Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam: 8 Verses to Goddess Lakshmi
Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam - Sanskrit Text
॥ श्रीमहालक्ष्म्यष्टकम् ॥
नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥१॥
नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयङ्करि।
सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥२॥
सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयङ्करि।
सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥३॥
सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि।
मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥४॥
आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि।
योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥५॥
स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्ति महोदरे।
महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥६॥
पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि।
परमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥७॥
श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते।
जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥८॥
महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः।
सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा॥
एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम्।
द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः॥
त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम्।
महालक्ष्मीर्भवेन्नित्यं प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा॥
॥ इति श्रीमहालक्ष्म्यष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
namaste'stu mahāmāye śrīpīṭhe surapūjite |
śaṅkhacakragadāhaste mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||1||
namaste garuḍārūḍhe kolāsurabhayaṅkari |
sarvapāpahare devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||2||
sarvajñe sarvavarade sarvaduṣṭabhayaṅkari |
sarvaduḥkhahare devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||3||
siddhibuddhiprade devi bhuktimuktipradāyini |
mantramūrte sadā devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||4||
ādyantarahite devi ādyaśaktimaheśvari |
yogaje yogasambhūte mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||5||
sthūlasūkṣmamahāraudre mahāśakti mahodare |
mahāpāpahare devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||6||
padmāsanasthite devi parabrahmasvarūpiṇi |
parameśi jaganmātarmahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||7||
śvetāmbaradhare devi nānālaṅkārabhūṣite |
jagatsthite jaganmātarmahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||8||
mahālakṣmyaṣṭakaṃ stotraṃ yaḥ paṭhedbhaktimānnaraḥ |
sarvasiddhimavāpnoti rājyaṃ prāpnoti sarvadā ||
ekakāle paṭhennityaṃ mahāpāpavināśanam |
dvikālaṃ yaḥ paṭhennityaṃ dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ ||
trikālaṃ yaḥ paṭhennityaṃ mahāśatruvināśanam |
mahālakṣmīrbhavennityaṃ prasannā varadā śubhā ||
Meaning
This hymn of eight verses salutes Mahalakshmi, the Great Goddess of fortune. Salutations to you, O Great Mystery (Mahamaya), seated on the auspicious Shri-pitha, worshipped by the gods, bearing conch, discus and mace. Salutations to you who ride the eagle Garuda and strike terror into the demon Kolasura. O all-knowing, giver of every boon, terror of the wicked, remover of all sorrow. O bestower of accomplishment and wisdom, granter of enjoyment and liberation, ever the very embodiment of mantra. O beginningless and endless one, primal Shakti and supreme sovereign, born of yoga. O gross and subtle, most fierce, of mighty power and vast womb, remover of great sins. O seated on the lotus, of the form of the Supreme Brahman, supreme ruler and mother of the worlds. O clad in white, adorned with manifold ornaments, abiding in the world, mother of all — to Mahalakshmi, salutations again and again. The closing verses declare that one who recites this hymn with devotion attains all success and sovereignty; reciting once daily destroys great sin, twice daily brings wealth and grain, and thrice daily destroys mighty enemies, with Mahalakshmi becoming ever gracious, boon-giving and auspicious.
About this Stotra
The Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam is among the most widely recited Lakshmi hymns in the Hindu world. By tradition it was sung by Indra, king of the gods, in praise of the Goddess Mahalakshmi, and it appears in compilations associated with the Puranic literature. Its eight crisp verses, each ending in the refrain “mahālakṣmi namo'stu te” (“O Mahalakshmi, salutations to you”), make it easy to memorise and a staple of daily worship, Friday pujas, Lakshmi puja and Diwali.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
The Ashtakam praises Lakshmi not merely as the goddess of material wealth but as the supreme Shakti who grants both worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti), both prosperity and the destruction of sin. The phala-shruti is unusually specific: reciting it once a day cleanses great sins, twice a day brings wealth and food-grain, and three times a day destroys powerful enemies. Devotees recite it for abundance, removal of debt and poverty, success in enterprise, domestic harmony and steady inner contentment.
Astrological Relevance
In Vedic astrology Mahalakshmi presides over wealth, beauty and abundance and is the deity invoked to strengthen Venus (Shukra), the natural significator of prosperity, luxury and comfort, and Jupiter (Guru), the karaka of wealth and fortune (dhana and bhagya). The hymn is prescribed for a weak or afflicted 2nd house (accumulated wealth), 11th house (gains and income) and Lakshmi-sthana, and for natives suffering Daridra (poverty) yogas or an afflicted Venus/Jupiter. Recitation on Fridays, the day of Venus, and during the Lakshmi-favoured period of Diwali, is the classic upaya for invoking sustained financial flow and grace.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
After bathing, sit facing east or north before an image of Mahalakshmi. Light a ghee or sesame-oil lamp and offer lotus or red flowers, kumkum, rice and sweets. Invoke Ganesha first, then recite the eight verses with devotion, ideally followed by the phala-shruti. For specific aims follow the hymn’s own guidance — once, twice or three times a day. A mala of 108 of the Lakshmi beeja or the simple chant may be added. Conclude by offering the merit and praying for the welfare of the household.
Best Day & Time
Friday is the most auspicious day, being ruled by Venus. The bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha), Purnima, the Diwali Lakshmi-puja night, Akshaya Tritiya, and the morning Brahma-muhurta or the early evening are all especially favourable for this hymn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam?
By tradition it was uttered by Indra, the king of the gods, in praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi, and it has been preserved as one of the most popular Lakshmi stotras.
How many times should it be recited for prosperity?
The hymn itself states that reciting it once daily removes sin, twice daily brings wealth and grain, and three times daily destroys enemies; devotees choose according to their need and capacity.
Which planet does this hymn help in astrology?
It is chiefly used to strengthen Venus and Jupiter and to support the 2nd and 11th houses of wealth and gains, making it a remedy for financial difficulty and poverty-causing combinations.
Indra's hymn and the fullness of Lakshmi's grace
The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam is among the most widely recited Lakshmi stotrams in India, beloved for the directness of its praise and the intimacy of its supplication. According to devotional tradition, the hymn was first offered by Indra, the king of the gods, as a prayer for restoration after defeat - a context that gives the stotram its distinctive quality of humble petition arising from genuine need. Each of the eight verses moves through a different aspect of the Goddess: her golden radiance, her four arms, her compassion that overflows without condition. The cumulative effect is a portrait of a deity who is simultaneously cosmic in her power and approachable in her warmth.
Fridays are the primary day for Lakshmi worship in the Hindu devotional calendar, and this ashtakam forms a natural centrepiece for the weekly puja many families perform at home. It is also recited during Diwali and during Varalakshmi Vratam (particularly popular in South India). In the Jyotish tradition, Venus (Shukra) is the graha most closely associated with Lakshmi's energy - beauty, abundance, and relational harmony - and the second and eleventh houses in the natal chart reflect her material blessings. Devotees believe that sincere recitation of this ashtakam, paired with clean intention and a giving heart, aligns the inner life with the conditions Lakshmi naturally seeks to bless.