I often get asked questions about my tattoo. It’s Hindi and the script spells out Vijayalakshimi, my middle name.
Vijaya means victory and in this form of the Goddess Lakshmi (there are eight) it symbolises victory in all aspects of life. Not just victories in battles or war, but also in life’s major and inner struggles. Life’s ups and downs. In images, Vijayalakshimi is seen sitting on a lotus or padma wearing a red sari with a discusor chakra, conch shell, sword, shield, noose/pasha and lotus. The discus or chakra represent the mind, the conch shell purity, brilliance and auspiciousness (often associated with sound of the universe om); the sword & shield symbolise a mother’s ability to protect her own child; the noose symbolises the soul and is the force through which the soul finds the path of truth and enlightenment; the lotus symbolises beauty and non-attachment (aparigraha).
She also has her right hand in abhaya mudra and her left hand in varada mudra. Abhaya mudra (raising your right hand to chest level with the palm facing forward) is used to dispel fear and develop courage. The first yama (moral discipline), that Patanjali writes of in the Yoga Sutras, is Ahimsa - non-violence. The stronger a person is, which includes their inner emotional and mental strength, the easier it is to live a life of non-violence. Varada mudra (pointing the left hand downward and turning the palm to face forwards) signifies compassion, charity and sincerity whilst expressing the connection between giving and forgiveness. Someone who gives will be forgiven, someone who fogives will be richly blessed. Forgiveness always also means being able to forgive yourself.
Practising these together I use a mantra:
‘I acknowledge the goodness in all living beings as well as myself and forgive myself and all living beings for unkind action and unkind words’