When “God” Is a “Goddess”:

The Splendor of Lakṣmī as Supreme Reality

Abstract

The article When “God” Is a “Goddess”: The Splendor of Lakṣmī as Supreme Reality by Constantina Rhodes examines the worship of Lakṣmī during the Diwali season through a blend of ethnographic insight and theological analysis. Focusing on domestic pūjā practices in Delhi, the article explores how Lakṣmī’s presence during the festival transcends binaries of immanence and transcendence, expressing fullness, spiritual power, and divine intimacy. By engaging Sanskrit hymns and Vedantic thought, Rhodes situates Lakṣmī as a supreme, yet approachable, embodiment of sacred femininity.