Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma: Purandara Dasa's Beloved Hymn to Goddess Lakshmi
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma - Opening Refrain
भाग्यदा लक्ष्मी बारम्मा।
नम्मम्मा नी सौभाग्यदा लक्ष्मी बारम्मा॥
(Opening pallavi / refrain only. Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma is a devaranama composed by the 15th–16th century saint-poet Purandara Dasa; out of respect for the integrity of his composition, only the refrain is reproduced here, with meaning and context below.)
Transliteration (Roman)
bhāgyada lakṣmī bārammā |
nammamma nī saubhāgyada lakṣmī bārammā ||
Meaning
The refrain is a tender, joyful invitation: "Come, O Lakshmi of fortune! Come, our Mother, O Lakshmi of auspicious good fortune, come!" The poet welcomes Goddess Lakshmi - the embodiment of bhagya (fortune) and saubhagya (auspiciousness and well-being) - into his home and heart as one would lovingly call a beloved mother. The full song goes on to describe the Goddess arriving with the gentle music of her anklets, radiant as gold, showering grace, prosperity and every blessing upon the household that receives her.
About this Composition
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma is one of the most cherished devaranamas (Kannada devotional songs) of Sri Purandara Dasa (c. 1484–1564), the revered Haridasa saint and "grandfather of Carnatic music" (Sangeeta Pitamaha). It is traditionally sung in the raga Madhyamavati. Because it is the work of a named historical composer rather than an anonymous ancient scripture, this article presents only its opening refrain along with its meaning and devotional context, rather than the complete lyrics.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
This song expresses the Bhakti ideal of inviting the Divine into ordinary domestic life. Sung at the threshold of the home, especially during Lakshmi worship, it is believed to invoke the Goddess's presence and draw fortune, harmony and abundance into the household. Its simple, melodious appeal makes it a favourite for daily worship, weddings, housewarmings and festival celebrations, uniting families in the shared longing to receive Lakshmi's grace.
Astrological Relevance
As an invocation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune, this song aligns with the astrological significators of prosperity: the 2nd house of accumulated wealth, the 11th house of gains, and the benefics Venus and Jupiter. Venus (Shukra) in particular rules beauty, luxury, music and Lakshmi's grace, making Friday - Venus's day - the ideal occasion to sing it. Devotees facing weakness in the wealth houses or seeking saubhagya (marital and household well-being) often include it in their Friday Lakshmi worship.
How to Sing (Vidhi)
Sing it before an image or idol of Goddess Lakshmi after lighting a ghee or oil lamp, offering flowers, kumkum and sweets. It is sung most beautifully at the threshold or in the prayer room, ideally in raga Madhyamavati, with a calm and devotional heart. Many sing it as the closing or welcoming song of the Friday Lakshmi puja.
Best Day & Time
Friday is the most auspicious day, sacred to Lakshmi and Venus. Dusk (the pradosha lamp-lighting hour) and festival days such as Varamahalakshmi Vratam, Diwali and Akshaya Tritiya are especially fitting for this song.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma?
It was composed by Sri Purandara Dasa, the 15th–16th century Haridasa saint of Karnataka, often honoured as the father of Carnatic music. Because it is his named work, only the refrain is reproduced here.
What language is the song in?
It is in Kannada. The refrain is shown above in Devanagari and Roman transliteration for ease of chanting by devotees of all regions.
Why is only the refrain given here?
Out of respect for the integrity of a named composer's work, this article reproduces only the opening pallavi and focuses on meaning, context and worship. The full lyrics are widely available from dedicated Carnatic and devotional-song collections.
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma: an invitation that opens the heart's door
What makes Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma so enduringly beloved is the quality of its welcome. Purandara Dasa - the great sixteenth-century Kannada saint-poet and Haridasa - does not petition Goddess Lakshmi from a distance; he invites her home, using the warm, unhurried language of family and belonging. The repeated call of baramma (come, Mother) carries the confidence of a devotee who trusts the Goddess's grace, not the anxiety of someone unsure of her arrival. That combination of love, trust and joyful expectation gives the composition its distinctive rasa - a mood that is festive and intimate at once, quite unlike formal Sanskrit stotras of abundance.
Sung on Fridays and during Lakshmi puja - particularly on Varalakshmi Vratam, Kojagari Purnima, and Diwali - this devaranama has become a household staple across South India, its melody instantly recognisable and its words carrying the memory of generations of women who sang it as they lit the evening lamp. In the Jyotish tradition, Lakshmi's blessing flows through a well-placed or propitiated Venus, and Fridays are the auspicious day associated with both the Goddess and the graha of beauty and prosperity. Devotees believe that singing this song with genuine welcome in the heart - treating the Goddess as a dear guest arriving rather than as a favour to be earned - is itself the spiritual preparation that makes abundance feel at home.