Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
The Eight Verses to Goddess Lakshmi
The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, eight verses praising Goddess Mahalakshmi, with three closing verses on the fruit of reciting it. Credited to Indra.
Verses
Salutations to you, O Great Maya, who sit upon the sacred throne and are worshipped by the gods. O Mahalakshmi, holding the conch, discus, and mace, I bow to you.
Verse 1
Salutations to you, who ride upon Garuda and are terrifying to the demon Kola. O Goddess, destroyer of all sins, Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
Verse 2
O omniscient one, bestower of all boons, terror to all the wicked, remover of all sorrows, O Goddess Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
Verse 3
O Goddess, giver of accomplishment and intellect, granter of enjoyment and liberation, embodiment of sacred mantras, eternal Goddess Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
Verse 4
O Goddess without beginning or end, primeval Power and supreme Sovereign, born of yoga, arisen from yoga, Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
Verse 5
O Goddess, gross and subtle, supremely fierce, of great power and great magnanimity, destroyer of all great sins, Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
Verse 6
O Goddess seated in lotus posture, embodiment of the Supreme Brahman, O supreme Lord, Mother of the universe, Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
Verse 7
O Goddess clothed in white, adorned with manifold ornaments, support of the universe, Mother of the world, Mahalakshmi, I bow to you.
Verse 8
The devoted person who recites this Mahalakshmi Ashtakam attains all accomplishments and ever obtains sovereignty.
Verse 9
Reciting it once every day destroys great sins. Reciting it twice every day endows one with wealth and abundant grain.
Verse 10
Reciting it thrice every day destroys mighty enemies. Then Mahalakshmi becomes ever gracious, bestowing boons and auspiciousness.
Verse 11
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
The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn to Goddess Mahalakshmi, followed by three verses that name the fruit of reciting it. The Sanskrit Documents text closes with the colophon 'iti indrakritam shrimahalakshmistavam', crediting the hymn to Indra, king of the gods, and it is traditionally held to be found in the Padma Purana; the Purana text itself was not checked here. Devotees recite it daily and especially on Fridays and at Diwali. It is part of the wider body of Lakshmi stotras that is also drawn on in Lakshmi puja.
About this Text
Composed by: Indra
Did You Know?
Structure and Title
An ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn. Verses 1 to 8 each address Mahalakshmi and end with 'Mahalakshmi, salutations to you', and verses 9 to 11 form the phala shruti, the fruit of recitation.
Attribution
The colophon in the Sanskrit Documents text credits the hymn to Indra. Tradition places it in the Padma Purana. Another claim that the sage Sanatkumara composed it is not supported by that text.
Goddess of Prosperity and Power
She is hailed as holding conch, discus and mace, the emblems of Vishnu, seated on a lotus, and riding Garuda. Verse 2 calls her Kolasura-bhayankari, the one who terrifies the demon Kolasura.
Universal Bestower
Verse 4 praises her as giver of siddhi and buddhi, accomplishment and intellect, and of both bhukti, worldly enjoyment, and mukti, liberation.
Recitation Benefits
Verse 10 says reciting it once a day destroys great sins and twice a day brings wealth and grain, and verse 11 says reciting it three times a day destroys great enemies and makes Mahalakshmi ever gracious.
Lakshmi
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