Devi
Mahalakshmi mantra
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Simple reading
Om shreem ma-haa-laksh-myai na-mah
Oṁ Śrīṁ Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ
About this mantra
The seed-mantra of Lakshmi, goddess of shri, which is prosperity in its full sense: wealth, harmony, and grace in the home.
Meaning
Om. Shreem. Salutations to Mahalakshmi. Shreem is shri compressed into a seed, planted by repetition. The mantra asks the goddess of abundance for her presence rather than her presents. Where Lakshmi dwells, the tradition says, sufficiency follows on its own.
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.
Whole mantra
This mantra is a single line. Learn it whole, then add it to your review deck so it comes back for a check.
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Oṁ Śrīṁ Mahālakṣmyai Namaḥ
0not said yet
Aim for eleven. Stop reading as soon as the whole mantra comes on its own.
Progress stays on this device.
When to recite it
Fridays and Diwali's Lakshmi Puja are its high seasons; counted also at the opening of new ledgers, ventures, and homes, traditionally at dusk, as the lamps are lit.
Word by word
- ॐoṁ
- the primordial sound
- श्रींśrīṁ
- the bīja of Lakshmi and of shri itself
- महालक्ष्म्यैmahālakṣmyai
- to the great Lakshmi
- नमःnamaḥ
- I bow, salutations
Source: Traditional bīja-mantra of the Devi worship corpus