अष्टकम् · Lakshmi

Lakshmi Ashtakam

लक्ष्मी अष्टकम्

The Lakshmi Ashtakam "Namaste'stu Mahamaye" is a celebrated eight-verse Sanskrit hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya that glorifies Goddess Mahalakshmi in her eight supreme aspects. Each shloka addresses the Goddess by a cluster of her most exalted names — from her cosmic seat (Shri Pitha) worshipped by the gods, her mount Garuda, her role as the all-knowing bestower of boons, to her ultimate form as the Para Brahman herself. The hymn is drawn from the Padma Purana and the Mahalakshmi Stotra tradition. The phala shruti (fruit of recitation) appended to the ashtakam promises that one who recites it daily attains all accomplishments (siddhi), sovereignty, destruction of great sins, wealth, abundance, and the grace of Mahalakshmi. Reciting the Lakshmi Ashtakam on Fridays, on Diwali, and during Sharad Purnima is considered especially auspicious.

Sanskrit · By Adi Shankaracharya · 10 shlokas

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Mangalacharana

महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः। सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा॥

Mangalacharana

एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम्। द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः॥ त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम्। महालक्ष्मीर्भवेत्तस्य प्रसन्ना वरदायिनी॥

Shloka 1

नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते। शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shloka 2

नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयंकरि। सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shloka 3

सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयंकरि। सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shloka 4

सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि। मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shloka 5

आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि। योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shloka 6

स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्तिमहोदरे। महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shloka 7

पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि। परमेशि जगन्मातः महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Shloka 8

श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते। जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातः महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

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Frequently Asked Questions about Lakshmi Ashtakam

What is the Lakshmi Ashtakam?

The Lakshmi Ashtakam (also known as the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam or "Namaste'stu Mahamaye") is a Sanskrit hymn of eight shlokas glorifying Goddess Mahalakshmi in her eight supreme aspects — as the cosmic Mahamaya, the rider of Garuda, the all-knowing bestower of boons, the giver of siddhi and mukti, the beginningless Adi Shakti, the pervader of all planes of existence, the Para Brahman herself, and the sustainer of all worlds. It is drawn from the Padma Purana and is one of the most widely recited Lakshmi prayers in the Vaishnava and Shakta traditions.

Who composed the Lakshmi Ashtakam?

The Lakshmi Ashtakam is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE), the great philosopher-saint of Advaita Vedanta who composed numerous Sanskrit stotras to the major deities despite his non-dualistic teaching. The hymn is sourced from the Padma Purana, where it appears as a stotra to Mahalakshmi. Shankaracharya's authorship places it in the same tradition as his other celebrated Lakshmi compositions such as the Kanakadhara Stotram and Sri Stuti.

What are the benefits of reciting the Lakshmi Ashtakam?

According to the phala shruti (fruit of recitation) verses appended to the ashtakam, reciting it once daily destroys the greatest of sins (maha papa vinashana); reciting it twice daily brings wealth and abundance of grain (dhana dhanya); and reciting it thrice daily destroys one's mightiest enemies. Overall, devoted recitation is said to bestow all accomplishments (sarva siddhi), sovereignty (rajya), wisdom (buddhi), material prosperity (bhukti), and spiritual liberation (mukti), with Mahalakshmi herself becoming pleased and graciously granting boons to the devotee.

What is the best time to recite the Lakshmi Ashtakam?

The Lakshmi Ashtakam is ideally recited on Fridays (Shukravara), which is the day sacred to Goddess Lakshmi and her presiding planet Venus (Shukra). The most auspicious occasions are Diwali (especially the Lakshmi Puja on Amavasya), Sharad Purnima (the full moon of the Ashwin month when Lakshmi is said to visit homes at night), and Fridays of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight). Daily recitation is best done in the early morning after a bath, facing east or north, with a lit lamp (deepa) before the Goddess's image.