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Shubh and Labh should always be placed side by side, as both are equally important. However, people often place them incorrectly, either side by side or unevenly.
Goddess Lakshmi is the deity of wealth, prosperity, fortune, and beauty. She is believed to bring good fortune into the home and protect her devotees from suffering, especially financial difficulties.
During Diwali, symbols like Swastik, Shubh-Labh, and Goddess Lakshmi’s footprints are commonly placed in homes to invite prosperity. The tradition of placing Goddess Lakshmi’s footprints symbolises her arrival. Many people place these footprints at the main entrance of their homes, but is it truly appropriate? What is the correct way to display Shubh-Labh in the home? Famous astrologer and Vastu expert Dr Madhupriya spills the beans on this.
When Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the churning of the ocean, her footprints were recorded by all the gods, suggesting prosperity with 15 marks. Dr Madhupriya explained that Shubh and Labh are the sons of Lord Ganesha and his wives Riddhi and Siddhi. Where Lord Ganesha resides, there too are Shubh and Labh.
On Diwali, as we welcome Ganesha-Lakshmi, we place Swastik and Shubh-Labh symbols on our door as a form of invitation. Similarly, business owners write Shubh on one side and Labh on the other with red roli in their account books and perform puja on Diwali night with rice (Akshat). Shubh-Labh is also written on the main cash register or locker to invite Ganesha-Lakshmi so that we receive not only wealth but also wisdom and virtue to progress in life with prosperity and contentment.
Shubh and Labh should always be placed side by side, as both are equally important. However, people often place them incorrectly, either side by side or unevenly due to design preferences, which could bring loss instead of gain. Shubh-Labh should always be written by mixing roli, kumkum, yogurt, rice, and ghee, using the ring finger.
The main entrance, puja area, office, cash register, account books, and locker should all display Shubh-Labh and the Swastik symbol. It is best to make these symbols during auspicious moments in the puja. Writing Shubh-Labh and Swastik on yellow cloth with a pomegranate pen and keeping it in the locker is also beneficial for wisdom and daily earnings.
Goddess Lakshmi’s footprints are best created with rice flour or red alta, which is considered highly auspicious. The footprints should always be facing inward, symbolising her entry into the home. Outward-facing footprints should be avoided, as they symbolize Lakshmi leaving the home.