The goddess of fertility and wealth is invoked as Lakshmi, the spouse of Vishnu. She is said to have had several rebirths, in each one as the beloved of the Vishnu-incarnation. When Vishnu came as Rama, Lakshmi was Sita, when he came as Vamana (dwarf), she was a lotus (Padma). She is also worshipped as Kamala, meaning lotus, symbolising good fortune and prosperity.
Ajit Mookerjee, Ritual Art of India, p.64
