What is the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam?

Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam is an eight-verse hymn to Mahālakṣmī, the goddess of prosperity, opening with "Namastestu Mahāmāye". It is traditionally presented as the prayer of Indra, restored to his kingdom by the goddess's grace.

What is the meaning of Namastestu Mahamaye?

"Namastestu Mahāmāye" — "Salutations to you, O great goddess of delusion/wonder" — is the opening of Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam. The phrase calls on Mahālakṣmī as the supreme Māyā, the goddess whose power weaves and sustains the world.

Why is the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam recited?

Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam is recited to seek Mahālakṣmī's blessings of wealth, health and grace. In its telling, the hymn was recited by Indra after Lakṣmī abandoned the gods, and her return is invoked in its closing verses.

How do I read the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam on Avabodhak?

Every verse of Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam is shown in Devanagari, Roman (IAST) and English meaning. Free to read, no login required; the practice view lets you chant along verse by verse.

Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam — Namastestu Mahamaye in Devanagari with Meaning

श्रीमहालक्ष्म्यष्टकम्

śrīmahālakṣmyaṣṭakam

Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam — the eight-verse hymn to Mahālakṣmī, spoken by Indra (Padma Purāṇa).

Verse 2 — नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।…

नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

namaste'stu mahāmāye śrīpīṭhe surapūjite |
śaṅkhacakragadāhaste mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

Salutations to you, O Mahāmāyā, enthroned on the seat of Śrī, worshipped by the gods; conch, discus and mace in your hands — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

Verse 3 — नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयङ्करि । सर्वपापहरे…

नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयङ्करि ।
सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

namaste garuḍārūḍhe kolāsurabhayaṅkari |
sarvapāpahare devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

Salutations, O rider of Garuḍa, terror of the demon Kola; remover of all sin, O Devī — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

Verse 4 — सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयङ्करि ।…

सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयङ्करि ।
सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

sarvajñe sarvavarade sarvaduṣṭabhayaṅkari |
sarvaduḥkhahare devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

O all-knowing, giver of every boon, terror of all the wicked; remover of all sorrow, O Devī — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

Verse 5 — सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि ।…

सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि ।
मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

siddhibuddhiprade devi bhuktimuktipradāyini |
mantramūrte sadā devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

O giver of attainment and wisdom, bestower of enjoyment and liberation; ever the very embodiment of the mantra, O Devī — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

Verse 6 — आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्ति महेश्वरि । योगजे…

आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्ति महेश्वरि ।
योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

ādyantarahite devi ādyaśakti maheśvari |
yogaje yogasambhūte mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

Without beginning or end, O Devī, the primordial power, great Īśvarī; born of yoga, arisen from yoga — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

Verse 7 — शूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्ति महोदरे । महापापहरे…

शूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्ति महोदरे ।
महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

śūlasūkṣmamahāraudre mahāśakti mahodare |
mahāpāpahare devi mahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

O subtle yet terribly fierce wielder of the trident, great power, vast of womb; remover of the greatest sins, O Devī — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

Verse 8 — पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि । परमेशि…

पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि ।
परमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

padmāsanasthite devi parabrahmasvarūpiṇi |
parameśi jaganmātarmahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

Seated upon the lotus, O Devī, of the form of the supreme Brahman; supreme sovereign, mother of the world — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

Verse 9 — श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते ।…

श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते ।
जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

śvetāmbaradhare devi nānālaṅkārabhūṣite |
jagatsthite jaganmātarmahālakṣmi namo'stu te ||

Clad in white, O Devī, adorned with every ornament; upholder of the world, mother of the world — O Mahālakṣmī, salutations to you.

फलश्रुतिः

phalaśrutiḥ

Phalaśruti — the fruits of reciting this aṣṭakam.

Verse 10 — महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः…

महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः ।
सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा ॥

mahālakṣmyaṣṭakaṃ stotraṃ yaḥ paṭhedbhaktimānnaraḥ |
sarvasiddhimavāpnoti rājyaṃ prāpnoti sarvadā ||

Phalaśruti: The devout person who recites this Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam hymn attains every success and ever comes to sovereignty.

Verse 11 — एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम् । द्विकालं यः…

एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम् ।
द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः ॥

ekakāle paṭhennityaṃ mahāpāpavināśanam |
dvikālaṃ yaḥ paṭhennityaṃ dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ ||

One who recites it once daily destroys great sin; one who recites it twice daily is blessed with wealth and grain.

Verse 12 — त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम् ।…

त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम् ।
महालक्ष्मिर्भवेन्नित्यं प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा ॥

trikālaṃ yaḥ paṭhennityaṃ mahāśatruvināśanam |
mahālakṣmirbhavennityaṃ prasannā varadā śubhā ||

One who recites it thrice daily destroys great enemies — and Mahālakṣmī, ever gracious and giving, becomes his auspicious boon-giver.

Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam