It is important, then, in thinking about the origins and early nature of Sri-Laksmi, to look briefly at the meanings of the term in early Vedic literature.

As used in the Vedic hymns, the term sri suggests beauty, luster, glory, and high rank. . . . At one point, sri is identified with the cushion upon which the king sits. The idea is that the cushion or seat, sri, ruling power, is temporarily possessed by the current owner of the seat."

The hymn to Sri also metions two things that come to be consistently associated with Sri throughout her history: the lotus and the elephant. She is said to be seated on a lotus . . .The lotus growing from the navel of the god Visnu marking the beginning of a new cosmic creation . . ."