Devi
Lakshmi Gayatri
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Simple reading
Om ma-haa-laksh-myai cha vid-ma-he, vish-nu pat-nyai cha dhee-ma-hi, tan-no laksh-meeh pra-cho-da-yaat
Oṁ mahālakṣmyai ca vidmahe viṣṇu-patnyai ca dhīmahi, tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt
About this mantra
The Gayatri of Lakshmi. It asks the goddess of shri, consort of Vishnu, to inspire the mind toward rightful prosperity.
Meaning
We know Mahalakshmi; we meditate on the consort of Vishnu; may Lakshmi set our minds in motion. Naming her vishnu-patni anchors the request: shri here is wedded to preservation, wealth that maintains a world rather than distorting one. What is asked to be impelled is the intellect. Let prosperity begin as right thinking about prosperity.
Learn it by heart
Say the first line until it comes without reading, then add the next line and say both, until the whole mantra comes on its own.
Line 1 of 2
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि ।
Oṁ mahālakṣmyai ca vidmahe viṣṇu-patnyai ca dhīmahi, tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt
0not said yet
Aim for eleven before the next line. Move on when the line comes without reading.
Progress stays on this device.
When to recite it
For sustained prosperity practice: Friday sadhana, the Diwali season, and before financial decisions where clear judgement matters as much as fortune.
Word by word
- महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महेmahālakṣmyai ca vidmahe
- we know the great Lakshmi
- विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहिviṣṇu-patnyai ca dhīmahi
- we meditate on Vishnu's consort
- तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात्tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt
- may Lakshmi inspire us
Source: Lakshmi Gayatri as commonly recited; the Śrī Sūkta's appended verses give it as 'mahālakṣmī ca vidmahe viṣṇupatnī ca dhīmahi'
Note: Given here in its commonly used form; wording can vary slightly between family and regional traditions.