About Alakshmi

In Hinduism, Alakshmi means "not Lakshmi". She is described as being “cow-repelling, antelope-footed,and bull-toothed." Or she “has dry shriveled up body, sunken cheeks, thick lips, and beady eyes and that she rides a donkey." She is not mentioned by name in the Vedic, Upanishadic or early Puranic literature, but all aspects of Alakshmi match those of the Rig Vedic goddess Nirṛti. 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.