karaagre vasate lakṣmeeah karamadhye sarasvatee . Karamoole tu govindah prabhaate karadarshanam ॥
Meaning:
Karaagre Vasate Lakshmih — The tip of the hand (fingertip) is inhabited by Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
Karamadhye Saraswati — The middle part of the hand is inhabited by Goddess Saraswati, who symbolizes learning and wisdom.
Karamule Tu Govindah — The root of the hand (near the feet) is inhabited by Lord Govind (Vishnu), who symbolizes protection and stability.
Prabhate Kardarshanam — One should see one’s hands as soon as one wakes up in the morning.
This shloka encourages us to remember Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Lord Vishnu by looking at our hands every morning. It symbolizes beginning the day with a wish for auspiciousness, wisdom, and protection.
This shloka has special significance in Indian culture. This shloka expresses the tradition of viewing one’s hands first thing in the morning and the spiritual idea behind it. Its significance is as follows:
Desire for wealth and prosperity:
Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi: – Goddess Lakshmi is believed to reside at the tips of the fingers. Its purpose is that a person should invoke Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity and good fortune, first thing in the morning, so that he gets success and economic prosperity in the day’s activities.
Acquisition of knowledge and learning
Karamadhye Saraswati – Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning and knowledge, is believed to reside in the middle of the hands. Its significance is that one gets wisdom, discretion, and the power to take right decisions in the day’s activities.
Security and stability
Karamule Tu Govindah – Lord Vishnu (Govind), the nurturer of the universe, is believed to reside at the base of the hands. This idea symbolizes a prayer for security, stability, and mental peace.
A Positive Start to the Day
Prabahate Kardarshanam — Seeing your hands as you wake up in the morning reminds you of the importance of wealth, knowledge, and security in your life. This shloka makes one understand that the day should begin with auspiciousness, positivity, and inspiration.
Importance of Self-Reliance and Action
This shloka also symbolizes that one has to achieve everything with one’s own hands. The fact that Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Govind reside in our hands shows the importance of action. Therefore, one should trust one’s actions and be honest in one’s actions.
This shloka reminds one of the three important aspects of life — wealth, knowledge, and security — and inspires one to start the day on a positive note. It shows the path to achieving success, prosperity, and balance in life.
