In this special edition of the Knowledge Series, Sanjiv Kaura, CEO-CSR, The Times of India, speaks with impact catalyst Aruna Lohia Goenka about her understanding of Ashtalakshmi, the power of the human mind, and why she believes that the journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 must begin within each of us.Sanjiv Kaura: We generally associate Lakshmi with money. Is that a rather narrow view of wealth?Aruna Lohia Goenka: (Laughs) Oh, Sanjiv! If money were the only measure of wealth, some of the richest people in the world would never feel poor! A person may have a magnificent home but no peace of mind. Another may have modest possessions but extraordinary courage, wisdom, loving relationships and a deep sense of purpose. Who, then, is truly wealthy? Our tradition offers a beautiful answer through Ashtalakshmi, the eight manifestations of Goddess Lakshmi.Sanjiv Kaura: Activate? You make it sound as though each of us has eight extraordinary powers waiting to be switched on.Aruna Lohia Goenka: (Smiles) In a sense, yes. We spend so much of our lives searching outside for what may already exist as potential within us. I do believe in magic. The magic of the universe. But I don’t mean sitting back and waiting for miracles. I mean aligning our thoughts, intentions and actions with the possibilities around us. The universe may offer extraordinary possibilities, but we must do our part to recognise and realise them. And that brings me to the eight Lakshmis.Sanjiv Kaura: Let us begin with Adi Lakshmi. What is it?Aruna Lohia Goenka: The wealth of knowing who we truly are. Adi Lakshmi reminds us that beneath our names, professions, and possessions lie the Atman, our deeper spiritual self. Spiritual wealth begins when we stop asking only, “What do I have?” and start asking, “Who am I?” To activate Adi Lakshmi, cultivate self-awareness, reflection, gratitude and inner stillness by spending time with your own consciousness. After all, what is the point of conquering the world if we remain strangers to ourselves?Sanjiv Kaura: Now we come to the Lakshmi most people recognise – Dhana Lakshmi!Aruna Lohia Goenka: (Laughs) Of course! Money is a wonderful servant, though it can become a rather demanding master! The real question is not how much wealth we accumulate, but how much good that wealth enables us to do. To activate Dhana Lakshmi, create wealth ethically, manage it wisely and allow it to circulate for the benefit of others. Money becomes truly meaningful when it moves from money to meaning.Sanjiv Kaura: Moving on, is Dhanya Lakshmi simply about having enough food and material comforts?Aruna Lohia Goenka: Food and nourishment are central to Dhanya Lakshmi, but I also see in her a larger lesson about abundance. Dhanya Lakshmi reminds us to value nourishment, nature’s bounty and the dignity of having our basic needs fulfilled. To activate this manifestation, practise gratitude, avoid waste and ensure that the abundance we enjoy reaches others.Sanjiv Kaura: How does Gaja Lakshmi translate into modern life?Aruna Lohia Goenka: Through leadership with grace! To me, true royalty is not about a throne or a title. It is about how you conduct yourself, especially towards people who have less power than you. To activate her, cultivate humility and generosity. A title may give you authority. But only your conduct can give you stature.Sanjiv Kaura: Santaaan Lakshmi is associated with progeny, but you give it a wider meaning.Aruna Lohia Goenka: Yes. I see Santaaan Lakshmi as the wealth of continuity, and responsibility towards future generations. What do we pass on to our children and those we mentor? Only possessions? Or also intellectual curiosity, spiritual awareness, and the confidence to lead meaningful lives? To activate Santaaan Lakshmi, nurture physical, intellectual and spiritual well-being not only in ourselves but also in those whose lives we touch. And remember, the greatest inheritance is not necessarily what we leave for our children, but what we awaken within them.Sanjiv Kaura: What about those moments when life seems determined to test us?Aruna Lohia Goenka: Ah! That is when we need Veera Lakshmi. Courage is a form of wealth that no bank can lend us. To activate her, we must learn to confront fear rather than surrender to it. Not to let fear make our decisions. Sometimes the greatest victory is simply refusing to give up when everything around us says we should.Sanjiv Kaura: Where does Vidya Lakshmi fit in?Aruna Lohia Goenka: Vidya Lakshmi (learning and wisdom) improves our judgement and helps us navigate life with equanimity. To activate Vidya Lakshmi, remain curious, question assumptions, and share what you discover. The truly educated person is not who claims to know everything, but the one who never stops learning.Sanjiv Kaura: We have reached the eighth manifestation, Vijaya Lakshmi. Surely victory is something everyone desires?Aruna Lohia Goenka: Yes, but I believe the greatest victories are often invisible. I associate Vijaya Lakshmi with overcoming the five vikars: kama (uncontrolled desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment) and ahankara (ego). These are battles we encounter in everyday life. To activate Vijaya Lakshmi, practise self-mastery, humility, compassion and conscious living. Conquering the world may bring applause. Conquering yourself brings freedom.Sanjiv Kaura: You have described 8 extraordinary dimensions of wealth. But how do we move from an individual’s spiritual journey to the national ambition of Viksit Bharat 2047?
Aruna Lohia Goenka: By recognising that national transformation begins with individual transformation! Imagine a Bharat where people consciously activate these eight dimensions within themselves. Imagine these qualities being expressed not merely by a few exceptional individuals, but by hundreds of millions of people. That is how a national vision becomes a lived reality.Sanjiv Kaura: One final thought. What message would you leave with every citizen of Bharat?Aruna Lohia Goenka: To awaken the eight Lakshmis within you. Don’t merely pray for abundance. Become a source of abundance! We need to embrace all eight manifestations to build Viksit Bharat. And these eight Lakshmis are not somewhere beyond our reach. Their potential lies hidden in every corner of Bharat, within every one of us. We must feel it, believe it and, above all, activate it together!I believe in the magic of the Universe. Think of each contribution as a drop of water. Every drop we contribute can become part of an ocean. But why stop at imagining one ocean? We are a nation of 1.4 billion people. Imagine 1.4 billion individuals, each becoming an ocean of wisdom, courage, compassion, knowledge and generosity! 1.4 billion oceans, flowing together towards Viksit Bharat 2047. That is the magic I believe in!Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Aruna Goenka for Times Foundation as part of the Knowledge Sharing Series and published by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.