The Mahalakshmyashtakam, or Maha Lakshmi Ashtakam, is on octet sung in the praise of the Goddess of Grace and Prosperity, Maha Lakshmi, the Divine Consort of Maha Vishnu.
It is said to be composed by Indra, the King of Devas, and is present in the Padma Purana, one of the 18 Puranas that recount the anecdotes of Gods, Goddesses and Kings of yore.
When chanted on occasions of new beginnings, the Ashtakam is said to invoke the Goddess's blessings upon the event and its participants.
The Ashtakam hails Goddess Lakshmi as the Mother of Universe, and makes explicit all the benefits of chanting it regularly in the Phalashruti - the final 3 stanzas of the Ashtakam.
Here's the link for the video, and the transliteration and translation of the Ashtakam:
Atah Sri Mahalakshmyashtakam
अतः श्री महालक्ष्म्याष्टकम
ಅತಃ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಷ್ಟಕಂ
This is the eight-stanza-hymn of Goddess Maha Lakshmi
Indra uvacha
इन्द्र उवाच
ಇಂದ್ರ ಉವಾಚ
Indra said
Namastestu Mahamaye Shripithe Surapujite
Shankha Chakra Gadahaste Malakshmi namostute
नमस्तेस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते
शंख चक्र गदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ನಮಸ್ತೇಸ್ತು ಮಹಾಮಾಯೇ ಶ್ರೀಪೀಠೇ ಸುರಪೂಜಿತೇ
ಶಂಖ ಚಕ್ರ ಗದಾಹಸ್ತೇ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
Salutations to Mahamaya, who resides in Her Transcendental Abode, worshipped by Gods
The Bearer of Conch, Discus and Mace, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Namaste Garuda rudhe Kolasura Bhayankari
Sarva papahare Devi Mahalakshmi namostute
नमस्ते गरुडा रूढे कोलासुर भयंकरी
सर्व पापहरे देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ನಮಸ್ತೇ ಗರುಡಾ ರೂಢೇ ಕೋಲಾಸುರ ಭಯಂಕರೀ
ಸರ್ವ ಪಾಪಹರೇ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
Salutations to One who has Garuda as vehicle, One who terrifies Kolasura
The Destroyer of all sins, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Sarvagne sarva varade sarva dushta Bhayankari
Sarva dukha hare Devi Mahalakshmi namostute
सर्वग्ने सर्व वरदे सर्व दुष्ट भयंकरी
सर्व दुःख हरे देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ಸರ್ವಗ್ನೇ ಸರ್ವ ವರದೇ ಸರ್ವ ದುಷ್ಟ ಭಯಂಕರೀ
ಸರ್ವ ದುಃಖ ಹರೇ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
Salutations to the All-Knower, the Granter of all boons, the Terrifier of wicked tendencies
The Destroyer of all sorrows, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Siddhi buddhi prade Devi bhukti mukti Pradayini
Mantra murte sada Devi Mahalakshmi namostute
सिद्धि बुद्धि प्रदे देवी भुक्ति मुक्ति प्रदायिनी
मंत्र मूर्ते सदा देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಬುದ್ಧಿ ಪ್ರದೇ ದೇವೀ ಭುಕ್ತಿ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಪ್ರದಾಯಿನಿ
ಮಂತ್ರ ಮೂರ್ತೇ ಸದಾ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
Salutations to the Bestower of accomplishments and intelligence, worldly riches and Moksha
The One who exists subtly forever in Mantra, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Aadyanta rahite Devi Adishakti Maheshwari
Yogaje yoga sambhute Mahalakshmi namostute
आद्यंत रहिते देवी आदिशक्ती महेश्वरी
योगजे योग समभूते महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ಆದ್ಯಂತ ರಹಿತೇ ದೇವೀ ಆದಿಶಕ್ತೀ ಮಹೇಶ್ವರೀ
ಯೊಗಜೇ ಯೊಗ ಸಂಭೂತೇ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
The One without beginning or end, the Great Goddess of Primordial Shakti
The One born of Yoga and united in Yoga, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Sthula sukhsma maha Roudre maha Shakti Mahodare
Maha papahare Devi Mahalakshmi namostute
स्थूल सूक्ष्म महा रौद्रे महा शक्ती महोदरे
महा पापहरे देवी महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ಸ್ಥೂಲ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಮಹಾ ರೌದ್ರೇ ಮಹಾ ಶಕ್ತೀ ಮಹೋದರೇ
ಮಹಾ ಪಾಪಹರೇ ದೇವೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
The Indweller of gross and subtle forms, the Great Rudrani, the Great Shakti
The Destroyer of great sins, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Padmasana sthite Devi Para Brahma Swarupini
Parameshi jagan Matah Mahalakshmi namostute
पद्मासन स्थिते देवी पर ब्रह्म स्वरूपिणी
परमेशी जगन मात: महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ಪದ್ಮಾಸನ ಸ್ಥಿತೇ ದೇವೀ ಪರ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಸ್ವರೂಪಿಣೀ
ಪರಮೇಶೀ ಜಗನ್ ಮಾತಃ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
The One with the Lotus Seat, the Embodiment of Supreme Brahman
The Supreme Goddess, the Mother of Universe, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Shwetambara dhare devi nanalankara bhushite
Jagat sthite jagan matah Mahalakshmi namostute
श्वेतामबर धरे देवी नानालंकार भूषिते
जगत स्थिते जगन मातः महालक्ष्मी नमोस्तुते
ಶ್ವೇತಾಂಬರ ಧರೇ ದೇವೀ ನಾನಾಲಂಕಾರ ಭೂಷಿತೇ
ಜಗತ್ ಸ್ಥಿತೇ ಜಗನ್ ಮಾತಃ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನಮೋಸ್ತುತೇ
The One dressed in white, the One adorned with various ornaments
The One who abides in the Universe as its Mother, I bow to Thee Maha Lakshmi
Maha-Lakshmy-ashtakam stotram yah pathed bhakti mannaraha
Sarva siddhi mavapnoti rajyam prapnoti sarvada
महालक्ष्माष्टकम स्तोत्रम यः पठेद भक्ति मान्नरः
सर्व सिद्धि मवाप्नोति राज्यम प्राप्नोति सर्वदा
ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಷ್ಟಕಂ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇದ್ ಭಕ್ತಿ ಮಾನ್ನರಃ
ಸರ್ವ ಸಿದ್ಧಿ ಮವಾಪ್ನೋತಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಂ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ನೋತಿ ಸರ್ವದಾ
One who recites the Maha Lakshmi Octet with bhakti
Accomplishes everything and gains prosperity forever
Eka kale pathe nityam maha papa vinashanam
Dwikalam yah pathe nityam dhana dhanya samanvitaha
एक काले पठे नित्यम महा पाप विनाशनम
द्विकालम यः पठे नित्यम धन धान्य समन्वितः
ಏಕ ಕಾಲೇ ಪಠೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಮಹಾ ಪಾಪ ವಿನಾಶನಂ
ದ್ವಿಕಾಲಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಧನ ಧಾನ್ಯ ಸಮನ್ವಿತಃ
If recited once a day, one will be absolved of great sins
If recited twice a day, one will be granted with money and grains
Trikalam yah pathe nityam maha shatru vinashanam
Mahalakshmir bhave nityam prasanna varada shubha
त्रिकालम यः पठे नित्यम महा शत्रु विनाशनम
महालक्ष्मिर भवे नित्यम प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा
ತ್ರಿಕಾಲಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಮಹಾ ಶತ್ರು ವಿನಾಶನಂ
ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿರ್ ಭವೇ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನಾ ವರದಾ ಶುಭಾ
If recited thrice a day, great enemies/inner demons will be destroyed
One attains the Grace, boons and the Auspiscious Form of Maha Lakshmi
Iti Indrah krut Sri Mahalakshmyashtakam sampurnam
इति इन्द्रः कृत श्री महालक्ष्माष्टकम सम्पूर्णम
ಇತಿ ಇಂದ್ರಃ ಕೃತ ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮ್ಯಾಷ್ಟಕಂ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣಂ
Thus ends the Indra-composed eight-stanza-hymn of Goddess Maha Lakshmi
Resources/references:
Background music: Spirit of Fire, Jesse Gallagher
Meaning & significance:
- https://greenmesg.org/stotras/lakshmi/mahalakshmi_ashtakam.php
- https://www.tamilbrahmins.com/threads/mahalakshmi-ashtakam-with-english-meaning.3706/
- https://www.siddhayoga.org/practices/chanting/hymns/mahalakshmi-stotram
- https://www.hinduismoutlook.com/mahalakshmi-ashtakam-lyrics-meaning/
