Bhagyada Lakshmi – Come, O Goddess of Fortune
Purandara Dasa's Kannada devaranama inviting Goddess Lakshmi into the home to bestow fortune and auspiciousness, sung on Fridays.
Verses
O Lakshmi of fortune, please come, you are our mother. O Lakshmi of auspiciousness, please come.
Verse 1
Placing one step upon another, making the sound of anklets on her feet, at the time of worship by the virtuous and holy, she appears like butter churned from buttermilk. O Lakshmi of fortune, come, Mother.
Verse 2
Come, showering a rain of gold; show me the fulfillment of my mind's desires. O daughter of King Janaka, who shines with the brilliance of a million suns, come quickly. O Lakshmi of fortune, come, Mother.
Verse 3
Without moving to and fro, in the homes of devotees she is a daily great festival, daily auspiciousness. She shines in the minds of the virtuous and holy who reveal truth, like a radiant image. O Lakshmi of fortune, come, Mother.
Verse 4
Bestowing countless fortunes, come, twirling the bangles on your hands. O lotus-eyed one adorned with kumkuma, the proud queen of Venkataramana. O Lakshmi of fortune, come, Mother.
Verse 5
Causing streams of sugar and ghee to flow at the time of Friday worship, the beloved and pure queen of Lord Ranga of Alagiri and of Purandara Vittala. O Lakshmi of fortune, come, Mother.
Verse 6
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Friday (Shukrawar) & Purnima (Full Moon)
Evening Sandhya (Dusk / Deepa Lighting Time)
Pink Lotus, Kheer, Panchamrit, Kumkum & Ghee Lamp
- Abundance (Dhana-Dhanya), household harmony, and spiritual purity
Background
This bhajan belongs to the Kannada devotional tradition of the Haridasa movement, a spiritual and musical current that flourished in Karnataka from the 13th to 18th centuries. The Haridasas, literally servants of Hari or Vishnu, composed simple, heartfelt songs in the local language to make devotion accessible to everyone. Purandara Dasa (c. 16th century) is widely regarded as the father of Carnatic music, and his compositions remain central to both temple and household worship. This particular song is traditionally sung during Lakshmi puja, especially on Fridays as the last verse mentions, and is a beloved prayer for inviting the goddess of fortune into one's home. The lyrics describe Lakshmi's graceful arrival and her connection to Venkataramana, Vishnu at Tirupati, and Ranga of Alagiri, and close with the composer's signature name, his ankita, Purandara Vittala, his name for the Lord. Lakshmi's identity as Vishnu's consort and the goddess who rose from the churning of the ocean is told in the Vishnu Purana 1.9; the song's Kannada imagery of anklets, golden rain and kumkuma rests on that older foundation.
About this Text
Composed by: Purandara Dasa
Did You Know?
Composer
This bhajan was written by Purandara Dasa (1484–1564), a saint-poet widely regarded as the father of Carnatic music. He composed thousands of devotional songs in Kannada, and this one is a heartfelt invitation to Goddess Lakshmi.
Structure
The song has a repeating refrain — “Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma” (meaning “O Lakshmi of fortune, please come”) — and five verses. Each verse highlights a different aspect of the goddess, using vivid imagery to make the invitation feel personal and urgent.
Simile in verse 1
The line “like butter hidden in buttermilk” describes how Lakshmi’s presence can be felt subtly but powerfully during the worship of good and holy people. It’s a classic Kannada metaphor that suggests she is already there, waiting to be recognized.
Mythological link in verse 4
The goddess is called “the proud queen of Venkataramana” — a name for Lord Venkateshwara, the deity of the famous Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh. This connects the song to one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in South India.
Cultural detail in verse 5
The verse mentions Friday (Shukravara) as the special day for Lakshmi worship, and describes offering her a “canal of sugar and ghee” — a poetic way of asking for abundance. The composer signs off with his signature name (ankita) Purandara Vittala, where Vittala is his name for the Lord (Vishnu/Krishna); it does not refer to a guru.
Lakshmi
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