Aṣṭa Lakṣmī Stotram
Aṣṭa Lakṣmī Stotram –
Stotra of 8 Lakshmi
Introduction:
Lakshmi is commonly known as Goddess of wealth.
Wealth is not only the money. Tradition and values of life is also wealth. Our family and progress is also wealth.
Our belongings such as land, properties, animals, grains, etc. as well as virtues like patience, persistence, purity etc. in the form of a character are nothing but our wealth and so also glory or victory. Thus this eightfold Śrī Lakshmi is known as Śrī Aṣṭa Lakshmi.
Mother Lakshmi is the source and provider of the following enumerated well-known sixteen types of wealth and many more:
(1) Fame (2) Knowledge (3) Courage and Strength (4) Victory (5) Good Children (6) Valour (7) Gold and other gross properties (8) Grains in abundance (9) Happiness (10) Bliss (11) Intelligence (12) Beauty (13) Higher Aim, High Thinking and Higher Meditation too (14) Morality and Ethics (15) Good Health (16) Long Life.
Let us glance upon the glory of mother Aṣṭa Lakshmi’s individual nature and forms.
1. Ādi-Lakṣmī: Mother Lakshmi resides with Lord Nārāyaṇa in the Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of Lord Nārāyaṇa. She is known as Rāmā, means bringing happiness to the mankind. She is also known as Indira (who holds lotus or purity in the hands or heart.) Divine Mother’s this form is normally seen serving Śrī Nārāyaṇa. Lord Nārāyaṇa is omnipresent. Ādi Lakshmi or Rāmā Lakshmi serves Śrī Nārāyaṇa is symbolic of her serving the whole creation. Though Śrī Nārāyaṇa is attended by innumerable devotees, still she personally loves to serve the Lord. Actually mother Ādi Lakshmi and Nārāyaṇa are not two different entities but one only. Many a place we see her form sitting in the lap of Śrī Nārāyaṇa.
2. Dhānya-Lakṣmī: Dhānya means grains. This includes all kind of purified food containing all essential vitamins, minerals, protein, calcium, carbohydrate and so on. With the grace of mother Dhānya Lakshmi one gets all essential nutrients grains, fruits, vegetables and other foods
3. Dhairya Lakṣmī: This form of mother Lakshmi grants the boon of infinite courage and strength. Those, who are in tune with infinite inner power, are always bound to have victory. Those who worship mother Dhairya Lakshmi they live and lead a life with tremendous patience and inner stability.
4. Gaja-Lakṣmī: In the holy book of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam the story of the churning of the ocean by Gods and demons is explained in detail. Author, the Sage Vyāsa writes that Lakshmi came out of the ocean during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthāna). So she is known as a daughter of the ocean. She came out of the ocean sitting on a full-bloomed lotus and also having lotus flowers in both hands with two elephants by her sides, holding a beautiful vessels filled with milk and pouring it over Śrī Lakshmi. Many a time we see Śrī Lakshmi standing in the lotus and elephants are pouring nectar over her. During the festival of the lamps or the Dīpāvalī along with Śrī Lakshmi the Ganapati or the Elephant God also gets worshipped; that signifies the protection from evils as well as abundant grace and blessings for additional prosperities!
5. Santāna Lakṣmī: In the family life, the children are the greatest treasure. Those who worship this particular form of Śrī Lakshmi, known as a Santāna Lakṣmī, are bestowed with the grace of mother Lakshmi and have wealth in the form of desirable children with good health & long life.
6. Vijaya-Lakṣmī: Vijay is victory. Vijay is to get success in all undertakings and all different facets of life. Some are strong physically but weak mentally while others are economically rich but poor in their attitude and cannot exert any influence. Vijay is to have all encompassing victory. Vijay is to rejoice glory of our real nature – Vijay is to conquer the lower nature. Vijay is the victory in external and internal wars and of course eternal wars! Hence those, with grace of mother Vijay Lakshmi, have victory everywhere, at all time, in all conditions. Victory to Vijay Lakshmi!!
7. Vidyā-Lakṣmī: Vidyā is education. Education is not mere studies to receive the degrees and diplomas certificates from the educational institutes or universities”.
8. Dhana-Lakṣmī: Dhana is wealth. But as per Rigveda’s Puruṣa Sūkta Dhana is not only a wealth in coins and currency. Even Sun and moon, fire and stars, rains and nature, oceans and mountains, rivers and streams, all these are our wealth, so are the progeny, our inner will power, our character and our virtues. With the grace of mother Dhana Lakshmi we will get all these in abundance.
Aṣṭa Lakṣmī Stotram
॥ aṣṭalakṣmīstotram ॥
1. Ādi-Lakṣmī [Supreme Lakshmi]:
॥ ādilakṣmī ॥
sumanasavandita sundari mādhavi
candra sahodari hemamaye ।
munigaṇamaṇḍita mokṣapradāyini
mañjuḻabhāṣiṇi vedanute ॥
paṅkajavāsini devasupūjita
sadguṇavarṣiṇi śāntiyute ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
ādilakṣmi sadā pālaya mām ॥ 1॥
Victory and victory to Ādi Lakṣmī
Oh, darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who is worshipped by all good people,
Who is pretty and sister of the moon,,
Who looks as if she is made of gold,
Who is saluted by all groups of sages,
Who grants salvation,
Who talks sweet words,
Who is praised by Vedas,
Who lives on the Lotus flower,
Who is worshipped by all devas,
Who showers good qualities on people,
And who is the personification of peace,
Please protect me always.
2. Dhānya-Lakṣmī [Lakshmi of Grains]:
॥ dhānyalakṣmī ॥
ahikali kalmaṣanāśini kāmini
vaidikarūpiṇi vedamaye ।
kṣīrasamudbhava maṅgalarūpiṇi
mantranivāsini mantranute ॥
maṅgaladāyini ambujavāsini
devagaṇāśrita pādayute ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
dhānyalakṣmi sadā pālaya mām ॥ 2॥
Victory and victory to Dhānya-Lakṣmī
Oh darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who destroys bad effects of kali yuga,
Who is most desirable god,
Who is personification of Vedas,
Who is pervaded by the Vedas,
Who arose out of milk,
Who is the form of all that is good,
Who lives in the sacred chants,
Who lives on the lotus flower,
And whose feet is worshipped by devas,
Please protect me always
3. Dhairya Lakṣmī [Lakshmi of Courage]:
॥ dhairyalakṣmī ॥
jayavaravarṇini vaiṣṇavi bhārgavi
mantrasvarūpiṇi mantramaye ।
suragaṇapūjita śīghraphalaprada
jñānavikāsini śāstranute ॥
bhavabhayahāriṇi pāpavimocani
sādhujanāśrita pādayute ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
dhairyalakṣmi sadā pālaya mām ॥ 3॥
Victory and victory to Dhairya Lakṣmī
Oh, darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who is described by victorious and blessed,
Who is the śakti which came out of Vishnu,
Who is the daughter of sage Bhārgava,
Whose form is that of sacred chants,
Who is pervaded by sacred chants,
Who is worshipped by all devas,
Who gives results fast,
Who improves knowledge,
Who is worshipped by shastras,
Who destroys fear,
Who gives redemption from sins,
And whose feet is worshipped by holy people,
Who lives on the lotus flower,
Please protect me always
4. Gaja-Lakṣmī [Lakshmi of Elephants]:
॥ gajalakṣmī ॥
jayajaya durgatināśini kāmini
sarvaphalaprada śāstramaye ।
rathagaja turagapadādi samāvṛta
parijanamaṇḍita lokanute ॥
harihara brahma supūjita sevita
tāpanivāriṇi pādayute ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
gajalakṣmi rūpeṇa pālaya mām ॥ 4॥
Victory and victory to Gaja-Lakṣmī
Oh darling of the killer of Madhu,
Victory and victory to you,
Who removes bad fate,
Who is desirable God,
Who is the personification of shastras,
Which bless one with all that is asked,
Who is surrounded by an army of elephants,
Chariots, horses and cavalry,
Who is worshipped and served by,
Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma,
And whose feet provides relief from suffering,
Please protect me always
5. Santāna Lakṣmī [Lakshmi of Progeny]:
॥ santānalakṣmī ॥
ahikhaga vāhini mohini cakriṇi
rāgavivardhini jñānamaye ।
guṇagaṇavāridhi lokahitaiṣiṇi
svarasapta bhūṣita gānanute ॥
sakala surāsura devamunīśvara
mānavavandita pādayute ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
santānalakṣmi tvaṃ pālaya mām ॥ 5॥
Victory and victory to Santāna Lakṣmī
Oh, darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who rides on the bird,
Who is an enchantress,
Who is the consort of he who holds the chakra,
Who pacifies emotions,
Who is pervaded by knowledge,
Who is ocean of good qualities,
Who has her mind in the good of all the world,
Who is worshipped by the music of seven swaras,
And who is worshipped by all devas, asuras,
Sages and all humans,
Please protect me always.
6. Vijaya-Lakṣmī [Lakshmi of Victory]:
॥ vijayalakṣmī ॥
jaya kamalāsani sadgatidāyini
jñānavikāsini gānamaye ।
anudinamarcita kuṅkumadhūsara-
bhūṣita vāsita vādyanute ॥
kanakadharāstuti vaibhava vandita
śaṅkara deśika mānya pade ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
vijayalakṣmi sadā pālaya mām ॥ 6॥
Victory and victory to Vijaya-Lakṣmī
The darling of the killer of Madhu,
Victory to Her who sits on the lotus,
Who blesses us with salvation,
Who spreads our knowledge,
Who is pervaded with music,
Who is coated with the saffron powder,
Which is daily used to worship her,
Who is worshipped by playing of musical instruments,
And who was pleased by the prayer,
Of the golden rain by the great Śaṅkara,
Please protect me always.
7. Vidyā-Lakṣmī [Lakshmi of Knowledge]:
॥ vidyālakṣmī ॥
praṇata sureśvari bhārati bhārgavi
śokavināśini ratnamaye ।
maṇimayabhūṣita karṇavibhūṣaṇa
śāntisamāvṛta hāsyamukhe ॥
navanidhidāyini kalimalahāriṇi
kāmita phalaprada hastayute ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
vidyālakṣmi sadā pālaya mām ॥7॥
Victory and victory to Vidyā-Lakṣmī
Oh, darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who is the pleased goddess of devas,
Who is he goddess of Bhārata,
Who is the daughter of sage Bhārgava,
Who removes all sorrows,
Who is fully ornamented by precious stones,
Who wears several gem studded ornaments,
Whose ear is decorated,
Who is the abode of peace,
Who has a smiling face,
Who blesses us with nine types of wealth,
Who steals away bad effects of kali,
And whose hands blesses us,
For fulfilment of our wish,
Please protect me always
8. Dhana-Lakṣmī [Lakshmi of Wealth]:
॥ dhanalakṣmī ॥
dhimidhimi dhindhimi dhindhimi dhindhimi
dundubhi nāda supūrṇamaye ।
ghumaghuma ghuṅghuma ghuṅghuma ghuṅghuma
śaṅkhanināda suvādyanute ॥
vedapurāṇetihāsa supūjita
vaidikamārga pradarśayute ।
jayajaya he madhusūdana kāmini
dhanalakṣmi rūpeṇa pālaya mām ॥ 8॥
Victory and victory to Dhana-Lakṣmī
Hey, darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who is fully complete with,
Dimidimi sounds of the drum,
And the majestic sound of conch,
Gumguma, ghummkuma, gunguma,
Who is worshipped by Vedas and Purāṇas,
And who shows the path of religious discipline,
Please protect me always.