Shri Lakshmi Sahasranamavali: The 1000 Names of Goddess Lakshmi
Shri Lakshmi Sahasranamavali - Sanskrit Text (Opening Excerpt)
॥ अथ श्रीलक्ष्मीसहस्रनामावलिः ॥
ॐ नित्यागतायै नमः ।
ॐ अनन्तनित्यायै नमः ।
ॐ नन्दिन्यै नमः ।
ॐ जनरञ्जिन्यै नमः ।
ॐ नित्यप्रकाशिन्यै नमः ।
ॐ स्वप्रकाशस्वरूपिण्यै नमः ।
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः ।
ॐ महाकाल्यै नमः ।
ॐ महाकन्यायै नमः ।
ॐ सरस्वत्यै नमः ।
ॐ भोगवैभवसन्धात्र्यै नमः ।
ॐ भक्तानुग्रहकारिण्यै नमः ।
ॐ ईशावास्यायै नमः ।
ॐ महामायायै नमः ।
ॐ महादेव्यै नमः ।
ॐ महेश्वर्यै नमः ।
ॐ हृल्लेखायै नमः ।
ॐ परमायै शक्त्यै नमः ।
ॐ मातृकाबीजरूपिण्यै नमः ।
ॐ नित्यानन्दायै नमः ।
ॐ नित्यबोधायै नमः ।
ॐ नादिन्यै नमः ।
ॐ जनमोदिन्यै नमः ।
ॐ सत्यप्रत्ययिन्यै नमः ।
ॐ स्वप्रकाशात्मरूपिण्यै नमः ।
ॐ त्रिपुरायै नमः ।
ॐ भैरव्यै नमः ।
ॐ विद्यायै नमः ।
ॐ हंसायै नमः ।
ॐ वागीश्वर्यै नमः ।
… (the litany continues for all one thousand names, each beginning with ॐ and ending with नमः, and concludes with) … ॥ इति श्रीलक्ष्मीसहस्रनामावलिः समाप्ता ॥
Note: The Lakshmi Sahasranamavali comprises one thousand (sahasra) names. Only the verified opening names are reproduced above as an excerpt; the complete namavali should be recited from an authentic published edition (it is drawn from the Sanatkumara Samhita of the Skanda Purana).
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
oṃ nityāgatāyai namaḥ | oṃ anantanityāyai namaḥ | oṃ nandinyai namaḥ | oṃ janarañjinyai namaḥ | oṃ nityaprakāśinyai namaḥ | oṃ svaprakāśasvarūpiṇyai namaḥ | oṃ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ | oṃ mahākālyai namaḥ | oṃ mahākanyāyai namaḥ | oṃ sarasvatyai namaḥ |
(… continuing through all 1000 names, each of the form "oṃ … namaḥ," ending with) iti śrīlakṣmīsahasranāmāvaliḥ samāptā ||
Meaning
Each line offers worship to Goddess Lakshmi under one of her thousand names, meaning "Om, salutations to (the Goddess who is) …". The names reveal her infinite aspects: she is Mahalakshmi, the great goddess of fortune; Mahakali and Maheshwari, faces of the supreme Shakti; Sarasvati, the goddess of learning; the eternal (Nitya), the self-luminous (Svaprakasha-svarupini), the bestower of enjoyment and abundance (Bhoga-vaibhava-sandhatri), and the one who showers grace upon devotees (Bhaktanugraha-karini). The sahasranamavali thus worships Lakshmi not only as the giver of wealth but as the all-encompassing Divine Mother and the very power that sustains creation.
About this Namavali
A Sahasranamavali is the "garland of a thousand names" of a deity, the most expansive form of namavali worship. The Lakshmi Sahasranamavali is traditionally drawn from the Sanatkumara Samhita of the Skanda Purana and is recited in the worship of Mahalakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu and the goddess of wealth, prosperity, beauty and auspiciousness. Reciting all thousand names is a profound act of devotion, often performed during Lakshmi puja, Navaratri and Diwali.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Devotees recite the Lakshmi Sahasranamavali to invoke wealth, abundance, good fortune, marital harmony, health and overall auspiciousness (saubhagya). Beyond material prosperity, the thousand names lead the mind through every aspect of the Divine Mother, cultivating deep devotion and surrender. Regular recitation is held to remove poverty and obstacles, bring stability to the home, and draw the lasting grace of the Goddess - who, once pleased, bestows not only Dhana (wealth) but Dharma, contentment and peace.
Astrological Relevance
Lakshmi is the supreme deity of wealth, and her worship is the foremost remedy in Vedic astrology for strengthening the significators of prosperity. The 2nd house rules accumulated wealth and family resources, the 11th house gains and fulfilment of desires, and Venus (Shukra) and Jupiter (Guru) are the great benefics of fortune and abundance. When these houses or planets are weak, afflicted, or passing through an unsupportive dasha, the Lakshmi Sahasranamavali is prescribed to restore the flow of wealth and auspiciousness. Friday, ruled by Venus - the planet most aligned with Lakshmi's grace, beauty and luxury - is the ideal day for its recitation.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit before an image of Mahalakshmi at a clean, beautifully kept altar. Light a ghee lamp, offer red or lotus flowers, kumkum, sandal paste, and sweets, and keep coins or a symbol of wealth before the Goddess. Recite the thousand names with devotion, ideally in one sitting; where time is short, recite the Lakshmi Ashtottara (108 names) daily and the full sahasranamavali on special days. Conclude with gratitude and a resolve to use wealth righteously and charitably.
Best Day & Time
Friday is the ideal day, with the early morning Brahma Muhurta or the dusk lamp-lighting hour (pradosha) being most auspicious. Diwali (Lakshmi Puja), Sharad Purnima, Navaratri, Akshaya Tritiya and Dhanteras are especially powerful occasions for the complete recitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many names are in the Lakshmi Sahasranamavali?
It contains one thousand (sahasra) names of Goddess Lakshmi, each recited with Om at the beginning and Namah at the end. This article reproduces only the verified opening names as an excerpt.
Can I recite only a portion if I cannot complete all 1000 names?
Yes. Many devotees recite the Lakshmi Ashtottara (108 names) daily and reserve the full thousand-name recitation for Fridays, Diwali or special vows. Devotion and regularity matter most.
Where does the Lakshmi Sahasranamavali come from?
It is traditionally drawn from the Sanatkumara Samhita of the Skanda Purana, one of the major Puranas, and is a classical part of Mahalakshmi worship.
A thousand names as a complete devotional offering to Mahalakshmi
The tradition of the sahasranama - the garland of a thousand names - reflects a distinctly Indian understanding that the Divine cannot be contained in any single attribute or title, and that to move through the full spectrum of names is itself a form of meditation and surrender. The Shri Lakshmi Sahasranamavali, drawn from the Skanda Purana, expresses the breadth of Mahalakshmi's presence: she is wealth, yes, but also auspiciousness, beauty, steadiness, wisdom, lineage, generosity, and the cosmic creative energy without which no endeavour can flourish. Each name offered with Om and Namah becomes a small act of recognition, acknowledging an aspect of the Goddess that pervades ordinary life.
The recitation is traditionally undertaken on Fridays, on the full moon of Kartik (Kojagari Purnima), during Diwali puja, and on the auspicious occasion of Varalakshmi Vratam. Because of its great length, devotees often recite it in stages across a week, or dedicate specific sessions to it during a vow. In the Jyotish tradition, Lakshmi is intimately connected with Venus and with the second and eleventh houses of the chart, which govern wealth and abundance; devotees believe that sustained recitation of the sahasranama cultivates not only material ease but the deeper readiness of character that allows prosperity to take root and remain.