Ashtalakshmi Stotra

Ashtalakshmi Stotra
Illustration of the Ashta Lakshmi
Information
ReligionHinduism
AuthorU.V. Srinivasa Varadachariyar
LanguageSanskrit
Verses32

The Ashtalakshmi Stotra (Sanskrit: अष्टलक्ष्मीस्तोत्रम्, romanized: Aṣṭalakṣmīstotraṃ), also rendered the Ashta Lakshmi Stotram, is a Hindu mantra. It extols the eight aspects of the goddess Lakshmi, designated as the Ashta Lakshmi,[1] regarded to represent the eight forms of wealth.[2][3]

Description

Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

The Ashtalakshmi Stotra was composed and published in the early 1970s in Chennai by U.V. Srinivasa Varadachariyar, a theologian of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. The hymn was popularised through its distribution via audiocassettes in the 1980s. Devotees regard each of the Ashta Lakshmi to represent an attribute of Lakshmi, gaining the favour of the goddess with the chanting of each stanza of the prayer. The eight aspects of Lakshmi that are venerated by the mantra are:[4][5][6]

  1. Adi Lakshmi (lit. 'primeval Lakshmi')
  2. Dhanya Lakshmi (lit. 'grain Lakshmi')
  3. Dhairya Lakshmi (lit. 'fearless Lakshmi')
  4. Gaja Lakshmi (lit. 'elephant Lakshmi')
  5. Santana Lakshmi (lit. 'progeny Lakshmi')
  6. Vijaya Lakshmi (lit. 'victorious Lakshmi')
  7. Vidya Lakshmi (lit. 'knowledge Lakshmi')
  8. Dhana Lakshmi (lit. 'wealth Lakshmi')

Hymn

The first hymn of the mantra venerates Adi Lakshmi:[7][8][9]

sumanasavandita sundari mādhavi candrasahodari hēmamayē
munigaṇavandita mokṣapradāyani mañjula bhāṣiṇi vēdanutē
paṅkajavāsini dēvasupūjita sadguṇavarṣiṇi śāntiyutē
jaya jaya hē madhusūdanakāmini ādilakṣmi sadā pālaya mām

— Ashtalakshmi Stotra, Verse 1

She who is praised by the virtuous, she who is beautiful, she who is the consort of Madhava and the sister of Chandra, the golden one
She who is praised by the sages and their disciples, she who offers salvation, she who is of pleasant speech and hailed by the Vedas
She who resides upon a lotus, she who is worshipped by the devas, she who showers auspicious qualities and contentment
Victory to you, victory to you, the lover of Madhusudana, Adi Lakshmi, may you always protect me

See also

References

  1. ^ James Lochtefeld The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Hinduism. p. 65.
  2. ^ Taylor, Patrick; Case, Frederick I. (2013-04-30). The Encyclopedia of Caribbean Religions: Volume 1: A - L; Volume 2: M - Z. University of Illinois Press. p. 324. ISBN 978-0-252-09433-0.
  3. ^ Jackson, Frances Kozlowski and Chris (August 2013). Driven by the Divine. Balboa Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-4525-7892-7.
  4. ^ Hawley, John Stratton; Wulff, Donna Marie (July 1996). Devi: Goddesses of India. University of California Press. pp. 104, 108. ISBN 978-0-520-20058-6.
  5. ^ Hatcher, Brian A. (2015-10-05). Hinduism in the Modern World. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-135-04631-6.
  6. ^ Young, Katherine (2018-03-13). Her Voice, Her Faith: Women Speak On World Religions. Routledge. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-429-97965-1.
  7. ^ Marlow, Chris (2019-11-22). Sahaja Yoga Songbook. Lulu.com. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-244-53610-7.
  8. ^ Marga, Bhakti (2019-05-13). Maha Lakshmi: The Secret of Prosperity. BoD – Books on Demand. p. 76. ISBN 978-3-96343-034-3.
  9. ^ Giri Trading Agency. Devi Stotrani Giri Trading Agency. p. 93.