Devi
Lakshmi Gayatri
ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्न्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Oṁ mahālakṣmyai ca vidmahe viṣṇu-patnyai ca dhīmahi, tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt
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
About this mantra
The Gayatri of Lakshmi — asking 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. And what is asked to be impelled is the intellect: let prosperity begin as right thinking about prosperity.
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.