Star of Lakshmi facts for kids
The Star of Lakshmi is a special eight-pointed star. Imagine two perfect squares placed one on top of the other, but one square is turned exactly 45 degrees. This creates the beautiful eight-pointed shape you see. This star is an important symbol in Hinduism, a religion that originated in India. It is often connected to the goddess Lakshmi, who is known for bringing good fortune, wealth, and prosperity.
What Makes the Star of Lakshmi Special?
This unique star is a type of octagram, which simply means it's a star shape with eight points. It's not just any eight-pointed star; it's made in a very specific way from two squares that are exactly the same size and share the same center. When you overlap them at a 45-degree angle, the points of the Star of Lakshmi appear.
This geometric design is a powerful symbol. While many people directly link this star to Ashtalakshmi, which means "Eightfold Lakshmi," it actually represents the eight different kinds of wealth or blessings that the goddess Lakshmi can bring. These blessings include things like success, courage, knowledge, and good health.
The Goddess Lakshmi and Her Symbols
Lakshmi is a very important goddess in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility, and prosperity. People pray to her for success and happiness in their lives.
Sometimes, besides the eight-pointed Star of Lakshmi, the goddess Lakshmi is also shown with a six-pointed star. This six-pointed star is called a hexagram. Both symbols show the importance of geometric shapes in representing spiritual ideas and divine blessings in ancient traditions.
Other Star Symbols Around the World
Stars have been important symbols in many cultures and religions throughout history. Here are a few other interesting star symbols you might learn about:
- Star of Ishtar: An ancient eight-pointed star symbol from Mesopotamia, often linked to the goddess Ishtar.
- Rub El Hizb: An Islamic symbol that looks like two overlapping squares, similar to the Star of Lakshmi, but often used in calligraphy and as a marker in the Quran.
- Surya Majapahit: This was a sun symbol used in the ancient Majapahit kingdom in Indonesia. It often featured a sun with rays, sometimes depicted as a star, representing the gods of different directions.
- Kagome crest: A traditional Japanese symbol that can be either a six-pointed or an eight-pointed star. It is often seen in basket weaving patterns.
