श्री महालक्ष्मी अष्टकम् /The story of Sampath Shukravara

The story of Sampath Shukravara

Once upon a time, there lived a Brahmin couple with four sons and their wives.  They lived in poverty.  They were advised to worship Goddess Lakshmi on every Friday in the month of Shravan (an auspicious month in the Hindu calendar).  For the pooja, a married woman (Suhasini)was to be invited the previous evening by providing her oil and turmeric which she had to use during her bath on Friday morning and then offer her gifts in a sieve (covered by another sieve) and food.

 

On the first Thursday of the month, the youngest daughter in law was sent out to invite a Suhasini.  She met a woman from a poor family and invited her to the pooja.  The Suhasini gladly accepted the invitation.  The next day, the whole family fasted and waited for the Suhasini to attend the pooja but she never turned up.  It was assumed that the youngest daughter in law did not invite the suhasini appropriately and so she did not turn up.  The whole family went to sleep without eating any meals.

 

The next Thursday, the third daughter in law went out in the opposite direction and invited another Suhasini.  Again, the whole family fasted and prayed but again, nobody turned up and the family went to bed without eating any meals. 

 

History repeats itself with the second daughter in law going in the third week and the eldest daughter in law going in the fourth week.  Finally, on week five, the Brahmin asks his wife to go and convince someone to visit them.  The wife went out in whatever direction her feet took her until she came across a woman her age who looked very divine and graceful.  This woman promised to visit them the next day.   Again, the whole family fasted and waited but the woman did not turn up.  Dejected and disappointed, the Brahmin felt there was something wrong in his pooja, may be he got some rituals/mantras wrong and the whole family sat in the pooja room trying to decipher what could be wrong.  The door had been left open.  Around midnight, the family noticed a divine looking middle aged woman in fine jewellery at their doorstep.  When the family rushed to welcome her into their home, she had disappeared.  But they noticed red footsteps going from the door to the swing.  On the swing, the family found a pot filled with gold coins.  The Brahmin’s wife decided to give away the gifts collected over the past five weeks and when she opened the sieves, she found that the gifts had been transformed into gemstones and pearls.

 

Thus popular belief is that if you fast and worship Goddess Lakshmi on every Friday of the month of Shravan, she will bless you with prosperity.  Also find below, the translation of the Mahalakshmi Ashtaka Stotram.

 
॥ श्री इंद्रकृत श्री महालक्ष्मी अष्टकम् ॥

Shree Indrakruta Shree Mahalakshmi Asthakam

Set of eight mantras to praise Shree Mahalakshmi created by Lord Indra.

श्री गणेशाय नमः

Shree Ganeshaya Namah

I salute Lord Ganesha (It is Hindu tradition to invoke Lord Ganesha before invoking any other deity)

 

नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥१॥

Namastestu Mahaa-Maaye Shrii-Piitthe Sura-Puujite |
Shankha-Cakra-Gadaa-Haste Mahaalakssmi Namostute ||1||

I bow to you O Divine power of illusion, the supreme resident of Shripeetha (Abode of goddess shakti), the ones worshipped by Suras (Gods)

O Goddess Mahalakshmi, the one who holds the Shankha (conch), Chakra (a spinning disklike weapon) and Gada (mace), I salute you.

 

नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयंकरि ।
सर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥२॥

Namaste Garudaruuddhe Kolasura-Bhayankari |
Sarva-Paapa-Hare Devi Mahaalakssmi Namostute ||2||

I bow to you, O Goddess who is mounted on Garuda (the mythological bird who is a mix of human and eagle, the vehicle of Shri Vishnu), the slayer of Kolasur (A demon who lived in present-day Kolhapur whose dying wish was the town be named after him).

O Goddess Mahalakshmi who can eradicate all sins, I salute you.

 

सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयंकरि ।
सर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥३॥

Sarvajnye Sarva-Varade Sarva-Dusstta-Bhayangkari |
Sarva-Duhkha-Hare Devi Mahaalakssmi Namostute ||3||

O All-knowing Goddess, one who bestows all boons, one who is a terror to everything that is evil,

O Goddess Mahalakshmi, the eradicator of all sorrow, I salute you.

 

सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनि ।
मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥४॥

Siddhi-Buddhi-Prade Devi Bhukti-Mukti-Pradaayini |
Mantra-Muurte Sadaa Devi Mahaalakssmi Namostute ||4||

O Goddess, the bestower of all intelligence and accomplishments, the giver of both prosperity and salvation

O Goddess Mahalakshmi, the an embodiment of all Mantras (sacred texts), I salute you

 

आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरि ।
योगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥५॥

Aadyanta-Rahite Devi AadyaShakti-Maheshvari |
YogaJe Yoga-Sambhuute Mahaalakssmi Namostute ||5||

O Goddess who has neither a beginning nor an end, O Consort of Eshwara (Shiva), the original Shakti (source of energy)

O Mahalakshmi, the one born from Yoga and is forever united with Yoga, I salute you.

 

स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्तिमहोदरे ।
महापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥६॥

Sthoola-Soossma-Mahaaroudre Mahaa-Shakti-Mahodare |
Mahaa-Paapa-Hare Devi Mahaalakssmi Namostute ||6||
 

O Goddess who is the mightiest of the mighty power behind all forms gross and subtle, the great womb of Mahashakti (the prime source of all power)

O Mahalakshmi, the cleanser of all sins, I salute to you.

पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि ।
परमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥७॥

Padmaasana-Sthite Devi ParaBrahma-Svaruupinni |
Parameshi JaganMaatarMahaalakssmi Namostute ||7||

O Goddess who is seated on a lotus and resembles Parabrahma (the Supreme Creator)

O Mahalakshmi, who is the Supreme Goddess and mother of the entire universe, I salute you.

 

श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषिते ।
जगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥८॥

ShvetambaraDhare Devi Naanalankaara-Bhuussite |
Jagatsthite Jagan-Maatar-Mahaalakssmi Namostute ||8||

O Goddess who is adorned in white garments and various ornaments

O Mahalakshmi, who is the mother of the universe and is present within it, I salute you.

 

महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरः ।
सर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा ॥९॥

Mahaalakssmi-Assttakam Stotram Yah Patthe-Bhaktimaan-Narah |
Sarva-Siddhim-Avaapnoti Raajyam Praapnoti Sarvadaa ||9||

(The benefits of reciting the above verses are listed below)

The human who recites the this Ashtakam Stotram with devotion

Will always attain success and prosperity

एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम् ।
द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः ॥१०॥

Eka-Kaale Patthen-Nityam Mahaa-Paapa-Vinaashanam |
Dvi-Kaalam Yah Patthen-Nityam Dhana-Dhaanya-Samanvitah ||10||

Reciting these verses once a day (every day) will result in great sins being destroyed

Reciting these twice daily will bestow one with wealth and food grains (prosperity).

 

त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम् ।
महालक्ष्मिर्भवेन्नित्यं प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा ॥११॥

Tri-Kaalam Yah Patthen-Nityam MahaaShatru-Vinaashanam |
Mahaalakssmir-Bhaven-Nityam Prasannaa Varadaa Shubhaa ||11||

Reciting these three times a day will destroy great enemies

And thus pleased, Mahalakshmi will bless that human with her auspicious presence forever.

 

॥इतिंद्रकृत श्रीमहालक्ष्म्यष्टकस्तवः संपूर्णः ॥

Itih Indrakruta Shree Mahalakshmi Ashtakastvah sampoornah

 

Thus ends the set of eight mantras to praise Shree Mahalakshmi created by Lord Indra