Samudravasane Devi समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डलेविष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्वमे samudravasane devi parvatastanamaṇḍaleviṣṇupatni namastubhyaṃ pādasparśaṃ kṣamasvame O Goddess who is clothed with the ocean and whose body is adorned by the mountains, wife of Lord Vishnu, I bow to you. Please forgive me for touching you with my feet. समुद्रवसने samudravasane – Clothed with the ocean. Refers to the Earth Bhūmi who is depicted as wearing the oceans like a garmentदेवि devi – O Goddess. Refers to Bhūmi Mother Earth who is worshipped as a Goddessपर्वतस्तनमण्डले parvatastanamaṇḍale – Whose bosom is adorned by the mountainsविष्णुपत्नी viṣṇupatnī – Wife of Lord Viṣṇu. Refers to Bhūmi as the consort of Lord Viṣṇuनमः namaḥ – I bow. A gesture of respect and reverence to the Goddess Bhūmiतुभ्यं tubhyaṃ – To you. Refers to addressing the Goddess directlyपादस्पर्शं pādasparśaṃ – Touching with the feet. pāda means foot and sparśa means touch. Refers to stepping on the ground which is considered disrespectful to Goddess Bhūmiक्षमस्व kṣamasva – Please forgive. A request for forgivenessमे me – Me. Refers to the person seeking forgiveness for stepping on the Earth Description This verse is a prayer to Bhūmi Devi, the personification of Earth, who is considered the consort of Lord Vishnu. This verse is a respectful address to her, acknowledging her divine status and asking for forgiveness for the unavoidable act of walking on her. Hence this Shloka is often recited when waking up in the morning, just before one’s feet touch the ground, as a way of showing respect to Mother Earth and starting the day with a humble, reverent attitude. The verse begins with “Samudravasane devi” (O Goddess clothed in oceans) and “Parvatastanamandale” (with mountains as your bosom), painting a vivid, poetic image of the Earth as a divine feminine entity. The prayer then addresses the Earth as “Vishnupatni” (consort of Lord Vishnu), who is the preserver of the entire cosmic order. The verse concludes with “Paadasparsham kshamasvame” (forgive me for touching you with my feet), a humble request for forgiveness from the Goddess for the act of walking upon her. From a Vedāntic perspective, we discern that the “Goddess” here is Prakṛti (Śakti), the manifesting power of the Absolute. The oceans, mountains, and all the elements are her garment and body, which means that the entire phenomenal universe is her expression. But Prakṛti by herself has no independent existence. She is energized, sustained, and given direction only because of Puruṣa (Śiva/Viṣṇu/Consciousness). The verse poetically captures the truth that what we see including the vast oceans, the immovable mountains, the very Earth, is the living manifestation of Consciousness, not apart from it. Prakṛti (creative power/nature) is the field of names and forms (nāma–rūpa), while Puruṣa (consciousness) is the immutable substratum (sat–cit), pure being-awareness, in which those names and forms appear. To contemplate the Earth as the Goddess wrapped in oceans and adorned with mountains is to recognize that all manifestation is Prakṛti, but inseparably married to Puruṣa. The beauty and variety of the world are nothing but Consciousness appearing as form. Without Consciousness, oceans and mountains would be inert matter; without Prakṛti, Consciousness would remain unexpressed potential. And this is our direct experience. When we look around us, especially amidst nature, when we really look without thought, without naming, without separating things, something interesting happens. There is only Seeing. Not a seeing of things. And furthere more there is no more a division of seer and seen either. In the absence of this separation of name and form, there is just the direct experience of THAT which is beyond words (mind). As soon as thought enters, it separates the mountain from the ocean from the trees, and from me, and so on, by assigning names to forms. But we don’t experience the name ‘Ocean’. A name is just a symbol, a thought. We experience the totality. Even that is inaccurate, since there is no separate ‘We’ that experiences. There is only Experienc-ING. The inseparability of Puruṣa and Prakṛti.

Prthvi Tvaya Dhrita Loka ॐ पृथ्वि त्वया धृता लोकादेवि त्वं विष्णुना धृता ।त्वं च धारय मां देविपवित्रं कुरु चासनम् ॥ ŏm Prthvi ṭvayaa ḍhrtaa l̤okaaḍevi ṭvam Vissnnunaa ḍhrtaa |ṭvam Ca ḍhaaraya ṃaam ḍeviPavitram ḵuru Ca-[ā]asanam || Om, O Prithivi devi, by you are borne the entire loka (world); and devi, you in turn are borne by Sri Vishnu, please hold me (on your lap), and make this asana (seat of the worshipper) pure. Description Prayer to earth

Mahālakṣmi aṣṭakam नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजितेशङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते namaste’stu mahāmāye śrīpīṭhe surapūjiteśaṅkhacakragadāhaste mahālakṣmi namo’stute Salutations to you O great maya, one who resides in Sri Chakra and is adored by the gods, one who holds the conch shell, the discus and the mace, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi नमस्ते गरुडारूढे कोलासुरभयंकरिसर्वपापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते namaste garuḍārūḍhe kolāsurabhayaṃkarisarvapāpahare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stute Salutations to the one who is riding the eagle Garuda, to the one who destroyed the demon Kola Asura, to the one who removes all sins of mind body and soul, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्टभयंकरिसर्वदुःखहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते sarvajñe sarvavarade sarvaduṣṭabhayaṃkarisarvaduḥkhahare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stute To the one who knows everything, who grants all boons, who destroys all evils and removes all sorrows, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनिमन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते siddhibuddhiprade devi bhuktimuktipradāyinimantramūrte sadā devi mahālakṣmi namo’stute To the one who grants success and wisdom, who bestows enjoyment and liberation, who is the embodiment of mantras, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi आद्यन्तरहिते देवि आद्यशक्तिमहेश्वरियोगजे योगसम्भूते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ādyantarahite devi ādyaśaktimaheśvariyogaje yogasambhūte mahālakṣmi namo’stute To the one without beginning or end, the primordial cosmic energy born of yoga, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi स्थूलसूक्ष्ममहारौद्रे महाशक्तिमहोदरेमहापापहरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते sthūlasūkṣmamahāraudre mahāśaktimahodaremahāpāpahare devi mahālakṣmi namo’stute To the one who manifests as gross and subtle forms of power, the supreme energy holding the universe, who removes great sins, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi पद्मासनस्थिते देवि परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणिपरमेशि जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते padmāsanasthite devi parabrahmasvarūpiṇiparameśi jaganmātarmahālakṣmi namo’stute To the one seated on the lotus, embodiment of supreme Brahman, the universal mother, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi श्वेताम्बरधरे देवि नानालङ्कारभूषितेजगत्स्थिते जगन्मातर्महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते śvetāmbaradhare devi nānālaṅkārabhūṣitejagatsthite jaganmātarmahālakṣmi namo’stute To the one clad in pure white, adorned with ornaments, the divine mother sustaining the universe, I worship to thee Sri Maha Lakshmi महालक्ष्म्यष्टकं स्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिमान्नरःसर्वसिद्धिमवाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति सर्वदा mahālakṣmyaṣṭakaṃ stotraṃ yaḥ paṭhedbhaktimānnaraḥsarvasiddhimavāpnoti rājyaṃ prāpnoti sarvadā The devotee who chants this Mahalakshmi Ashtakam with devotion attains all success and sovereignty एककाले पठेन्नित्यं महापापविनाशनम्द्विकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं धनधान्यसमन्वितः ekakāle paṭhennityaṃ mahāpāpavināśanamdvikālaṃ yaḥ paṭhennityaṃ dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ One who chants once daily destroys great sins, one who chants twice daily is blessed with wealth and food त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नित्यं महाशत्रुविनाशनम्महालक्ष्मिर्भवेन्नित्यं प्रसन्ना वरदा शुभा trikālaṃ yaḥ paṭhennityaṃ mahāśatruvināśanammahālakṣmirbhavennityaṃ prasannā varadā śubhā One who chants thrice daily destroys great enemies and Goddess Lakshmi remains ever pleased and bestows auspicious boons Description This Shloka is in praise of Mahalakshmi, the goddess of beauty, prosperity, and good fortune. This is chanted by Indra. Chanting it once daily, destros all sins. Chanting twice daily will bring wealth and grains. Chanting thrice a day will help destroy enemies.

Lakshmi Devi Kanakaruchiram लक्ष्मी देवी कनकरुचिरां विष्णुपत्नी सुहासाम्गौरी देवी पशुपति मनोल्लासिनी अर्धनारीम् ।वाणीं देवीं सुरवरनुतां सर्व कामार्थ सिध्दयैवंदे ब्रह्म प्रियतमसतिं सर्व विद्या प्रदात्रीम् ।। lakṣmī devī kanakarucirāṃ viṣṇupatnī suhāsāmgaurī devī paśupati manollāsinī ardhanārīm .vāṇīṃ devīṃ suravaranutāṃ sarva kāmārtha sidhdayaivaṃde brahma priyatamasatiṃ sarva vidyā pradātrīm .. Goddess Lakshmi, beautiful-as-gold, Vishnu’s consort, pleasant smiling, goddess Gouri, the joy of the half-lady-featured Lord Pasupathi, goddess Vaani, worshipped by good musical notes, Brahma’s beloved and chaste consort, bestower of all education, bow to her before study for fulfilment of all desires. Description Prayer to Lakshmi

Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति ।करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥ karāgre vasate lakṣmiḥ karamadhye sarasvati .karamūle tu govindaḥ prabhāte karadarśanam .. At the fore of the hands resides Lakshmi, and at the middle, Saraswathi; at the root is seated Gauri (Durga), (so) see the palm of the hand at dawn (first). Description This morning prayer is also called “karadarshana”. One begins the day with this prayer. “Kara” means the palm of the hand and it stands for the five karmendriyas, or the organs of action. While looking at the palm, one invokes the Lord in the form of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Gauri, thus sanctifying all the actions that will be done during the day. By acknowledging the Lord as the giver of the capacity to perform actions and as the giver of the fruits of those actions, one sanctifies the actions. Thus, one prays in the morning to reinforce the attitude that all actions are performed as a service to the Lord. For a beautiful explanation of this important shlokam please read on. Significance of this Shlokam – by Pujya Swami ParamarthanandaIn our tradition, we are supposed to get up early in the morning and offer our prayers to the Lord. There is one very important and significant prayer for mornings. This is the well-known “karaagre vasate Lakshmi”, “kara madhye Saraswati” and “kara moole sthitaa Gauri” – prabhaate kara darshanam. Look at your hands, for Lakshmi resides in the tip of the hand, in the middle there is Saraswati, and at the root/base is “Durga” or “Gauri”. When you look at the hands, pray sincerely to Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga. One needs to remember and invoke the grace of all these three deities. There are two reasons to worship them: (1) They are the spouses or consorts of the three murtis (Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva); and (2) These deities represent three very important Shaktis or powers (resources). Durga Devi represents our health, especially important as we are growing old. Lakshmi Devi represents wealth and good values. Saraswati Devi represents “wisdom” or “knowledge”. These three basic resources are required by every one of us: health, wealth, and knowledge. When we have them, we don’t know their value and take them for granted. Only when we are deprived of any one of them, we discover the value of that particular resource. Therefore, all the three are equally important. When we are sick, we think that health is the most important. In poverty, we feel that wealth is the most important. So, when we are deprived of whichever of the three, we conclude that it is the most vital for living. Actually, there is no picking order and if we give weightage, each would score 33.33%! Health, wealth, and knowledge are necessary for survival, for success in our ventures, and life itself. Hence our Sastraas recommend that we remember these three resources every day. In our tradition, we talk of two navaratris – one is called Vasanta (Spring) Navaratri and another is Sarada (Autumn) Navaratri. During navaratri, we exclusively worship Durga for three days, Lakshmi for three days, and Saraswati for three days. If we invoke the grace of these three shaktis, then what follows? The tenth day is called “Vijayadasami” or victory. The Vedic way of victory is Shakti Samyam – all the three resources must be there and they must be in balance. Otherwise, life will be a failure. Therefore, let us start the New Year by invoking these deities and every day too. The scriptures say that we must ask for two types of favors from each deity – two types of health, two types of wealth, and two types of knowledge. What are the two types of health we must pray from Durga Devi?One is physical health which is extremely important and second is the mental health. Our modern lifestyle is such that we are neglecting Durga Devi. All the magazines talk of “lifestyle diseases”. Our very lifestyle is the cause of diseases. These are due to improper lifestyle – our eating habits are wrong, sleeping habits are wrong, and working habits are wrong. They reveal that we are disrespecting Durga Devi. One morning prayer states: In Brahma Muhurtam one must not sleep. Sleeping in this time will deplete one’s punyam and produce paapam. For this sin, one must do praayaschittam. Even before New Year eve, people attend all night parties, drink all kinds of things, and don’t even see the New Year sunrise (a lifestyle disease). There is even an English proverb that talks about the virtues of rising early: Early to bed and early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise. When you rise early, you get the blessings of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. We are violating all health habits (eating, sleeping, and working habits are wrong because we don’t enjoy our work). There is too much pressure and stress. Work place has become a field of war due to increased competition. I have to outperform all my competitors; there is pressure and lot of aggression. Working places resemble war zones and when we come home, it is like Ashoka coming from a Kalinga war. Therefore, mental stress is a major problem of modern day living. Continuous stress reduces the immunity of a person and that invites all kinds of diseases. A person may be chronologically 40 years but ravaged by constant stress, the body ages to 60. A man squanders his health initially working for wealth. Then he squanders his earned wealth in search of health! And ultimately loses both. In Sanskrit, there is a humorous verse – वैद्यराज नमस्तुभ्यं यमराजाग्रज !यमस्तु हरति प्राणान् त्वं तु प्राणान् धनानि च !! O doctor, my namaskaarams to you, for you are the elder brother of Yama dharmaraja. Why elder? Yama only takes life while the doctor takes both the life and money and says,”Operation was successful but the patient died”. So Durga Devi is so important and one must pray every day to