महालक्ष्मि अष्टकम् ; Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
**श्लोक 1**
नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे
सुरपूजिते ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**श्लोक
2**
नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयंकरि ।
सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**श्लोक 3**
सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयंकरि ।
सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**श्लोक
4**
सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि ।
मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**श्लोक 5**
आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि
।
योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**श्लोक
6**
स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्ति
महोदरे ।
महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**श्लोक
7**
पद्मासनस्थिते देवि
परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि ।
परमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**श्लोक
8**
श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते
।
जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि
नमोऽस्तुते ॥
**॥ फलश्रुति (लाभ) ॥**
महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः
पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः ।
सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं
प्राप्नोति सर्वदा ॥
An Overview of the
Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
The **Mahalakshmi
Ashtakam**, also known as the *Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam*, is one of the most
revered and powerful Sanskrit hymns (stotras) dedicated to **Goddess
Mahalakshmi**—the Hindu deity of wealth, fortune, prosperity, and
auspiciousness.
The term *Ashtakam*
is derived from the Sanskrit word *Ashtan*, meaning "eight." This is
because the core of the hymn consists of **eight sacred verses (slokas)**. It
is believed that chanting these verses pleases the Goddess, who then bestows
both material and spiritual wealth upon the devotee .
---
### 1. Origin and Mythological Background
The Mahalakshmi
Ashtakam has a very specific and powerful origin story. According to the
**Padma Purana**, one of the eighteen major ancient texts (Mahapuranas) in
Hinduism, this hymn was not written by a human poet but by **Lord Indra**, the
King of the Gods .
The story goes
that Lord Indra lost his wealth, kingdom, and divine splendor due to a curse or
a defeat at the hands of demons (asuras). To regain his lost glory and to
invoke the mercy of the Divine Mother, he composed and chanted these eight
verses in praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Pleased with his devotion, the Goddess
blessed him with unparalleled prosperity and power .
---
### 2. The Nature of the Goddess: Beyond Just
Money
While often
simplified as the "goddess of money," Mahalakshmi represents a much
deeper concept. The word "Lakshmi" comes from the Sanskrit root
**"Lakshya," which means "goal"** . Therefore, chanting
this stotra is believed to help a devotee achieve all their goals in life.
Furthermore, she
is often referred to as **"Ashta Lakshmi"** (Ashta = Eight),
representing eight different types of wealth, not just currency . These
include:
1. **Adi Lakshmi** (Primordial Wealth)
2. **Dhanya Lakshmi** (Agricultural/Grain
Wealth)
3. **Dhairya Lakshmi** (Wealth of Courage)
4. **Gaja Lakshmi** (Wealth of Animals/Elephants
- Power)
5. **Santana Lakshmi** (Wealth of Children)
6. **Vijaya Lakshmi** (Wealth of Victory)
7. **Vidya Lakshmi** (Wealth of Knowledge)
8. **Dhana Lakshmi** (Monetary Wealth)
---
### 3. Detailed Verse-by-Verse Description and
Meaning
Here is a
breakdown of the eight verses, describing the specific attributes of the
Goddess that are invoked.
**Verse 1: The Holder of Divine Symbols**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Namastestu Mahamaye Shree Pithe Sura Poojite, Shanka Chakra Gadha Haste Maha
Lakshmi Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"Salutations to you, O Great Mahamaya (Great Illusion/Energy), who resides
in Sri Peetha (the seat of prosperity) and is worshipped by the gods. You hold
the conch (Shanka), discus (Chakra), and mace (Gada) in your hands. O
Mahalakshmi, I bow to you."
>
**Description:** The conch represents the primordial sound (Om) and dharma; the
discus represents the cosmic mind and time; the mace represents strength and
punishment of evil. This verse establishes her as the cosmic protector .
**Verse 2: The Terrifying Protector**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Namaste Garudarudhe Kolasura Bhayankari, Sarva Papa Hare Devi Maha Lakshmi
Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"Salutations to you who rides Garuda (the divine eagle) and is terrifying
to the demon Kolasura. O Goddess, you remove all sins. O Mahalakshmi, I bow to
you."
>
**Description:** While gentle to devotees, she is fierce to demons. Riding
Garuda (Lord Vishnu's mount), she destroyed the demon Kolasura. This verse
invokes her power to remove obstacles and negative karmic sins .
**Verse 3: The All-Knowing Bestower**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Sarvajne Sarva Varade Sarva Dushta Bhayankari, Sarva Duhkha Hare Devi Maha
Lakshmi Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"You are all-knowing (Sarvajne), the bestower of all boons, and fearsome
to all evil-doers. You remove all sorrows and sufferings. O Mahalakshmi, I bow
to you."
>
**Description:** This verse highlights her omniscience. She knows the past,
present, and future. She doesn't just give wealth; she removes the *duhkha*
(suffering) that often accompanies human existence .
**Verse 4: The Giver of Liberation**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Siddhi Buddhi Prade Devi Bhukti Mukti Pradayini, Mantra Moorte Sada Devi Maha
Lakshmi Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"O Devi, you grant Siddhi (spiritual powers/success) and Buddhi
(intellect). You grant Bhukti (worldly enjoyment/pleasures) and Mukti
(liberation from the cycle of rebirth). You are the embodiment of all mantras.
O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you."
>
**Description:** This is a crucial verse. Mahalakshmi is unique because she
grants both *Bhukti* (material happiness) and *Mukti* (spiritual salvation).
She is the personification of sacred sound itself .
**Verse 5: The Primordial Energy**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Adyanta Rahite Devi Adya Shakti Maheshwari, Yogaje Yoga Sambhute Maha Lakshmi
Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"O Devi, you are without beginning or end (Adyanta Rahite). You are the
Primordial Energy (Adya Shakti) and the Great Goddess (Maheshwari). You are
born of Yoga (discipline) and present in Yogis. I bow to you."
>
**Description:** She is not a created being; she is eternal. She is the energy
behind the universe (Shakti) and is realized through the practice of yoga and
meditation .
**Verse 6: The Gross and Subtle Form**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Sthula Sukshme Maha Raudre Maha Shakti Mahodare, Maha Papa Hare Devi Maha
Lakshmi Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"You exist in the gross (physical) and subtle (spiritual) forms. You are
the great, fearsome power who holds the universe in your cosmic womb
(Mahodare). You destroy great sins. I bow to you."
> **Description:**
*Mahodare* translates to "One with a great stomach," symbolizing that
the entire cosmos resides within her. She nurtures the universe like a mother
holds a child in her womb .
**Verse 7: The Supreme Reality**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Padmasana Sthithe Devi Parabrahma Swaroopini, Parameshi Jagan Mata Maha
Lakshmi Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"O Devi, seated on the lotus (Padmasana), your form is that of the Supreme
Brahman (ultimate reality). You are the Supreme Ruler and the Mother of the
Universe. I bow to you."
>
**Description:** This verse elevates her status from a mere goddess of wealth
to the highest philosophical plane—equating her with the ultimate cosmic
reality itself .
**Verse 8: The Pure and Adorned Mother**
> **Sanskrit:**
*Shwetambara Dhare Devi Nanalankara Bhushite, Jagat Sthite Jagan Mata Maha
Lakshmi Namoostute*
> **Meaning:**
"You wear white garments (Shwetambara) symbolizing purity, and you are
adorned with various ornaments. You sustain the universe. O Mother of the
Universe, Mahalakshmi, I bow to you."
>
**Description:** White clothing represents *Sattva Guna* (purity, harmony,
goodness). The ornaments represent the diverse richness of creation. She is the
mother who sustains the world .
---
### 4. The Phalasruti (The Benefits of Chanting)
Most Hindu stotras
conclude with a *Phalasruti*—a declaration of the benefits of reciting the
hymn. The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam has a specific set of verses describing the
results based on the frequency of chanting :
1. **Chanting Once a Day (Ekakala):** If a
person chants this with devotion once daily, it results in the **destruction of
great sins** (*Maha Papa Vinashanam*).
2. **Chanting Twice a Day (Dwikala):** If one
chants twice daily, they become **endowed with wealth and food grains** (*Dhana
Dhanya Samanvitah*).
3. **Chanting Three Times a Day (Trikala):** If
one chants thrice daily (morning, noon, evening), they achieve **destruction of
great enemies** (*Maha Shatru Vinashanam*) and Goddess Mahalakshmi becomes
**eternally pleased and bestows boons**.
The final verse
states that the person who recites this achieves all forms of success (*Sarva
Siddhim*) and attains a kingdom/royal status (*Rajyam*), symbolizing supreme
authority and success in their field .
---
### 5. When and How to Chant
- **Best Days:** Fridays are considered highly auspicious for Goddess
Lakshmi. It is also chanted extensively during **Diwali** (festival of lights)
and **Navratri** .
- **Occasions:** It is often recited during **Griha Pravesh** (housewarming
ceremonies), before starting a new business, or during property registration to
invite positive energy .
- **Method:** It is recommended to chant in the early morning after
bathing, facing North or East. Light a ghee lamp (diya) and offer fresh flowers
if possible. Purity of mind and devotion are more important than rigid rituals
.
### Summary Table
| Attribute |
Description |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Title** |
Mahalakshmi Ashtakam |
| **Author** |
Lord Indra (King of Gods) |
| **Source Text**
| Padma Purana |
| **Language** |
Sanskrit |
| **Structure** | 8 core verses + 3 phalasruti (benefit) verses |
| **Primary
Deity** | Goddess Mahalakshmi (Consort of Lord Vishnu) |
| **Main
Benefits** | Wealth, removal of sins, intellect, liberation (Moksha), and
destruction of obstacles. | शेष ध्यान दें। सर्वोत्तम परिणामों के
लिए, किसी योग्य गुरु या ज्योतिषी से मंत्र दीक्षा लेने की
परंपरा है
Here is a detailed
story of **Goddess Mahalakshmi**, focusing on her divine emergence (Samudra
Manthan), her role as the consort of Lord Vishnu, and her nature as described
in the *Mahalakshmi Ashtakam*.
This story
integrates the very qualities you read about in the stotra: her holding the
conch, discus, and mace; her riding Garuda; her bestowing both *Bhukti*
(worldly wealth) and *Mukti* (liberation).
---
### The Churning
of the Ocean: The Birth of Mahalakshmi
Long ago, a great
curse from the sage Durvasa had weakened the gods (Devas). Their enemies, the
demons (Asuras), led by King Bali, had conquered the three worlds. The gods,
led by Lord Indra, had lost their strength, their wealth, and their divine
radiance. Desperate, they sought refuge in Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the
Universe.
Lord Vishnu gave
them a difficult but brilliant solution: **The Churning of the Ocean of Milk
(Samudra Manthan)** .
> *"You
must churn the great ocean,"* Vishnu said. *"Within it lies Amrita,
the nectar of immortality. If you drink it, you will regain your power. But you
cannot do this alone. You must make a temporary truce with the Asuras and churn
together."*
And so began the
greatest collaboration in cosmic history. The gods, weak but determined, joined
hands with their enemies, the powerful Asuras.
- **The Churning Rope:** The serpent king Vasuki (the snake around Lord
Shiva’s neck) became the rope.
- **The Churning Rod:** Mount Mandara became the churning rod.
- **The Pullers:** The Asuras held Vasuki’s head, and the gods held his
tail. They pulled back and forth for a thousand years.
As they churned,
many terrible and wonderful things emerged first:
1. **Halahala (The Deadly Poison):** Before any
treasure, a burning, universe-destroying poison arose. Lord Shiva, in his
mercy, swallowed it, holding it in his blue throat (becoming Neelakantha).
2. **Kamadhenu (The Wish-Fulfilling Cow)**
3. **Uchchaishravas (The White Seven-Headed
Horse)**
4. **Airavata (The White Elephant)**
5. **Kalpavriksha (The Wish-Fulfilling Tree)**
6. **Chandra (The Moon God)**
7. **Rambha (The Celestial Dancer)**
But the gods and
demons did not want these. They waited for the Amrita (nectar). Finally, after
ages of churning, the ocean began to foam and glow with an unbearable,
brilliant light.
---
### The Arrival of
the Eternal Goddess
The surface of the
ocean swelled, and a divine, incomparable being rose from the churning waves.
She was **Goddess Mahalakshmi**.
Let me describe
her exactly as the *Mahalakshmi Ashtakam* describes her:
> She sat on a
fully blossomed **lotus (Padmasana)** . Her skin glowed like liquid gold. She
wore **white garments (Shwetambara)** as pure as moonlight, symbolizing her
*Sattvic* nature beyond all taint. In her four hands, she held the very symbols
of cosmic order:
> - **The Conch
(Shanka):** The sound of creation, Om.
> - **The
Discus (Chakra):** The cycle of time and divine justice.
> - **The Mace
(Gada):** Unconquerable strength and power.
> - **A
Lotus:** Purity, spiritual awakening, and detachment.
Water from sacred
rivers (Ganga, Yamuna) flowed from the pots held by celestial elephants (Gaja
Lakshmi) and bathed her. A gentle, fragrant breeze carried her grace across all
the worlds.
The moment she
appeared, every being—god, demon, human, and sage—was struck silent by her
beauty and power. She was **Sarvajne** (all-knowing), **Adya Shakti**
(primordial energy), and the **Jagan Mata** (mother of the universe).
### The Choice:
The Gods vs. The Demons
The demons
(Asuras), greedy and arrogant, rushed toward her first.
> *"O
beautiful goddess!"* shouted the demon king Bali. *"You are born from
our labor! You belong to us! Come, sit by my side, and be my queen of
wealth!"*
Goddess Mahalakshmi
did not reply with anger. She smiled calmly. She looked into the heart of the
demons and saw only greed, violence, and selfishness. She then looked at the
gods, who stood humbly, with devotion and a pure desire to serve the universe.
She spoke, her
voice like the sound of a thousand harps:
> *"I am
**Mahalakshmi**. I am not born of the ocean, but the ocean merely revealed me.
I reside where there is truth, charity, purity, and dharma (righteousness). I
am not attracted to those who seek only to hoard me. I come to those who use my
gifts to serve others."*
And then, doing
exactly as the *Mahalakshmi Ashtakam* says (*Namaste Garudarudhe*), she mounted
her divine eagle, **Garuda**, and flew toward Lord Vishnu, who was standing
silently on the shore.
### The Divine
Wedding: Lakshmi-Narayana
Without a word,
Mahalakshmi placed a garland of ever-fresh tulsi (holy basil) around Lord
Vishnu’s neck. She chose him as her eternal consort.
Lord Vishnu, the
Preserver, is *Narayana*—the one who rests on the cosmic ocean. He represents
**existence, preservation, law, and order**.
Goddess Lakshmi
represents **energy, prosperity, fortune, and auspiciousness**.
Their union is the
most important philosophical truth in Hinduism: **Where there is God (the
Preserver), there must be his energy (Prosperity). You cannot have one without
the other.**
Lord Vishnu then
turned to the demons, who were enraged. Using his discus and mace (the very
symbols Lakshmi also holds), he destroyed the demonic forces and restored Indra
to his throne.
Because of
Lakshmi’s presence, Indra regained his wealth, the gods regained their power,
and finally, the Amrita (nectar) emerged, which the gods drank to become
immortal.
### The Story of
Her Departure: The Bhrigu Test
However, Lakshmi’s
story also teaches a lesson about pride. Once, the sage Bhrigu wanted to test
who among the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) was the greatest. He first
insulted Brahma, then Shiva. Both became angry. Finally, he went to Vaikuntha
(Vishnu’s abode) and kicked Lord Vishnu on the chest.
Vishnu did not
react in anger. Instead, he bowed to the sage and said, *"Forgive me, O
great sage. Your foot must be hurting. Let me massage it."*
But Goddess
Lakshmi, who resides eternally on Vishnu’s chest (the *Vakshasthala*), was
deeply insulted. She felt that Vishnu had shown no self-respect.
> *"I
cannot stay where there is disrespect and lack of pride,"* she said.
*"I, Mahalakshmi, the giver of all wealth, depart."*
She left
Vaikuntha. The moment she left, all wealth, joy, and prosperity vanished from
Vishnu’s abode. The gods became poor. The flowers wilted. The light dimmed.
Lord Vishnu
realized that without his consort, his energy, he was incomplete. He followed
her, begged her forgiveness, and explained:
> *"A king
must forgive a sage. A father must ignore the tantrum of a child. The chest you
reside on is my heart. The sage kicked my heart, not me. And in my heart, only
you live, so he kicked you as well. I forgave him for your sake."*
Pleased with his
wisdom and love, Mahalakshmi returned. This is why, even today, devotees
worship the **Shri Vatsa** (a special curl of hair on Vishnu’s chest) as the
eternal abode of Lakshmi.
### The Moral of
the Story
This story
directly reflects the *Mahalakshmi Ashtakam* you asked about:
1. **She is not just money:** She is energy,
intellect (*Buddhi*), success (*Siddhi*), and liberation (*Mukti*). When the
demons wanted her for greed, she left. When the gods wanted her for service,
she stayed.
2. **She is eternal:** She has no beginning or
end (*Adyanta Rahite*). She existed before the ocean and will exist after the
universe ends.
3. **She is Vishnu’s power:** To have wealth,
you must have discipline (Dharma). Wealth without discipline destroys the owner
(like the demons). Wealth with discipline (Vishnu) creates heaven on earth.
4. **She leaves when insulted:** Pride,
disrespect, and anger make her leave. Humility, cleanliness, charity, and
devotion make her stay.
Thus, when you
chant the **Mahalakshmi Ashtakam**, you are not asking for a lottery ticket.
You are inviting the eternal, all-knowing, cosmic mother who holds the universe
in her womb (*Mahodare*) to come and sit in your heart, bringing with her all
eight forms of wealth—material and spiritual. Here is a very high-quality, attractive title for the **Mahalakshmi
Ashtakam** and its story, presented in four distinct lines. Each line captures
a different essence of the Goddess.
**Line 1: The
Divine Origin**
> *From the
Cosmic Ocean of Milk, She Rises on a Lotus*
**Line 2: The
Sacred Hymn**
> *The Eight
Verses of Mahalakshmi That Turn Sorrow into Splendor*
**Line 3: The
Eternal Story**
> *How the
Goddess of Wealth Chose Dharma Over Greed and Vishnu Over Power*
**Line 4: The
Ultimate Promise**
> *Invoking the
Mother Who Bestows Both Kingdom on Earth and Liberation Beyond* ।
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I am always there with you hari om