लक्ष्मी चंचला क्यों?

Lakshmi for us Indians signifies wealth. Wealth which has been accumulated out of hard work, intelligence and dedication of industrious people and their business endeavors. It can be passed on from one generation to the other. However, barring a few cases, it rarely lasts longer than a couple of generations. So indeed, Lakshmi is Chanchal. But why?

To understand why Lakshmi is considered chanchal or not stable, we need to understand the concept of money a little deeper.

Earning a good amount of money and spending it, is being Rich. Buying expensive items like luxury cars, expensive watches and so on is a way to show how rich you are. Not how wealthy you are. Wealth is what is not shown to all, what is left when not spent. Wealth is what is being saved and invested. Wealth is what is being spent in doing good work and building sustainable value for your family and for the society.   

Richness is ephemeral. Wealth is more stable. But neither are permanent. Is that a cause for worry?

I don’t think so and neither does Kautilya Chanakya. He says- “There is no poverty for the industrious.”

Kautilya also says, “Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, comes of Her own accord where fools are not respected, grain is well stored up, and the husband and wife do not quarrel.”

So, there are conditions which need to be met for wealth to last. It’s very similar to health. If you exercise, eat healthy and live a life without much stress and bad habits, you will live long.

Similarly, if you respect hard work, intelligence and if you stay humble, save and invest to grow your wealth, create an emergency fund and maintain peace and harmony in the family, your wealth will last for long. Obviously, there are many more subtle aspects of money which have more to do with our psychology than our intelligence. We need to understand them as well to better manage and grow our wealth.