MAHA LAKSHMI ASHTAKAM | श्री महालक्ष्मी अष्टक स्तोत्र

Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam stotra (श्रीमहालक्ष्मीस्तोत्रम्) (or Lakshmi Ashtakam महालक्ष्मी अष्टकाम ) is a devotional verse, an acknowledgement of faith and devotion to Goddess Mahalakshmi (महालक्ष्मी), the consort of Lord Vishnu. Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam stotra was first recited by God Indra in admiration of Goddess Shri Lakshmi originally appeared in पद्मपुरानाम (Padma Purana) to appease Goddess Mahalakshmi. This stotra was chanted when sage Durwasa offered sin to Lord Indra to become shree heen (श्री हीन) (Without prosperity), so to appease Goddess Laxmi (श्रीमहालक्ष्मी) he recited this stotra.

It is written in eight verse and is an octet hence got the name ashtakam/अष्टकाम in Sanskrit. This is a prayer to Goddess Maha Lakshmi who is also called श्री and represents wealth as well as auspiciousness. Reciting or listening to Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam every day will benefit a lot, the person will be bestowed with success and material benefits. It is mentioned at the end of this Ashtakam indicating the same, that if daily read once a day, great sins will be shattered. If read twice a day daily, wealth and prosperity will be accomplished. If read three a day, the great enemy will be wrecked. Goddess Mahalakshmi will be ever pleased with that pious one.

Story behind the scene : 

Once upon a time Lord Indra riding his mount Arawat! Suddenly saw sage Durwasa in front of him, so he bowed to him, with due respect sage Durvasa put out his flower garland to Indra. Indra offered the same garland to his ride Arawat, but Arawat due to (garland’s) strong smell threw it on the floor, which annoyed sage Durwasa. In anger he instigated and chanted a sin to lord Indra that he will become Shree heen (disgraceful). So everyone in the three lokas lost grace fullness and prosperity. 
And hence this Stotra was recited to appease mother goddess Laxmi .

श्री महालक्ष्मी अष्टकाम स्तोत्र

नमस्तेस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते। शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्षि्म नमोस्तु ते॥1॥
नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयङ्करि । सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥2॥
सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयङ्करि । सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥3॥
सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि । मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥4॥
आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि । योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥5॥
स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्ति महोदरे । महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥6॥
पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि । परमेशि जगन्माता महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥7॥
श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते । जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥8॥ महालक्ष्म्यष्टकस्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः । सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा ॥
एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम् । द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः ॥ त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम् । महालक्ष्मीर्भवेन्नित्यं प्रसन्न वरदा शुभा ॥ महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते । ॥ इतीन्द्रकृतं महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Maning in English:

Salutations to you great mother of auspiciousness (the supernatural power), One who resides in Sri Chakra (Pious wheel) and is admired by the Gods, One who holds the Conch-shell, the wheel and the wipeon, I worship to Sri Maha Lakshmi.

Salutations to the one who is riding the eagle Garuda (गरुड़) (Lord Vishnu’s vehicle). To the one, who destroyed and became dangerous in the presence of the demon (कोलासूर). To the one, who can destroy all sins caused by the mind, body and the soul. I worship to thee, Sri Maha Lakshmi.

To the one, who is aware of everything in the creation, one who can fulfill all desires, one who is the destroyer of all evils, one who removes all miseries. I worship to Sri Maha Lakshmi.

To the one who bestows success and intelligence. To the one who gives liberation or Moksha (Salvation). To the one who is an embodiment of all Mantras, I worship to Sri Maha Lakshmi.

To the one who has no beginning or end, to one who the prehistoric energy of this universal creation. To one who is the divine fire born of all yoga, to the one who is in the minds of the all yogis, I worship to Sri Maha Lakshmi.

To the one who is the gross and exquisite manifestation of Lord Rudra, to that ultimate strength who holds the entire creation within, to the one who is the greatest energy of the universe and to the one who can eradicate all the surmount of the progress. I worship to, Sri Maha Lakshmi.

To the one who is seated in the yogic lotus attitudinize, to the one can assume the form of Supreme Brahma, to the one who is the supreme and universal mother of the entire creation, I worship to Sri Maha Lakshmi.

One who is clad in pure White clothes, one who is adorned with many ornamentation, one who is the Universal Divine Mother of the entire universal origin of all time and space, and the Mother of all creation, I worship to  Sri Maha Lakshmi.

The devotee who chants this verse to appease Goddess Lakshmi gains all success and affluence, good fortuneat of this matarial world. Those who always recites once daily, their sin got destroyed, he who recites twice daily, always is equipped with wealth and food.

Those who recites it three times daily their enemies got destroyed, and (Goddess Lakshmi) the pure giver of boons, would be always pleased (with the person).

Goddess Lakshmi, Greetings to you.

॥ Here ends Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam ॥

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