Ashta Lakshmi Stotram [2]
Ashta Lakshmi StotramTranslated by P. R. Ramachander
Introduction: [Swami Adhyathmananda - Source: http://www.divyajivan.org/]
“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 Sri Lakshmi is known as Sri Ashta 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 Ashta Lakshmi’s individual nature and forms.
1. Adi Lakshmi: Mother Lakshmi resides with Lord Narayana in the Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Narayana. She is known as Ramaa, 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 Sri Narayana. Lord Narayana is omnipresent. Adi Lakshmi or Ramaa Lakshmi serves Sri Narayana is symbolic of her serving the whole creation. Though Sri Narayana is attended by innumerable devotees, still she personally loves to serve the Lord. Actually mother Adi Lakshmi and Narayana are not two different entities but one only. Many a place we see her form sitting in the lap of Sri Narayana.
2. Dhanya Lakshmi: Dhanya means grains. This includes all kind of purified food containing all essential vitamins, minerals, protein, calcium, carbohytrade and so on. With the grace of mother Dhanya Lakshmi one gets all essential nutrients grains, fruits, vegetables and other foods.
3. Dhairya Lakshmi: 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 Lakshmi: In the holy book of Srimad Bhagavata the story of the churning of the ocean by Gods and demons is explained in detail. Author, the Sage Vyasa writes that Lakshmi came out of the ocean during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). 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 Sri Lakshmi. Many a time we see Sri Lakshmi standing in the lotus and elephants are pouring nectar over her. During the festival of the lamps or the Deepavali along with Sri 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. Santan Lakshmi: In the family life, the children are the greatest treasure. Those who worship this particular form of Sri Lakshmi, known as a Santan Lakshmi, are bestowed with the grace of mother Lakshmi and have wealth in the form of desirable children with good health & long life.
6. Vijay Lakshmi: 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. Dhana Lakshmi: Dhana is wealth. But as per Rigved’s Purush Shukta 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.
8. Vidya Lakshmi: Vidya is education. Education is not mere studies to receive the degrees and diplomas certificates from the educational institutes or universities”
[I do not think I can write a better introduction than this.]
1. Adi Lakshmi [Primeval Lakshmi]:
Sumanasa vandhitha, sundhari, madhavi,
Chandra sahodhari hemamaye,
Munigana manditha, moksha pradhayini,
manjula bhashini, veda nuthe,
Pankaja vasini deva supoojitha
sadguna varshani, santhiyuthe,
Jaya jaya hey madhusoodhana kamini
Adhilakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Adhi lakshmi
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. Dhanya Lakshmi [Lakshmi of Grains]:
Ayio kali kalmasha nasini, kamini,
Vaidhika roopini, veda maye,
Ksheera samudhbhava mangala roopini,
Manthra nivasini, manthranuthe,
Mangala dhayini, ambuja vasini,
deva ganarchitha padayuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini
Dhanyalakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Danyalakshmi
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. Dairya Lakshmi [Lakshmi of Courage]:
Jaya vara varnani, vaishnavi,
Bhargavi, manthra swaroopini, manthra maye,
Suragana poojitha seegra phala pradha,
Jnana vikasini, sasthranuthe,
Bhava bhaya harini, papa vimochini,
Sadu janarchitha pada yuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini
Dairyalakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Dairyalakshmi
Oh, darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who is described by victorious and blessed,
Who is the shakthi which came out of Vishnu,
Who is the daughter of sage Bhargava,
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 Lakshmi [Lakshmi of Elephants]:
Jaya jaya durgathi nasini kamini,
Sarva phala pradha sastra maye,
Rathha gaja thuraga padathi samavrutha,
Parijana manditha lokanuthe,
Harihara brahma supoojitha sevitha,
Thapa nivarini pada yuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini
Gajalakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Gajalakshmi
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. Santana Lakshmi [Lakshmi of Progeny]:
Ayi kagha vahini, mohini, chakrini,
raga vivrdhni, jnanamaye,
Gunagana varidhi, loka hithaishini,
Swara saptha bhooshitha gana nuthe,
Sakala surasura deva muneeswara,
Manhava vandhitha padayuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini
Santhanaalakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Santhanalakshmi
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 Lakshmi [Lakshmi of Victory]:
Jaya kamalasini, sadgathi dayini,
jnana vikasini ganamaye,
Anudina marchitha kumkuma dhoosara
bhooshitha vaasitha vadhyanuthe,
Kanakadhara sthuthi vaibhava
vanditha shankara desika manyapathe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini
Vijayalakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Vijayalakshmi
The darling of the killer of Madhu,
Victory to she 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 Sankara,
Please protect me always.
7. Vidhya Lakshmi [Lakshmi of Knowledge]:
Pranatha sureswari, bharathi, bhargavi
shoka vinasini, rathna maye,
Mani maya bhooshitha karma vibhooshana,
Santhi samavrutha hasyamukhe,
Nava nidhi dhayini kalimala harini,
Kamitha phalapradha hasthayuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini
Vidhyalakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Vidhyalakshmi
Oh, darling of the killer of Madhu,
Who is the pleased goddess of devas,
Who is he goddess of Bharatha,
Who is the daughter of sage Bhargava,
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 fulfillment of our wish,
Please protect me always
8. Dhana Lakshmi [Lakshmi of Wealth]:
Dhimidhimi dhindhimi dhindhimi dhindhimi,
dundubhi nada supoornamaye,
Ghumaghuma ghumaghuma ghumaghuma,
Sankha ninadha suvadhyanoothe,
Veda puranethihasa supoojitha,
Vaidhika marga pradarsayuthe,
Jaya jaya he madhusoodhana kamini
Danalakshmi sada palaya maam.
Victory and victory to Danalakshmi
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 puranas,
And who shows the path of religious discipline,
Please protect me always.