Is Goddess MahaLakshmi the same as Goddess Lakshmi?

No. Let us not confuse ourselves with the similar sounding names.

What is Mahalakshmi Ashtakam?

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam is a prayer devoted to the Universal Mother, MahaLakshmi.

Why is it called Ashtakam?

Ashta means eight in sanskrit. So one would think that this should have eight couplets. Instead, it has 11. The beauty of this prayer lies in the fact that the first 8 sanskrit couplets explain the beauty, countenance and the outstanding qualities of Mother MahaLakshmi. The last 3 sanskrit couplets explain the benefits of praying to The Divine Mother.

The first 8 couplets are as if the author of this prayer is looking at Mother MahaLakshmi and is addressing Her, fascinated by Her very presence; praising Her Divine looks and qualities.

The last 3 couplets are as if then the author turns to other devotees and conveys the innumerable benefits they will get by praying to The Divine Mother.

What are the origins of Mahalakshmi Ashtakam?

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam is dateless – being recited by hindus since thousands of years; probably coming into existence in the Vedic times when worshipping the Higher Power in the form of Divine Mother was quite prevalent.

It is recorded in Padma Purana ( pronounced as Puræn पुराण). Lord Indra, the king of gods, is said to have recited it in order to get the grace of The Divine Mother. There is an interesting mythological story behind it.

Interestingly enough, Lord Indra has other prayers too, to his attribution, which he sang in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu. They are recorded in Vishnu Purana as Lakshmi Stuti and Sri Suktam.

Is Goddess MahaLakshmi the same as Goddess Lakshmi?

No. Let us not confuse ourselves with the similar sounding names.

When we refer to Goddess Lakshmi, we refer to the consort of Lord Vishnu. She is the Goddess of wealth, prosperity, abundance and goodness. Her nature is motherly – of benevolence and grace. But at the same time, without Her husband Lord Vishnu, She is said to be temperamental and impulsive. Therefore, one prays to Her along with Her husband Lord Vishnu, who keeps Her grounded and stable. She is described as wearing red clothes symbolising grandeur.

Goddess MahaLakshmi, on the other hand, is the feminine personification of The Highest Power who created this entire universe; ‘The Energy’ from which everything emanated. Also, referred to as – Shri or Shakti in sanskrit and hindi. She is described as wearing white clothes symbolising purity.

Vedic literature tells us ( as do Bible, Guru Granth Sahib and so many other religious books) that in the beginning there was just ‘One’, whom we call God – The Ultimate & Only. Suddenly, ‘The One’ had a strong longing to expand and be ‘Many’. As soon as He desired this, His Energy jumped out of Him in a feminine form and gave shape to the seed of His desire; thus giving the creation a material shape. The first to get created were the three Higher Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Next, the lower gods – Indra (the king of gods), Surya ( the sun god), Varun (the water god), Chandra ( the moon god) and so forth. Thereafter, earth and all the galaxies, the planets and their inhabitants came into being.

Considering that it was God’s Energy that gave birth to the universe, pervading each and every living as well as non-living things, this Highest & Ultimate Energy was looked upon and prayed to, as a mother.

When a person dies, what goes out of the body?

You may answer – the soul.

But what was keeping the soul in the body earlier and who asked the soul to leave the body?

It is The Shri; The Shakti; The Power; The Energy of God that had manifested itself into the being that leaves the body.

That Power & Energy of God is MahaLakshmi – Infinite, Timeless, Boundless, Bountiful, Benevolent, Abundant, Kind and having the ability to fulfil all our desires. This Power has the capability to even free us from the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth which we call Nirvana or Ultimate Liberation.

And that is The Ultimate Energy that thousands and thousands of years ago, our ancestors called Mother MahaLakshmi.

I am giving below, MahaLakshmi Ashtakam, with lyrics in Sanskrit and meanings in English. In case I have made some mistake, please forgive me and do write back to me so that I may make the required correction.

MAHALAKSHMI ASHTAKAM

नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।

शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥१॥

Namastestu | Mahaa-Maaye| Shrii-Piitthe | Sura-Puujite |

Shankha-Chakra-Gada-Haste|  Mahalakshmi | Namostute ||1||

Meaning:

Humble Namaskars to You O Mahamaya (the Primal Cause & hence the Creation of Illusion); Who resides in Sri Pitha (Her own sacred spiritual Resting place) and is Worshipped by the gods,

Who is decorated with Shankha (Conch), Chakra ( the circular weapon/disc that cuts through everything) and Gada (Mace) in Her Hands; Humble Namaskars  to You, O Goddess  Mahalakshmi.

नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयंकरि ।

सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥२॥

Namaste | Garudda |aaruuddhe Kola |asura-Bhayangkari |

Sarva-Paapa-Hare| Devi| Mahalakshmi| Namostute ||2||

Meaning:

Humble Namaskars to You Who is seated on the Garuda (the legendary bird), and Who is dreaded by Kolasura (the demon),

O Respected Goddess Who Removes All Sins ; Humble Namaskars to You, O Goddess Mahalakshmi.

सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयंकरि ।

सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥३॥

Sarvagye |  Sarva-Varade | Sarva-Dushta-Bhayangkari |

Sarv-Dukh-Hare| Devi |Mahalakshmi Namostute ||3||

Meaning:

You Who is All-Knowing (Knowing even our Innermost Thoughts, feelings and emotions), and Who Gives All Boons; Who is feared by all the wicked (Tendencies) (remover of our sinful characteristics),

Who Removes All Sorrows , Humble Namaskars to You, O Goddess Mahalakshmi.

सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि ।

मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥४॥

Siddhi-Buddhi-Prade| Devi| Bhukti-Mukti-Pradaayini |

Mantra-Muurte| Sadaa |Devi| Mahalakshmi | Namostute ||4||

Meaning:

O Goddess Who bestows exceptional ability and Intelligence; Who bestows both worldly prosperity as well as final liberation (freeing us from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth),

O Goddess Who Always resides as the subtle form of Mantra (Cosmic Sound); Humble Namaskars to You, O Goddess Mahalakshmi.

आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि ।

योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥५॥

Aadya-anta-Rahite | Devi | Aadya-Shakti-Maheshvari |

Yogaje | Yoga-Sambhuute | Mahalakshmi | Namostute ||5||

Meaning:

O Goddess Who is without beginning (Aadi) and without end (Anta), and Who is the Great Goddess representing the Primal Power/ Shakti.

Who is Born of Yoga ( Ultimate Consciousness) and Who is always united with Yoga(She & The Ultimate Consciousness are one and the same); Humble Namaskars to You, O Goddess Mahalakshmi.

स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्तिमहोदरे ।

महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥६॥

Sthuula-Suukssma-Mahaaroudre | Mahaa-Shakti-Mahodare |

Mahaa-Paapa-Hare | Devi | Mahalakshmi | Namostute ||6||

Meaning:

Whose Power is present behind both apparent and Subtle Forms as well as behind the Most Fearful Form of Rudrani (which she undertakes to fight the evil forces);Who is the Great Womb of Mahashakti (The Ultimate Power from where every manifestation of Power arises),

O Goddess, Who is the Remover of even the greatest of sins, and Who Removes Great Sins from our Lives (thus cleansing us) Humble Namaskars to You, O Goddess Mahalakshmi.

पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि ।

परमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥७॥

Padma-asana-Sthite | Devi | Para-Brahma-Svaroopini |

Parameshi | Jagan-Maatar-Mahalakshmi | Namostute ||7||

Meaning:

O Goddess Who is Seated on a Lotus (Lotus of Kundalini) (with a Gracious & Peaceful Face); And Who is abiding as the Supreme Brahm (behind the entire Universe),

Who is the Supreme Goddess and the Mother of the Universe; Humble Namaskars to You, O Goddess Mahalakshmi.

श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते ।

जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥८॥

Shveta-ambara-Dhare | Devi | Naana-alangkaara-Bhooshite |

Jagat-sthite| Jagan-Maatar-Mahalakshmi | Namostute ||8||

Meaning:

O Goddess Who Adorns  White Garments (representing our Inner Purity); Who is Adorned with Various Ornaments (representing our Inner Beauty),

Who resides within the Universe as the Mother of the Universe (bestowing us with Her love and care); Humble Namaskars to You, O Goddess Mahalakshmi.

महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः ।

सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा ॥९॥

Mahalakshmya-Ashttakam |Stotram |Yah |Patthed-Bhaktimaan-Narah |

Sarva-Siddhim-vaapnoti | Raajyam |Praapnoti | Sarvadaa ||9||

Meaning:

He who recites this Mahalakshmi Ashtakam Stotram with Devotion 

Will attain all Accomplishments and Prosperity (both Inner and Outer), always (when we surrender to Her, allowing Her to direct our energy).

एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम् ।

द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः ॥१०॥

Eka-Kaale| Patthen-Nityam |Mahaa-Paapa-Vinaashanam |

Dvi-Kaalam |Yah Patthen-Nityam |Dhan-Dhaanya-Samanvitah ||10||

Meaning:

Reciting this once every day (as per me – the first benefit) will Destroy Great Sins ( for our inner purity to emerge),

Reciting this twice every day ( the second benefit) will bestow wealth and foodgrains (abundance).

त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम् ।

महालक्ष्मिर्भवेन्नित्यं प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा ॥११॥

Tri-Kaalam | Yah| Patthen-Nityam Mahaa-Shatru-Vinaashanam |

Mahalakshmir-Bhaven-Nityam| Prasannaa| Varadaa | Shubhaa ||11||

Meaning:

Reciting this Thrice Everyday ( the third benefit) will destroy mighty enemies (including our powerful subtle Inner Enemies which form the final hindrance from progressing towards Liberation),

Finally we behold Goddess Mahalakshmi in Her Eternal Gracious Form; In Her Eternal Boon-giving Grace and Auspicious Presence (within us).

May Devi MahaLakshmi bestow her blessings on all Her devotees.

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