What is the Difference between Sri Suktam and Purusha Suktam

Posted by AstroVed on December 2nd, 2020

Suktas are Vedic incantations or hymns that sing praises of different forms of a God/Goddess. Purusha Suktam is a hymn praising Vishnu, while Shree Suktam is a hymn praising his consort, Goddess Lakshmi. The Purusha Suktam is one among the Pancha (5) Suktams of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. Narayana Suktam, Sri Suktam, Bhu Suktam, and the Nila Suktam are the other four. 

Purusha Suktam

Purusha Suktam is from the Rig Veda. It praises the Virat Purusha outlining his form, his mystical attributes, and describes how the world/ people of different varnas originated from him. Most interpretations regard it as a hymn on Narayana / Vishnu.  

The Purusha refers to the Parama Purusha, or Purushottama, Narayana, in his form as the Virat Purusha. He is the source of all creation. It describes his form, with countless heads, eyes, legs, manifested everywhere and beyond our comprehension. All of creation is but a fourth part of him, while the rest is not manifested. 

Purusha Suktam is a message of sacrifice and love. To create all the worlds, Purusha consumes himself in the fire of creation, to create all the worlds. All creation emanates from this sacrifice. This is a central message of the Purusha Sukta. 

The Purusha Suktam is a powerful hymn of the insight of the great Seer, Rishi Narayana. The Cosmic Divine Being is envisaged through the multitudinous variety of creation. It is also a shortcut for entering the state of Superconsciousness. The Sukta is potent enough to arouse God-experience in the seeker.  

The Sukta begins with an affirmation - that all the heads, eyes, and feet in creation belong to the Purusha. It reveals the astonishing truth that all that we see or hear are only the limbs of the One Purusha, a single Universal Person who shines before us in all his glory. 

This realization destroys all desires. When all creation is one Purusha, there is no room for desire. This effectively destroys all illusion and ignorance, which causes mankind to desire different things. Thus, chanting the Purusha Suktam helps us to realize God and the futility of all desires. Thus it brings clarity and peace of mind, contentment, excellence in action, and success in all pursuits. 

Sri Suktam 

Sri Suktam is part of the khilanis or appendixes to the Rigveda. It is a hymn that sings the praises of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. There is no hymn that equals the Sri Sukta when it comes to eulogizing Goddess Lakshmi. The letters, syllables, and words that are used in the fifteen verses of Sri Sukta, together form the sound body of Goddess Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi has 8 forms – Adi Lakshmi (Maha Lakshmi), Dhana Lakshmi (bestower of wealth), Dhanya Lakshmi (bestower of agrarian wealth), Gaja Lakshmi (bestower of the energy of eminence),

Vara Lakshmi ( bestower of wonderful boons), Santhana Lakshmi ( bestower of progeny),

Vijaya Lakshmi ( bestower of victory), Vidya Lakshmi (bestower of learning). Worshipping these 8 forms of Lakshmi can help fulfill all desires, mundane and spiritual. 

Goddess Lakshmi is referred to as 'Sri', which means the personification of auspicious and royal qualities.  

The Sri Sukta is recited for peace, plenty, and all-round prosperity. Lakshmi, the spouse of Lord Vishnu, reflects the glory and magnificence of God. The recitation of Sri Sukta has been endorsed by divine beings and also venerable sages. It is said that Lakshmi could never disregard the wishes of those who petition her through the recitation of Sri Suktam and Shri Kanak Dhara Stotra.

It sings praises of the brilliance and magnificence of all forms of Lakshmi, her heavenly nature, and her qualities. Sri Lakshmi has an elder sister called Jyeshtha Lakshmi, who governs despondency, sorrow, obstructions, harsh speech, clashes, delays, disappointments, etc. Reciting the Sri Suktam helps remove Jyeshtha Lakshmi’s presence from our lives. It enables us to remove poverty and overcome obstacles to acquire wealth and prosperity. 

Difference between Purusha Suktam and Sri Suktam

Purusha Suktam invokes Vishnu and praises his glory. Chanting it helps us to realize God. In the process, it removes the veil of illusion and ignorance, which makes us desire all manner of things. In the process, it brings us clarity and peace of mind, joy, strength, and power. It enables us to achieve excellence in all that we do and success in all our endeavors. Sri Suktam invokes and glorifies all forms of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. This is a hymn that invokes the Goddess to grant all our desires and fill our lives with health, wealth, happiness, and prosperity. Lakshmi represents the glory and greatness of Vishnu, who is the creator of all things on earth. When everything on earth is a reflection of God himself, there is nothing wrong in desiring wealth or riches. In the Gita, Lord Krishna says that He is manifest in the grandest, most glorious, and excellent things on earth. Hence, there is no need to reject or spurn anything in this world as sinful, as they are all part of God himself.