartikeyan is not along with them? Kartikeyan is also son of goddess Durga. One legend says that Ganesha has two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi, and two sons Shubh and Labh.

Hence, Ganesha is always shown with Riddhi and Siddhi in the form of Laxmi and Saraswati. One may wonder- why they are not with their sons in the depiction to make a complete family snap? One another legend suggests that Laxmi is consort of Vishnu and Saraswati is consort of Brahma, and Ganesh is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Still we did not find the logic for them to be depicted together. One more legend says that Laxmi stays near the feet of Vishnu and Saraswati on his tongue. And many consider that both are the consort of Vishnu. It is said that Laxmi is always jealous with Saraswati. Wherever Saraswati goes Laxmi follows her and try to dispel her or Saraswati does not like Laxmi to intervene her, so whenever Laxmi approaches Saraswati, Saraswati walk away from there. As Laxmi never stay alone, so in absence of Saraswati, Laxmi brings her twin elder sister Alaxmi, the goddess of strife.

When Saraswati(Knowledge, Skills) is not there, then Laxmi(wealth,property) also walk away from there to follow Saraswati leaving Alaxmi(strife and struggle) behind. When Laxmi is not there, then one starts contemplating and working on the skill and knowledge improvement to attract Laxmi. This is what we called vicissitude in our life. In this case also, we should not be disrupted, as one goddess goes then another comes, and both are important in our life. In both the situations, whether you have abundance of Laxmi or Saraswati, you may be arrogant, if you are lacking the wisdom and intelligence(Ganesha). These keep going in our life, if we are not able to manage to keep both Laxmi and Saraswati together to experience ecstasy and eternal happiness and achievement. To keep both of them together, one needs intelligence and wisdom. Lord Ganesha is the god of wisdom and intelligence. With the presence of wisdom and intelligence, we give an equal treatment to both Laxmi and Saraswati. Both Laxmi and Saraswati want to attach with wisdom and intelligence, and hence they never go anywhere in the presence of wisdom and intelligence. The message through the depiction is given to the people is, to maintain Laxmi and Saraswati; one needs wisdom and intelligence (Ganesha).

- Sri Eswaran