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.
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 — ಆದ್ಯಂತರಹಿತೇ ದೇವಿ ಆದ್ಯಶಕ್ತಿ ಮಹೇಶ್ವರಿ । ಯೋಗಜೇ…
ಶೂಲಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮಮಹಾರೌದ್ರೇ ಮಹಾಶಕ್ತಿ ಮಹೋದರೇ । ಮಹಾಪಾಪಹರೇ ದೇವಿ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ತೇ ॥
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 — ಪದ್ಮಾಸನಸ್ಥಿತೇ ದೇವಿ ಪರಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ವರೂಪಿಣಿ । ಪರಮೇಶಿ…
ಪದ್ಮಾಸನಸ್ಥಿತೇ ದೇವಿ ಪರಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ವರೂಪಿಣಿ । ಪರಮೇಶಿ ಜಗನ್ಮಾತರ್ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ತೇ ॥
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 — ಶ್ವೇತಾಂಬರಧರೇ ದೇವಿ ನಾನಾಲಂಕಾರಭೂಷಿತೇ । ಜಗತ್ಸ್ಥಿತೇ…
ಶ್ವೇತಾಂಬರಧರೇ ದೇವಿ ನಾನಾಲಂಕಾರಭೂಷಿತೇ । ಜಗತ್ಸ್ಥಿತೇ ಜಗನ್ಮಾತರ್ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು ತೇ ॥
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.
One who recites it thrice daily destroys great enemies — and Mahālakṣmī, ever gracious and giving, becomes his auspicious boon-giver.
About Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam
Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam is a Sanskrit stotra, composed by Indra, addressed to Lakshmi — a Ashtakam. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: Sanskrit Wikisource.
Also known as: Namastestu Mahamaye, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam.
The Mahālakṣmī Aṣṭakam (Namastestu Mahāmāye) is drawn from the Padma Purāṇa, where it is sung by Indra, king of the gods, in praise of Goddess Mahālakṣmī; the verse text is public domain.
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.