Monday, October 8, 2018

Sri Lakshmi Ashtottara Stotram - Performing Lakshmi Puja with Hymns Containing 108 Names

Lakshmi Ashtottara Stotram is the lyrical recitation of hymns containing108 names composed for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi.

It is believed that Lord Shiva mentioned these lyrics to Parvati Devi at her request. She requested Shiva to let her know the greatness of Goddess Lakshmi and the lyrics that can be recited to appease her so that people can get Her blessings.

This article contains and elaborates on the undermentioned parts of Sri Lakshmi Ashtottara ShataNama Stotram.

  • Goddess Lakshmi's Glorification with Prayer
  • Prelude (it is about the talk between Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva that mentions the greatness of Lakshmi Ashtottaram)
  • Salutations or prayers to Sri Lakshmi before starting the ashtottara stotram
  • The hymns or stotrams containing 108 names of Lakshmi (hymns 1 to 14)
  • Surrendering to Goddess Lakshmi (hymns 15 and 16)
  • Benefits of reciting these hymns (hymns 17 to 21)


Prayer

Sri bhagavan NAraayanaabhi mataanuroopa


Prelude to the Lakshmi Stotram


DEvyuvAcha: (Goddess Parvati said)


Deva, Deva, Mahadeva trikaalajna maheswara
karunaakara devesha bhaktaanugraha kaaraka
ashtottara shatam lakshmyaa srOtumiccchaami tattvata:

(O Lord, Lord of all Lords, who is well aware of all the three phases of time -the past, present, and the future, who is an abode of kindness, I want to hear the 108 names of Lakshmi with their full essence for the sake of our devotees.)

IshwaruvAcha: (Lord Shiva told)

Before reciting the ashtottara stotram, Lord Shiva narrates the significance and greatness of Lakshmi Ashtottara Stotram to Parvati in these following verses.

Devi, saadhu, mahAbhAgE! mahAbhAgya pradAyakam|
sarvaishwara karam puNyam sarva pApa praNAshanam||

(O Devi, very good, I feel lucky to do so! It provides great fortune and prosperity, does good to all beings, and  destroys all evils.)

sarva dAridrya shamanam, sravaNAt, bhukti muktidam|
rAjavashya karam divyam guhyAtguhyatamam param||

(It removes all poverty, provides material gifts and liberation only by hearing at it. Provides majestic look, precious life that is both imaginable and unimaginable.)

durlabham sarvadEvAnAm chatushshashti kaLAshpadam|
padmAdeenAm varAmtAnAm nidheenAm nityadAyakam||

(It is inaccessible even to the angels and the masters of 64 arts. Greater than all lotuses, bountiful than all bounties, a more valuable treasure of all the treasures.)

samasta dEva samsEvya maNimAdyasta siddhidam|
kimatra bahunOktEna dEviipratyaksha dAyakam|

(who is served by all the angels, the possessor of all treasures and the supernatural powers known as eight siddhis, by the utterance of which that Goddess reveals herself to you.)

tavapriityAdya vakshyAmi samAhitamanAshruNuh:|
ashtOttara shatasyAsya mahAlakshmiistu dEvatA||

(for your pleasure, kindly listen with your full heart this composition of the 108 names of Mahalakshmi Goddess.)

kliim beezapada mityuktam shaktistu bhuvanEswarii
anganyAsah: karanyAsa: sah: ityAdi prakiirtitah:||

(The Goddes who is the Queen of all universes, who is the Almighty energy that is embodied and referred to in the four seed mantras or sounds of aum- aim, hreem, shreem, kliim- and she is worshipped through body signs, hand signs, and through many ways.)


Prayer To Goddess Lakshmi


vandE padmakarAm prasanna vadanAm soubhAgyadAm bhAgyadAm|
hastAbhyAm abhayapradAm maNigaNair nAnAvidhair bhooshitAm||

(I pray to Thee, who is lotus-handed, possesses a smiling face, bestows wellness and prosperity, who gestures the protection sign with her hands, and who is adorned with different kinds of jewels.)

bhaktAbhiista phalapradAm harihara brahmAdibhih: sEvitAm|
pArsvE pankaja shankha padma nidibhiryuktAm sadA shaktibhi:||

(you are the bestower of devotees' wishes, yourself being served by Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, etc.; holding on your sides the weapon of the Wheel, Conch, Lotus, and other precious things. You are the ever-powerful Goddess.)

sarasija nayanE sarOja hastE dhavaLatarAmshuka gandhamAlya sObhE|
bhagavathi harivallabhE manOgjnE tribhuvana bhoota kari praseeda mahyam||

(O lotus-eyed Goddess! lotus-handed and adorned with the garlands of fragrant white flowers; O Supreme Goddess, consort of Vishnu (Hari), who is handsome and pleasant, please bless all the beings of the three worlds forever.)


Now, let us come to the actual slokas of Lakshmi Ashtottara Stotram.


Lakshmi Ashtottara ShataNama Stotram Lyrics


prakritim vikritim vidhyAm sarvabhoota hita pradAm
shraddhAm vibhootim surabhim namAmi paramAtmikAm|| 1

(I pray to Thee who is the embodiment of Natural force, unnatural force, knowledge, protection for all beings, care, incarnation power, fragrance, the supreme soul.)

vAcham padmAlayAm padmAm suchim svAhAm svadhAm sudhAm
dhanyAm hiraNmayiim lakshmiim nityapushtAm vibhAvariim|| 2

(pleasantly talkative, having the lotus as the abode, lotus-resembling, pure, ultimate, self-powered, herself the nectar, blessed one, gold-studded, ever healthy, wealthy)

aditim cha ditim deeptAm vasudhAm vasudhAriNiim
namAmi kamalAm kAntAm kAmAkshiim krodhasambhavAm|| 3

(the limitless One and at the same a limited One, the ever-shining light, she is the Earth and at the same time the One who holds the earth, I bow to thee, O Lotus-Like Beautiful One, one with lovely eyes, one who is born again out of anger)

anugraha pradAm buddhi managhAm harivallabhAm
ashOkAm amrutAm deeptAm lOkashOka vinAshiniim|| 4

(bestower of grace, the abode of wisdom, virtuous, possessing Hari as her consort, griefless one, deathless, the abode of light, destructor of worldly sorrows)

namAmi dharma nilayAm karuNAm lOkamAtaram
padmapriyAm padma hastAm padmAkshiim padmasundariim|| 5

(Salutations! O Abode of Righteousness and Kindness, Mother of Universe, One who loves Lotuses, Holds lotus in hand, Lotus-Resembling Eyed, Beautiful like the Lotus)

padmOdbhavAm padmamukhiim padmanAbhapriyAm ramAm
padmamAlAdharAm dEviim padminiim padmagandhiniim|| 6

(One who rose from Padma or Lotus, Lotus-faced, Beloved of Vishnu, O RamAdEvi, One who wears the lotus garland, O Goddess Padmini, Who is Lotus-Scented)

puNyagandhAm suprasannAm prasAdAbhimukhiim prabhAm
namAmi chandravadanAm chandrAm chandrasahOdariim|| 7

(One who emits purity, pleasingly generous, one who loves offerings, O Light, I bow to Thee O Moon-Like-Faced, O Moon-Resembled, Sister of the Moon)

chaturbhujAm chandraroopA mindirA mindushiitalAm
aahlaadajananiim pushtiim shivAm shivakariim satiim|| 8

(O Four-Handed, Moon-Like-Figured, beautiful like blue lotus, pleasingly cool, provider of happiness, well-built, blissful, provider of bliss, virtuous)

vimalAm vishvajananiim pushtim dAridrya nAsiniim
priitipushkariNiim shAntAm shuklamalyAmbarAm shriyam|| 9

(O Blemishless, mother of Universe, abundance, destroyer of poverty, the abode of love, peaceful One, white-garlanded, Goddess of wealth)

bhAskariim bilvanilayAm varArOhAm yashasviniim
vasundharA mudArAngAm hariNiim hEmamAliniim || 10

(O Brilliance, the native of the spiritual Bilva trees, accessible by boons, famous One, holder of the earth, soft-hearted, deer-like bodied, garlanded with gold)

dhanadhAnyakariim siddhim sthraiNasoumya subhapradAm
nripavEshmagatAnandAm varalakshmiim vasupradAm|| 11 

(provider of wealth and food, supernal powers, steadfastness, softness, and welfare provider, One who rejoices in palaces, bestower of gifts, and brilliance provider)

subhAm hiraNyaprAkArAm samudratanayAm jayAm
namAmi mangaLAm dEviim vishnu vakshasthala stithAm|| 12

(auspicious one, dweller amidst golden surroundings, daughter of Ocean, goddess of victory, salutations to auspicious one, Goddess of angels, one who resides in the heart of Vishnu)

vishnupatniim prasannAkshiim nArAyaNa samAshritAm
dAridrya dhvansiniim dEviim sarvOpadrava vAriNiim|| 13

(O Consort of Vishnu, merciful-eyed, dedicated to Narayana, the destructor of poverty, O Devi, remover of all problems)

navadurgAm mahAkALiim brahmavishNu sivAtmikAm
trikAlajnAna sampannAm namAmi bhuvanEswariim|| 14

(O Nine-Formed One; Goddess Mahakali; beloved by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva; possessor of the knowledge of past, present, and future; Salutations to Thee, O Goddess of Worlds)

The above 14 hymns are composed of the 108 names of Goddess Lakshmi. Each name qualifies a special power or feature of Her.


Surrendrance to Goddess Lakshmi


The following two hymns of four lines are recited to express your devotion and thereby confirm your submission to her refuge.

Lakshmiim kshiirasamudrarAja tanayAm sriiranga dhAmEswariim
dAsiibhootasamastadEvavanitAm lOkaika deepAmkurAm
sriimanmandakatAkshalabdavibhavat brahmEndragangAdharAm
tvAm trailOkyakutumbiniim sarasijAm vandE mukundapriyAm|| 15 

(O Goddess Lakshmi, daughter of the milky ocean, dweller of Vaikunt (sriranga dhama refers to Vishnu's abode), served by all servants and spirits, thou art the only eternal light for all worlds; who attracts the grace of even Brahma, Indra, and Shiva; I bow to you, O dweller of all three worlds, born from lotus, and beloved by Mukunda, the Vishnu)

mAtarnamAmi kamalE kamalAyatAkshi 
sri vishnu hrutkamalavAsini visvamAta:
kshiirOdajE kamalakOmalagarbha gauri
lakshmii prasiidasatatam namatAm sharaNyE|| 16

(O Mother I bow to Thee, O Lotus-bodied, Lotus-eyed, resides in the heart of Vishnu, mother of the universe, took birth from the milky ocean, in the midst of a soft lotus, O Gouri, Lakshmi! always protect me, I bow to you and submit before you)


Now, we come to the fruits of reciting these hymns or 108 names of Lakshmi.

Benefits of Worshiping Lakshmi with Ashtottaram Prayers


trikAlam yO japE dvidvAn shaNmAsam vigitEndriya:
dAridryadhvansanam kritvA sarvamApnOtyayatnata:|| 17

(if wise people recite it three times daily for six months, they will become conquerors of all their senses; others will get rid of poverty and all their sins including those wise people)

dEviinAma sahasrEsu puNya mashtOttaram shatam
yEna shriyamavApnOti kOtijanma daridrata:|| 18

(Out of all those 1000 names of Goddess, these 108 names are the great ones; due to this they become prosperous and get rid of even one crore lives of poverty)

bhriguvArE shatam dhiimAn pathe: vatsaramAtrakam
ashtaiswarya mavApnOti kubEra iva bhootalE|| 19

(chanting the entire hundred names steadfastly for one year can bless you with all the eight treasures of Kubera in this world itself)

daridryamOchanam nAmastothra mambAparam shatam
yEna shriyamavApnOti kotijanma daridrata:|| 20

(you will get rid of poverty by reciting the entire hundred names of Goddess; even those who were poor for the last one crore lives will become rich immediately)

bhuktvAtu vipulAnbhOgA nasyA ssAyujyamApnuyAt
prAta:kAlE pathEnnityam sarvadukhOpashAntayE|| 21

(offering plenteous naivedyams or dishes that are prepared from multiple ingredients and chanting these hymns will provide you relief from all types of worries)


Itihi srilakshmi ashtottara shatanaama stotram sampoorNam ||


Thus ends the prayer of Sri Lakshmi Devi containing hymns of 108 names.

While reciting all the above lines concentrate on Goddess Lakshmi with pure devotion so as to obtain her blessings and grace.