The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam is believed to have been first spoken by Indra Deva when he was under attack by asuras (demons) and had lost his kingdom, strength, and glory. In despair, he meditated upon Goddess Mahalakshmi, the universal goddess of wealth, abundance, and auspiciousness.
Pleased with his devotion, Mahalakshmi appeared before him, and in deep reverence, Indra composed and recited this eight-verse hymn, praising Her attributes and seeking her grace. The hymn describes Her as:
The embodiment of auspiciousness (śubhā)
The supporter of the universe (viśva-dhāriṇī)
The remover of all sins (pāpa nāśinī)
The goddess who resides in every being (sarva bhūteṣu saṁsthita)
This stotra is often recited during:
- Everyday
- On Fridays
- On Navaratri days
- On Diwali festival season
- Lakshmi vratam and other spiritual occasions related to Devi.
🕉️ Importance:
Chanting this stotram:
Invokes wealth and good fortune
Removes poverty and obstacles
Brings peace, prosperity, and blessings in home and business
Indra’s voice:
namaste’stu mahā-māye śrī-pīṭhe sura-pūjite ।
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-haste mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 1 ॥
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-haste mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 1 ॥
namaste garuḍārūḍhe kolāsura-bhayankari ।
sarva-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 2 ॥
sarva-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 2 ॥
sarvajñe sarva-varade sarva-duṣṭa-bhayankari ।
sarva-duḥkha-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 3 ॥
sarva-duḥkha-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 3 ॥
siddhi-buddhi-prade devi bhukti-mukti-pradāyini ।
mantra-mūrte sadā devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 4 ॥
mantra-mūrte sadā devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 4 ॥
ādyanta-rahite devi ādi-śakti-maheśvari ।
yoga-jñāne yoga-sambhūte mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 5 ॥
yoga-jñāne yoga-sambhūte mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 5 ॥
sthūla-sūkṣma-mahāraudre mahāśakti-mahodare ।
mahā-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 6 ॥
mahā-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 6 ॥
padmāsana-sthite devi para-brahma-svarūpiṇi ।
parameśi jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 7 ॥
parameśi jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 7 ॥
śvetāmbara-dhare devi nānālaṅkāra-bhūṣite ।
jagat-sthite jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 8 ॥
jagat-sthite jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 8 ॥
mahālakṣmy-aṣṭakaṁ stotraṁ yaḥ paṭhet bhakti-mān naraḥ ।
sarva-siddhim avāpnoti rājyaṁ prāpnoti sarvadā ॥
sarva-siddhim avāpnoti rājyaṁ prāpnoti sarvadā ॥
eka-kāle paṭhen nityaṁ mahā-pāpa-vināśanam ।
dvi-kālaṁ yaḥ paṭhen nityaṁ dhana-dhānya-samanvitaḥ ॥
dvi-kālaṁ yaḥ paṭhen nityaṁ dhana-dhānya-samanvitaḥ ॥
tri-kālaṁ yaḥ paṭhen nityaṁ mahā-śatru-vināśanam ।
mahālakṣmīr bhaven nityaṁ prasannā varadā śubhā ॥
mahālakṣmīr bhaven nityaṁ prasannā varadā śubhā ॥
–Indra Krita Sri Maha Lakshmi Ashtakam Stotram Complete
🪔 Sloka 1
namaste’stu mahā-māye śrī-pīṭhe sura-pūjite ।
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-haste mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 1 ॥
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-haste mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 1 ॥
Synonyms: namaste – salutations; astu – let it be; mahāmāye – O great illusion; śrīpīṭhe – seated on the seat of wealth; surapūjite – worshipped by the gods; śaṅkha – conch; cakra – discus; gadā – mace; haste – in hand; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namaḥ astu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! Salutations to you, who resides on the divine seat, worshipped by the gods, and holds the conch, discus, and mace, and who is the great illusory power.
🪔 Sloka 2
namaste garuḍārūḍhe kolāsura-bhayankari ।
sarva-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 2 ॥
sarva-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 2 ॥
Synonyms: namaste – salutations; garuḍārūḍhe – mounted on Garuda; kolāsura-bhayankari – terrifier of the demon Kolasura; sarva – all; pāpa – sins; hare – remover; devi – O goddess; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namo’stu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! Mounted on Garuda, destroyer of the demon Kolasura, remover of all sins – salutations to you.
🪔 Sloka 3
sarvajñe sarva-varade sarva-duṣṭa-bhayankari ।
sarva-duḥkha-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 3 ॥
sarva-duḥkha-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 3 ॥
Synonyms: sarvajñe – all-knowing; sarvavarade – bestower of all boons; sarva-duṣṭa-bhayankari – terror to all wicked beings; sarva-duḥkha-hare – remover of all sorrow; devi – O goddess; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namo’stu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! You know everything, grant all boons, terrify the wicked, and remove all suffering. Salutations to you.
🪔 Sloka 4
siddhi-buddhi-prade devi bhukti-mukti-pradāyini ।
mantra-mūrte sadā devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 4 ॥
mantra-mūrte sadā devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 4 ॥
Synonyms: siddhi – success; buddhi – wisdom; prade – giver; bhukti – enjoyment; mukti – liberation; pradāyini – bestower; mantra-mūrte – embodiment of mantras; sadā – always; devi – O goddess; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namo’stu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! You bestow success, wisdom, enjoyment, and liberation, and are the very form of sacred mantras. Salutations to you.
🪔 Sloka 5
ādyanta-rahite devi ādi-śakti-maheśvari ।
yoga-jñāne yoga-sambhūte mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 5 ॥
yoga-jñāne yoga-sambhūte mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 5 ॥
Synonyms: ādyanta-rahite – without beginning or end; devi – O goddess; ādiśakti – primordial energy; maheśvari – consort of Maheshwara; yoga-jñāne – in yogic wisdom; yoga-sambhūte – born of yoga; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namo’stu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! You are the beginningless and endless divine power, origin of energy, born of yogic strength, and embodiment of wisdom. Salutations to you.
🪔 Sloka 6
sthūla-sūkṣma-mahāraudre mahāśakti-mahodare ।
mahā-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 6 ॥
mahā-pāpa-hare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 6 ॥
Synonyms: sthūla – gross; sūkṣma – subtle; mahāraudre – greatly fierce; mahāśakti – great power; mahodare – great belly (who contains the universe); mahāpāpa-hare – remover of great sins; devi – O goddess; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namo’stu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! You embody gross and subtle forms, are supremely powerful and fierce, contain the universe, and destroy even the greatest sins. Salutations to you.
🪔 Sloka 7
padmāsana-sthite devi para-brahma-svarūpiṇi ।
parameśi jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 7 ॥
parameśi jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 7 ॥
Synonyms: padmāsana-sthite – seated on a lotus; devi – O goddess; parabrahma-svarūpiṇi – form of the Supreme Absolute; parameśi – supreme ruler; jaganmātaḥ – mother of the universe; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namo’stu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! You are seated on a lotus, are the embodiment of the Supreme Truth, ruler of all, and mother of the universe. Salutations to you.
🪔 Sloka 8
śvetāmbara-dhare devi nānālaṅkāra-bhūṣite ।
jagat-sthite jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 8 ॥
jagat-sthite jagan-mātaḥ mahālakṣmi namo’stu te ॥ 8 ॥
Synonyms: śvetāmbara-dhare – wearer of white garments; devi – O goddess; nānālaṅkāra-bhūṣite – adorned with various ornaments; jagat-sthite – who pervades the universe; jaganmātaḥ – mother of the world; mahālakṣmi – O Mahalakshmi; namo’stu te – salutations to you.
Translation: O Mahalakshmi! Dressed in white, adorned with ornaments, pervading the world as its mother – salutations to you.
🪔 Phalaśruti – Benefit of Chanting
mahālakṣmy-aṣṭakaṁ stotraṁ yaḥ paṭhet bhakti-mān naraḥ ।
sarva-siddhim avāpnoti rājyaṁ prāpnoti sarvadā ॥
sarva-siddhim avāpnoti rājyaṁ prāpnoti sarvadā ॥
Synonyms: mahālakṣmy-aṣṭakaṁ stotram – this hymn of eight verses on Mahalakshmi; yaḥ – whoever; paṭhet – recites; bhaktimān – with devotion; naraḥ – person; sarva-siddhim – all accomplishments; avāpnoti – attains; rājyaṁ – kingdom (prosperity); prāpnoti – obtains; sarvadā – always.
Translation: A devoted person who recites this Mahalakshmi Ashtakam attains all accomplishments and always enjoys prosperity.
eka-kāle paṭhen nityaṁ mahā-pāpa-vināśanam ।
dvi-kālaṁ yaḥ paṭhen nityaṁ dhana-dhānya-samanvitaḥ ॥
dvi-kālaṁ yaḥ paṭhen nityaṁ dhana-dhānya-samanvitaḥ ॥
Synonyms: eka-kāle – once a day; paṭhen – chants; nityam – daily; mahāpāpa-vināśanam – destroys great sins; dvikālaṁ – twice a day; yaḥ – whoever; paṭhen – chants; nityam – daily; dhana-dhānya-samanvitaḥ – blessed with wealth and food.
Translation: Chanting this once a day destroys great sins; chanting twice daily brings wealth and abundance.
tri-kālaṁ yaḥ paṭhen nityaṁ mahā-śatru-vināśanam ।
mahālakṣmīr bhaven nityaṁ prasannā varadā śubhā ॥
mahālakṣmīr bhaven nityaṁ prasannā varadā śubhā ॥
Synonyms: trikālaṁ – thrice a day; yaḥ – whoever; paṭhen – chants; nityam – daily; mahāśatru-vināśanam – destroys great enemies; mahālakṣmīḥ – goddess Mahalakshmi; bhavet – becomes; nityam – always; prasannā – pleased; varadā – bestower of boons; śubhā – auspicious.
Translation: One who chants three times a day is freed from enemies. Mahalakshmi will always be pleased, granting blessings and auspiciousness.
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