The Hindu deity Alakshmi, goddess of misfortune

In some traditions, the goddess Lakshmi has an older sister, Alakshmi or Jyestha (misfortune), who came into being at the same time as Lakshmi, during the creation of the universe. As the embodiment of all that is inauspicious, including disease and poverty, Alakshmi was worshiped to prevent such misfortunes. Depictions of Alakshmi are not common, and when represented she is shown as ugly and dark-skinned, with a crow-headed flag.

Alakshmi is the opposite of Lakshmi, and needs to be “removed” from the devotee’s home before Lakshmi and her blessings can come in. Alakshmi brings bad luck and needs to be placated, and in that regard she occupies a different conceptual space and wields a different type of power compared to fearsome goddesses such as Kali (the personification of both creative and destructive powers of time). A significant deity mainly in southern India during the eighth century, Alakshmi’s cult has lost influence over time.