Lakshmi pooja is the heart of Diwali, the grace of Friday evenings, and the blessing sought at every new home and venture. Here is the traditional home vidhi we guide on AstroLagnam — with each mantra, its meaning, and the full Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, the eight-verse hymn from the Padma Purana that forms the heart of a complete Lakshmi worship.
What to keep ready
A ghee lamp, incense, fresh flowers (lotus or red if you can), a small bowl of water, rice grains (akshata) mixed with turmeric, a few coins or a symbol of wealth, sweets or jaggery, and kumkum.
The steps in brief
- Sankalpa. Sit facing east or north. Light the lamp, breathe, and silently state your name and the well-being you seek for your home and family.
- Invocation. Begin with the opening of the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam: namaste'stu mahāmāye śrīpīṭhe surapūjite… — "Salutations to you, great Maya, seated on the seat of fortune, worshipped by the gods."
- Welcome with the Shri Suktam. Offer flowers and akshata with the Rig Vedic verse hiraṇyavarṇāṃ hariṇīṃ suvarṇarajatasrajām… — "Invoke for me that Lakshmi, golden-hued, radiant as the moon."
- The root mantra, three times: ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः — oṃ śrīṃ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ.
- The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam — the eight salutations (below).
- Lakshmi Gayatri and naivedya. oṃ mahālakṣmyai ca vidmahe viṣṇupatnyai ca dhīmahi | tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt || — offer the sweets.
- Conclusion. Keep the lamp burning a while; keep one coin with your savings as a blessing.
The Mahalakshmi Ashtakam (eight verses, with meaning)
नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते। शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Salutations, great Maya, seated on Shri's throne, worshipped by the gods — bearer of conch, discus and mace.
नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयङ्करि। सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Rider of Garuda, terror of the demon Kola, remover of all wrongdoing.
सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयङ्करि। सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
All-knowing giver of every boon, dispeller of all that harms, remover of all sorrow.
सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि। मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Giver of attainment and wisdom, of enjoyment and liberation — whose very form is mantra.
आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि। योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Without beginning or end, the primal power, born of yoga.
स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्तिमहोदरे। महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Gross and subtle, vast in power, remover of the greatest faults.
पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि। परमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Seated on the lotus, of the nature of the supreme Brahman, mother of the world.
श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते। जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
White-robed, adorned with every ornament, present throughout the world — Mother, salutations again and again.
Chanting it properly
The Ashtakam rewards unhurried, correctly-voweled chanting — each namo'stu te landing like a bow. If you'd like it chanted with you, verse by verse, with your own sankalpa spoken in your name — begin the guided Lakshmi pooja: your guide leads every step and mantra in authentic Sanskrit while you perform the pooja yourself, the way tradition intends.