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Nepal JyotishTraditional Science
Goddess Names

Lakshmi and Saraswati

The story of how, when Brahma created the world, Saraswati and Lakshmi appeared and Brahma became four-faced.

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Lakshmi and Saraswati

Once a heated dispute arose between Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Saraswati, the goddess of learning, over the question "Which of us is greater?" They went to the justice-loving King Vikramaditya to seek a judgment.

King Vikramaditya, giving an impartial judgment, said: "Even without wealth, one can earn wealth through learning; but without learning, wealth does not last. Therefore Saraswati is greater than Lakshmi."

Hearing this verdict, the angry Lakshmi cursed King Vikramaditya to become destitute and a leper. Vikramaditya left his kingdom and entered the forest, where he began serving the sick animals there.

On the new-moon day of the month of Ashwin (Lakshmi Puja), the king lit lamps in his house, drew a mandala of five colours, and devoutly welcomed and worshipped Lakshmi. Pleased by the king's guileless devotion, Lakshmi removed his leprosy and restored his boundless wealth and kingdom. From that time on, the tradition of lighting lamps in every house on the day of Lakshmi Puja during Tihar began.

Note: These are traditional Nepali folk tales (kimbadanti), passed down orally through generations. They may or may not reflect actual historical events, but they are told and believed as part of Nepal's cultural heritage.

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