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In Hinduism, Alakshmi (Devanāgari: अलक्ष्मी; from the roots अ (a): "not" and लक्ष्मी (Lakshmi): "goddess of fortune") means "not Lakshmi". She is described as per the Dhyana as the Goddess who is black in colour, has two hands and wears black clothes. She wears iron jewellery and have sandalwood and sugar mixed design smeared with on her . She enters houses with the broom in her hand and rides a donkey and loves to create strife.
In Padma Purana, the cosmology includes her where the Samudra Manthan creates both good and bad of everything that emerges. That which is inauspicious and bad emerges first, more effort creates the auspicious and good, according to Padma Purana. First Alakshmi emerges, then Lakshmi appears during the Samudra Manthan.
Gods send Alakshmi to go dwell amongst pernicious persons, give them poverty and grief. She as the asura of inauspiciousness and grief is the opposite of Lakshmi the goddess of auspiciousness and joy. Alakshmi is also known as Kalahapriya and Daridara, and the elder sisterly opposite of Lakshmi.
Even though she is not worshipped she is acknowledged and respected and is a powerful Goddess in her own right. She comes with Lakshmi if you are not able to manage your finances and if pride clouds your better judgement. Alakshmi is a secret goddess, invisible to all. The only way to see her is to have Saraswati, goddess of knowledge and good sense by your side. It is believed that Lord Vishnu secretly keeps Saraswati in his mouth, on his tongue, hidden from Lakshmi. That is how he manages to keep Alakshmi at bay. That is why Lakshmi is always by his side.
Alakshmi is also worshipped in Southern India and had a cult in the past in her honour. In Southern India she is known as Moodevi or Jyeshta Lakshmi and it is said worshipping her keeps 64 kinds of poverty away from the devotee. But Moodevi and Jyeshta Lakshmi have a completely different iconography in Southern India then her Alakshmi counterpart in Northern India. Goddess Dhumavati is not Alakshmi even though a lot of people foolishly compare Dhumavati to her. The idea of this video is to show that Alakshmi is a different Goddess and they are not same.
Agacchoto Lakshmi Gacchato Alakshmi
Meaning:
Come Lakshmi Depart Alakshmi
The following is the 8th Shlok from The Sri Suktam.
Kssut-Pipaasaa-Malaam Jyesstthaam-Alakssmiim Naashayaamy-Aham
Abhuutim-Asamrddhim Cha Sarvaam Nirnnuda Me Grhaat
क्षुत्पिपासामलां (Kssut-Pipaasaa-Malaam) - Hunger, Thirst and Impurity
ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं (Jyesstthaam-Alakssmiim) -
नाशयाम्यहम् (Naashayaamy-Aham) - Destroy My
अभूतिमसमृद्धिं (Abhuutim-Asamrddhim) - Wretchedness and Ill-Fortune
च (Cha) - And, Also, sometimes only fills a gap
सर्वां (Sarvaam) - All
निर्णुद (Nirnnuda) - Push Away, Drive Away
मे गृहात् (Grhaat) - From my House
Meaning:
8.1: (Harih Om. O Jatavedo, Invoke for me that Lakshmi) Whose Presence will Destroy Hunger, Thirst and Impurity associated with Her Elder Sister Alakshmi,
8.2: And Drive Away the Wretchedness and Ill-Fortune from My House.
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