Lakshmi has two forms, Bhudevi, the earth goddess embodying natural wealth, and Sridevi, who embodies glamour and cultural wealth. All wealth exists below the earth, for it is below the earth that seeds sprout, metal is created and water is hidden. Humanity has to work hard at attaining this wealth by tilling the land, mining and other processes.
When a king plundered the earth mindlessly, the rishis intervened and killed him. From his purified remains, arose a new king, Prithu, a form of Vishnu. Prithu realizes that the Bhudevi has run away in the form of a cow. He pursues her with bow and arrow asking her to stop otherwise he would have to strike her. ‘If you kill me,’ she says, ‘the world will cease to exist.’ But Prithu tells her, ‘But if you cannot be milked, the world will not survive.’ So once Bhudevi was assured that she would be protected, she allows herself to be milked by all living creatures.
Vishnu institutes the code of conduct, Dharma to protect Bhudevi from mindless plundering. Vishnu descends as Parashuram, Ram and Krishna to kill greed. The avatars of Vishnu secure and protect Lakshmi. He is Shrinivas, the eternal abode of Lakshmi.