Editing Lakshmi (section)

===Vedas and Brahmanas===
The meaning and significance of Lakshmi evolved in ancient Sanskrit texts.<ref name="jmuir">Muir, John, ed. 1870. "Lakshmi and Shri." Pp. 348–49 in {{Google books|ymLZAAAAMAAJ|Original Sanskrit Texts on the Origin and History of the People of India – Their Religions and Institutions|348}}, volume 5. London: Trubner & Co.</ref> Lakshmi is mentioned once in [[Rigveda]], in which the name is used to mean 'kindred mark, sign of auspicious fortune'''.''
{{Verse translation|{{lang|sa|भद्रैषां '''लक्ष्मी'''र्निहिताधि वाचि}}
''{{IAST|bhadraiṣāṁ '''lakṣmī'''rnihitādhi vāci}}''|"an auspicious fortune is attached to their words"|italicsoff=off|attr2=translated by [[John Muir (indologist)|John Muir]]<ref name=jmuir/>|attr1=Rig Veda, x.71.2}}

In [[Atharvaveda|Atharva Veda]], transcribed about 1000 BCE, Lakshmi evolves into a complex concept with plural manifestations. Book 7, Chapter 115 of Atharva Veda describes the plurality, asserting that a hundred Lakshmis are born with the body of a mortal at birth, some good, ''Punya'' ('virtuous') and auspicious, while others bad, ''paapi'' ('evil') and unfortunate. The good are welcomed, while the bad are urged to leave.<ref name="jmuir" /> The concept and spirit of Lakshmi and her association with fortune and the good is significant enough that Atharva Veda mentions it in multiple books: for example, in Book 12, Chapter 5 as ''Punya Lakshmi''.<ref>"{{lang|sa|अप क्रामति सूनृता वीर्यं पुन्या लक्ष्मीः}}"; [http://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/अथर्ववेदः/अथर्ववेद:_काण्डं_12 अथर्ववेद: काण्डं 12] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008103125/https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6:_%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_12|date=8 October 2016}} Atharva Veda Sanskrit Original Archive</ref> In some chapters of Atharva Veda, Lakshmi connotes the good, an auspicious sign, good luck, good fortune, prosperity, success, and happiness.<ref name="mmwlak" />

Later, Lakshmi is referred to as the goddess of fortune, identified with Sri and regarded as the wife of ''{{IAST|Viṣṇu}}'' ({{IAST|Nārāyaṇa}}).<ref name="mmwlak" /> For example, in [[Shatapatha Brahmana]], variously estimated to be composed between 800 BCE and 300 BCE, Sri (Lakshmi) is part of one of many theories, in ancient India, about the creation of the universe. In Book 9 of Shatapatha Brahmana, Sri emerges from Prajapati, after his intense meditation on the creation of life and nature of the universe. Sri is described as a resplendent and trembling woman at her birth with immense energy and powers.<ref name="jmuir" /> The gods are bewitched, desire her, and immediately become covetous of her. The gods approach Prajapati and request permission to kill her and then take her powers, talents, and gifts. Prajapati refuses, tells the gods that men should not kill women and that they can seek her gifts without violence.<ref>Naama Drury (2010), The Sacrificial Ritual in the Satapatha Brahmana, {{ISBN|978-81-208-2665-6}}, pages 61–102</ref> The gods then approach Lakshmi. [[Agni]] gets food, Soma gets kingly authority, [[Varuna]] gets imperial authority, Mitra acquires martial energy, Indra gets force, [[Bṛhaspati|Brihaspati]] gets priestly authority, Savitri acquires dominion, Pushan gets splendour, [[Saraswati]] takes nourishment and Tvashtri gets forms.<ref name="jmuir" /> The hymns of Shatapatha Brahmana thus describe Sri as a goddess born with and personifying a diverse range of talents and powers.

According to another legend, she emerges during the creation of universe, floating over the water on the expanded petals of a lotus flower; she is also variously regarded as wife of [[Dharma]], mother of [[Kāma]], sister or mother of {{IAST|Dhātṛ}} and {{IAST|Vidhātṛ}}, wife of Dattatreya, one of the nine Shaktis of {{IAST|Viṣṇu}}, a manifestation of {{IAST|Prakṛti}} as identified with {{IAST|Dākshāyaṇī}} in Bharatasrama and as [[Sita]], wife of [[Rama]].<ref name="mmwlak" /><ref name=":0">[[Monier Monier-Williams|Williams, Monier]]. ''[https://archive.org/stream/religiousthough00wilgoog Religious Thought and Life in India]'', Part 1 (2nd ed.). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316110338/https://archive.org/stream/religiousthough00wilgoog#page/n125/mode/2up|date=16 March 2016}}.</ref>{{Rp|103–12}}