Santana Lakshmi is one of the manifestations of Goddess
Lakshmi and is counted among the Ashta Lakshmis or eight forms of the Goddess.
As Santana Lakshmi, Goddess Lakshmi grants healthy and intelligent children. She
also protects infants from all dangers and diseases. She is the goddess of
fertility.
Symbolically she is associated with cat and sometimes with
tigress. The caring and nurturing attitude of these animals are equated with
that of Santana Lakshmi.
In Bengal , Santana Lakshmi
is worshipped in the form of Goddess Sashti. Numerous folk stories of Santan
Lakshmi narrate how she helped barren women to bear children and also how she
protected infants.