Lakshmi and Saraswati Rivalry

Dadi: "Guddu beta, do you know that Lakshmi and Saraswati - the goddesses of wealth and wisdom - don't always get along?"

Guddu: "Goddesses fighting? I thought they were all peaceful!"

Dadi: "Even goddesses have personalities, beta! In Bengali folklore, there are many stories about their rivalry. It teaches us something important about wealth and knowledge."

Guddu: "What's the rivalry about?"

Dadi: "According to one Purana, both Saraswati and Lakshmi (and Ganga too!) were originally wives of Lord Vishnu. Each wanted his complete attention!"

Guddu: "That sounds complicated!"

Dadi: "One day, Ganga glanced at Vishnu a certain way. Saraswati got jealous and confronted her. When Lakshmi tried to stay neutral, Saraswati got angry with her too!"

Guddu: "What happened?"

Dadi: "Curses flew! Saraswati cursed Lakshmi to become a plant on earth. Ganga cursed Saraswati to become a river. Saraswati cursed Ganga right back! It was quite a scene."

Guddu: "Did Vishnu stop them?"

Dadi: "He transformed their curses into blessings. Lakshmi became the sacred Tulsi plant AND returned as Vishnu's eternal consort. Ganga became the holy river but stayed connected to Shiva. Saraswati became Brahma's wife."

Guddu: "So they all went to different places?"

Dadi: "Here's the interesting teaching, beta. In Vishnuloka - Vishnu's heaven - only Lakshmi was allowed to stay permanently. Because despite the quarrel, she tried to be neutral and compassionate."

Guddu: "So forgiveness won?"

Dadi: "Always! But the rivalry continues in folk stories. They say that in any home, Lakshmi and Saraswati don't like living together."

Guddu: "Why not?"

Dadi: "Think about it - when people become very wealthy (Lakshmi arrives), they often stop studying and learning (Saraswati leaves). When people focus deeply on knowledge, they sometimes ignore money matters."

Guddu: "So you can't have both?"

Dadi: "The folk adage says: "In good times, Lakshmi walks toward us and Saraswati walks away. In bad times, Saraswati walks toward us and Lakshmi walks away.""

Guddu: "That seems unfair!"

Dadi: "But here's the wisdom, beta: "The trick is to focus on Saraswati at BOTH times." In good times, wisdom teaches sustainable growth. In bad times, wisdom teaches recovery."

Guddu: "So always choose wisdom?"

Dadi: "Because when you have skills and knowledge (Saraswati), wealth (Lakshmi) eventually follows. But when you have wealth without wisdom, Lakshmi's elder sister arrives..."

Guddu: "She has a sister?"

Dadi: "Alakshmi - the goddess of misfortune! She creates chaos, conflicts, and destruction. Lakshmi, being fickle, leaves homes where Alakshmi enters."

Guddu: "So wisdom protects against misfortune?"

Dadi: "Yes! The story teaches: start with Saraswati worship. Study, learn skills, develop knowledge. Wealth will come naturally from good skills. But if you chase wealth without wisdom, you invite trouble."

Guddu: "Dadi, what if I want to be smart AND rich?"

Dadi: "That's possible, beta - but in the right order. Focus on learning first. Be excellent at something. The wealth that follows wisdom is stable. The wealth that comes without wisdom runs away quickly."

Guddu: "Like in stories where lottery winners lose everything?"

Dadi: "Exactly! They got Lakshmi but had no Saraswati to keep her. The rivalry between goddesses teaches us about the rivalry inside ourselves - between wanting quick riches and wanting deep skills."

Guddu: "I'll make friends with Saraswati first!"

Dadi: "Wise choice, beta! And when Lakshmi arrives, treat her respectfully - but keep studying. That way both goddesses will be happy to stay."

Guddu: "Goodnight, Dadi. I'll dream about making friends with both!"

Dadi: "May wisdom guide your wealth, and wealth honor your wisdom. Sweet dreams, beta!"