Introduction to the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam (महालक्ष्मी अष्टकम्) is one of the most beloved hymns to Goddess Mahalakshmi — the supreme deity of wealth, beauty, grace, prosperity and liberation. It appears in the Padma Purana and was composed by Lord Indra after Mahalakshmi restored prosperity to the heavens following a period of cosmic loss. Each of the eight verses praises a different aspect of the goddess, building a complete and magnificent portrait. The hymn concludes with a unique three-verse Phalashruti that explicitly states tiered rewards based on how many times daily you chant it.
Goddess Mahalakshmi is not merely the goddess of money — she is the embodiment of all forms of abundance: wealth, health, loving relationships, wisdom, beauty, grace and spiritual liberation. Where her presence is felt, everything flourishes. She is also the Mother of the Universe (Jagat-Maatar) and the Supreme Brahman in feminine form (Para-Brahma-Swaroopini), as stated in Verses 7 and 8.
Complete Mahalakshmi Ashtakam — All 8 Verses
॥ श्री महालक्ष्म्यष्टकम् ॥ — From the Padma Purana, composed by Lord Indra
Verse 1 — श्लोक १
ॐ नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Om Namastestu Mahaa-Maaye Shri-Peethe Sura-Poojite
Shankha-Chakra-Gadaa-Haste Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| महामाये | Mahaa-Maaye | Great Mahamaya — the supreme cosmic creative energy (mahaa = great, maya = divine power) |
| श्रीपीठे | Shri-Peethe | Seated on the throne of prosperity (shri = grace/prosperity, peetha = seat) |
| सुरपूजिते | Sura-Poojite | Worshipped by all the gods (sura = gods, poojite = worshipped) |
| शङ्ख | Shankha | Conch shell — the sound of creation, divine Om |
| चक्र | Chakra | Discus — wheel of dharmic law and time |
| गदा | Gadaa | Mace — authority, power and justice |
| हस्ते | Haste | In the hands |
| महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते | Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute | O Mahalakshmi, I bow to you — the refrain of all 8 verses |
Verse 2 — श्लोक २
नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयंकरि।
सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Namaste Garudaa-Roodhe Kolaasura-Bhayankari
Sarva-Paapa-Hare Devi Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| गरुडारूढे | Garudaa-Roodhe | Mounted on Garuda — the divine eagle vehicle of Vishnu (garuda = eagle, arudha = mounted) |
| कोलासुर | Kolaasura | The demon Kolasura who oppressed creation |
| भयंकरि | Bhayankari | Terrifying to enemies — who instils fear in evil |
| सर्वपापहरे | Sarva-Paapa-Hare | Remover of all sins (sarva = all, paapa = sin, hare = remover) |
Verse 3 — श्लोक ३
सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयंकरि।
सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Sarvajne Sarva-Varade Sarva-Dushta-Bhayankari
Sarva-Duhkha-Hare Devi Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सर्वज्ञे | Sarvajne | All-knowing, omniscient (sarva = all, jnana = knowledge) |
| सर्ववरदे | Sarva-Varade | Granter of all boons and desires (sarva = all, vara = boon, da = giver) |
| सर्वदुष्टभयंकरि | Sarva-Dushta-Bhayankari | Terrifying and destructive to all evil forces |
| सर्वदुःखहरे | Sarva-Duhkha-Hare | Remover of all sorrows and sufferings |
Verse 4 — श्लोक ४
सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि।
मन्त्रपूते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Siddhi-Buddhi-Prade Devi Bhukti-Mukti-Pradaayini
Mantra-Poote Sadaa Devi Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सिद्धि | Siddhi | Accomplishment, supernatural attainment, fulfilment |
| बुद्धि | Buddhi | Intelligence, wisdom, discriminative clarity |
| प्रदे | Prade | Bestower — the one who gives and grants |
| भुक्ति | Bhukti | Material enjoyment, worldly pleasures and prosperity |
| मुक्ति | Mukti | Spiritual liberation, freedom from the cycle of rebirth |
| प्रदायिनि | Pradaayini | She who gives — she who bestows both |
| मन्त्रपूते सदा | Mantra-Poote Sadaa | Always purified and sanctified by sacred mantras |
Verse 5 — श्लोक ५
आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि।
योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Aadyanta-Rahite Devi Aadya-Shakti-Maheshwari
Yogaje Yoga-Sambhoote Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आद्यन्तरहिते | Aadyanta-Rahite | Without beginning or end (aadi = beginning, anta = end, rahita = free from) |
| आद्यशक्ति | Aadya-Shakti | Primordial original energy (aadya = first/original, shakti = divine power) |
| महेश्वरि | Maheshwari | Supreme Divine Ruler and Mother (mahaa = great, ishwari = female sovereign) |
| योगजे | Yogaje | Born of yoga / arising from divine union |
| योगसम्भूते | Yoga-Sambhoote | Fully manifested through the union of cosmic energies |
Verse 6 — श्लोक ६
स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्तिमहोदरे।
महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Sthoola-Sookshma-Mahaa-Raudre Mahaa-Shakti-Mahodare
Mahaa-Paapa-Hare Devi Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्थूल | Sthoola | Gross / physical form — the manifest material dimension |
| सूक्ष्म | Sookshma | Subtle form — the energetic and mental dimensions |
| महारौद्रे | Mahaa-Raudre | Greatly fierce — the powerful form that annihilates evil |
| महाशक्ति | Mahaa-Shakti | The great supreme power and energy |
| महोदरे | Mahodare | With a vast expansive womb — containing all of creation within (mahaa = great, udara = womb) |
| महापापहरे | Mahaa-Paapa-Hare | Remover of the greatest accumulated sins |
Verse 7 — श्लोक ७
पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि।
परमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Padmaasana-Sthite Devi Para-Brahma-Swaroopini
Parameshi Jagat-Maatar Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| पद्मासनस्थिते | Padmaasana-Sthite | Seated on the lotus throne (padma = lotus, aasana = throne, sthite = established) |
| परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि | Para-Brahma-Swaroopini | The very embodiment of the Supreme Brahman — the Absolute (para = supreme, brahma = the Absolute, swarupa = true form) |
| परमेशि | Parameshi | The supreme ruler and sovereign of all existence |
| जगन्मातर् | Jagat-Maatar | Mother of the entire universe (jagat = universe, maataa = mother) |
Verse 8 — श्लोक ८
श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते।
जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते॥
Shweta-Ambara-Dhare Devi Naanaa-Lankaara-Bhooshite
Jagat-Sthite Jagat-Maataar Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| श्वेताम्बरधरे | Shweta-Ambara-Dhare | Wearing white radiant garments (shweta = white, ambara = garment, dhare = wearing) |
| नानालङ्कारभूषिते | Naanaa-Lankaara-Bhooshite | Adorned with many diverse ornaments (naanaa = various, alankaara = ornaments, bhooshite = adorned) |
| जगत्स्थिते | Jagat-Sthite | Established and pervading the entire universe |
| जगन्मातार् | Jagat-Maataar | Mother of the universe |
Phalashruti — फलश्रुति — The 3 Verses of Benefits
The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam has a unique three-verse Phalashruti — each verse declares increasing rewards based on how many times daily you chant the Ashtakam.
Phalashruti 1 — Chanting Once Daily
महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेत् भक्तिमान्नरः।
सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा॥
Mahaalakshmy-Ashtakam Stotram Yah Pathet Bhakti-Mannarah
Sarva-Siddhim Avaapnoti Raajyam Praapnoti Sarvadaa
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| यः पठेत् भक्तिमान्नरः | Yah Pathet Bhakti-Mannarah | A devoted person who recites this (bhakti = devotion) |
| सर्वसिद्धिम् अवाप्नोति | Sarva-Siddhim Avaapnoti | Achieves all accomplishments and attainments |
| राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा | Raajyam Praapnoti Sarvadaa | Always attains sovereignty — authority and dominion in life |
Phalashruti 2 — Chanting Twice Daily
एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम्।
द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः॥
Ekakaale Patennityam Mahaa-Paapa-Vinaashanam
Dvikaalam Yah Patennityam Dhana-Dhaanya-Samanvitah
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| एककाले | Ekakaale | At one time — once daily (eka = one) |
| महापापविनाशनम् | Mahaa-Paapa-Vinaashanam | Destroys great accumulated sins completely |
| द्विकालं | Dvikaalam | Twice daily — morning and evening (dvi = two) |
| धनधान्यसमन्वितः | Dhana-Dhaanya-Samanvitah | Blessed abundantly with wealth (dhana) and grain/food (dhaanya) |
Phalashruti 3 — Chanting Three Times Daily
त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम्।
महालक्ष्मिर्भवेन्नित्यं प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा॥
Trikaalam Yah Patennityam Mahaa-Shatru-Vinaashanam
Mahaalakshmir Bhaven-Nityam Prasannaa Varadaa Shubhaa
| Sanskrit | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| त्रिकालं | Trikaalam | Three times daily — dawn, noon and dusk (tri = three) |
| महाशत्रुविनाशनम् | Mahaa-Shatru-Vinaashanam | Destroys all great enemies — inner and outer |
| महालक्ष्मिः भवेन्नित्यं | Mahaalakshmih Bhaven-Nityam | Mahalakshmi will always be / permanently remains |
| प्रसन्ना | Prasannaa | Permanently pleased, serene and gracious |
| वरदा शुभा | Varadaa Shubhaa | Always bestowing boons and bringing auspiciousness |
॥ इति श्री महालक्ष्म्यष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥ Thus concludes the Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam.
Listen & Chant Along
Hearing the melody and rhythm of this Ashtakam makes it much easier to memorise and chant with feeling. The flowing, devotional tone is ideal for Lakshmi worship.
🙏 Chant on Fridays and Diwali. Phalashruti: once = removes sins, twice = brings wealth, three times = permanent grace.
Benefits of Chanting the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
The Phalashruti makes explicit tiered promises. Beyond those, traditional sources describe:
Twice daily recitation explicitly brings dhana (wealth) and dhaanya (food/material abundance). Regular chanting aligns the practitioner's energy field with Mahalakshmi's frequency of abundance.
Verse 2 praises her as Sarva-Paapa-Hare. The Phalashruti confirms: once daily destroys great accumulated karmic sins. Verse 6 reinforces this as Mahaa-Paapa-Hare.
Verse 4 explicitly praises her as bestower of bhukti (material enjoyment) AND mukti (spiritual liberation) — she gives the complete spectrum of human fulfilment.
The first Phalashruti verse declares: devoted recitation brings sarva siddhi — all accomplishments, attainments and the fulfilment of all righteous desires.
Three times daily recitation destroys great enemies — both external opponents and the inner enemies of greed, fear, delusion and laziness that block abundance.
The supreme benefit — three times daily recitation earns Mahalakshmi's permanent presence: nityam prasannaa — always pleased, always bestowing boons and auspiciousness.
How to Chant — Step by Step
Friday is Mahalakshmi's sacred day
Friday is most auspicious. Diwali Lakshmi Puja (new moon of Kartik) is the supreme annual occasion. Navratri last three days dedicated to Mahalakshmi are also very powerful.
Dusk and dawn — ideal times
Dusk (sandhya kaal) is Lakshmi's time — she visits homes at dusk. For the three-times-daily practice: dawn, noon and dusk. Even just once at dusk is deeply powerful.
Create a clean, beautiful, fragrant space
Mahalakshmi is drawn to cleanliness, order, beauty and fragrance. Light incense, place fresh flowers, light a ghee lamp before her image. Even mental preparation with sincere feeling works fully.
Offer yellow or gold flowers
Yellow, gold and red are Lakshmi's colours. Marigolds, lotus and roses are ideal. Even a mental offering of beautiful flowers with sincere devotion is fully accepted.
Chant all 8 verses and the complete Phalashruti
Always chant all 8 verses followed by all 3 Phalashruti verses. The Phalashruti is an integral part of the hymn, not optional — it completes the circuit of the prayer.
Begin with once daily — build to three times
Once daily is deeply beneficial. For specific goals — wealth, health, prosperity — build to twice daily. For permanent grace and all-round life transformation: three times daily is the supreme practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam?
An eight-verse Sanskrit hymn from the Padma Purana composed by Lord Indra to praise Goddess Mahalakshmi after she restored prosperity to the heavens. Each verse praises a different divine quality and all end with the refrain "Mahaalakshmi Namo-Stute." The three-verse Phalashruti explicitly states tiered rewards based on frequency of recitation.
What exactly does the Phalashruti promise?
Three specific, tiered promises: Once daily — achieves all accomplishments, attains sovereignty. Twice daily — removes great sins, brings wealth (dhana) and abundance (dhaanya). Three times daily — destroys all great enemies and earns Mahalakshmi's permanent grace — she becomes always pleased, always bestowing boons and auspiciousness upon the devotee.
When is the best time to chant?
Friday dusk is most auspicious. Diwali Lakshmi Puja night (new moon of Kartik month, October/November) is the supreme annual occasion — Mahalakshmi is said to personally visit homes that are lit, clean and full of devotion. Navratri's final three days dedicated to Mahalakshmi are also very powerful. For daily practice: dusk and dawn.
What do Mahalakshmi's three weapons symbolise?
In Verse 1: Shankha (conch) — the sound of creation, divine Om, and announcement of the sacred; Chakra (discus) — the wheel of dharmic law, time and the power to destroy adharma; Gadaa (mace) — authority, power and justice. Together they show that true abundance is protected and sustained by dharma, time awareness and righteous authority — not by fortune or luck alone.
Who is the demon Kolasura mentioned in Verse 2?
Kolasura was a powerful demon who tormented the gods and creation, stealing prosperity from the celestial realms. Mahalakshmi manifested to defeat him, riding on Garuda. This is why Verse 2 praises her as Kolasura-Bhayankari — terrifying to Kolasura. The legend establishes her as the supreme warrior goddess who protects cosmic abundance and order, not just a gentle deity of wealth.