The word Lakshmi is derived from the Sanskrit word Lakshme, meaning "goal". Lakshmi, therefore, represents the goal of life, which includes worldly as well as spiritual prosperity. She is Goddess of love, beauty and prosperity and maintains harmony , joy, and fullness in the universe. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu and is the feminine aspect of Vishnu the preserver. The lotus that she holds in her hand and the lotus she stands upon are symbolic of the blossoming of one's consciousness.