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aryameghaḥ, Raghuvamsa 17, 87. These wonderful clouds
aścharyameghas alone could rain also a rain of gold from
heaven. The golden rain from heaven in the treasury
of Raghu, narrated by the wondering treasurers of the
emperor that came running to report it, is probably
the most wondrous of the wonder clouds themselves :
hiranmayim kośagrihasya madhye vrishtim śaśamsuḥ
patitām nabhastaḥ, Raghuvamsa, 5,92. For Kautsa, sup-
plicant brilliant pupil of Varatantu, who had come to
Raghu for the impossible fee to be paid to his master
in gold, which he also felt almost impossible, specially
in the circumstances in which Raghu was placed, after
he had given away the entire wealth of the world in the
great sacrifice Rajasuya, it was however no wonder that
the earth gave all of her treasures to the righteous king
who fulfilled justice, but the glory of one, who could
command the heavens themselves to rain prosperity, was
indeed to him incomprehensible: kim atra chitram yadi
kāmasur bhur vritte sthitasyadhipateḥ prajānām, achintani-
yas tu tava prabhavo manishitam dyaur api yena dugdhā,
Raghuvamsa, 5,33. If the rain of gold is Bhagyalakshmi,
Dhanyalakshmi is the goddess of corn and plenty in
 
food.
 
Food itself has been conceived as the supreme
Being, as the Mother herself, as the source of the origin
of all creatures. Origin is from food nourishment is
by food, existence depends upon food annad vai prajāḥ
prajayante, yaḥ kaścha prithivim śritaḥ, athonnenaiva
jivanti, Taittiriya Upanishad, 2,2. That is why it is
considered the highest annam hi bhūtānām jyeshṭham,
Taittiriya Upanishad, 2,2. It is therefore the rare potent
medicine for life itself: tasmat sarvaushadham uchchyate,
Taittiriya Upanishad, 2,2. Those who worship food as
the Almighty obtain everything in life: sarvam vai te