Sri Suktam

हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम्
चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह

hiraṇyavarṇāṃ hariṇīṃ suvarṇarajatasrajām
candrāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīṃ jātavedo ma āvaha

O Jatavedo, invoke for me that Lakshmi who is of golden complexion, beautiful and adorned with gold and silver garlands, who is like the moon with a golden aura, who is Lakshmi, the embodiment of Sri

तां म आवह जातवेदो लक्ष्मीमनपगामिनीम्
यस्यां हिरण्यं विन्देयं गामश्वं पुरुषानहम्

tāṃ ma āvaha jātavedo lakṣmīmanapagāminīm
yasyāṃ hiraṇyaṃ vindeyaṃ gāmaśvaṃ puruṣānaham

O Jatavedo, invoke for me that Lakshmi who does not go away, by whose golden touch I will obtain cattle, horses, progeny and servants

अश्वपूर्वां रथमध्यां हस्तिनादप्रबोधिनीम्
श्रियं देवीमुपह्वये श्रीर्मा देवी जुषताम्

aśvapūrvāṃ rathamadhyāṃ hastinādaprabodhinīm
śriyaṃ devīmupahvaye śrīrmā devī juṣatām

O Jatavedo, invoke for me that Lakshmi who abides in the chariot of Sri, heralded by the trumpet of elephants, may the Devi of prosperity be pleased with me

कां सोस्मितां हिरण्यप्राकारामार्द्रां ज्वलन्तीं तृप्तां तर्पयन्तीम्
पद्मे स्थितां पद्मवर्णां तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम्

kāṃ sosmitāṃ hiraṇyaprākārāmārdrāṃ jvalantīṃ tṛptāṃ tarpayantīm
padme sthitāṃ padmavarṇāṃ tāmihopahvaye śriyam

O Jatavedo, invoke for me that Lakshmi who has a beautiful smile, who abides in the lotus and who satisfies all beings

चन्द्रां प्रभासां यशसा ज्वलन्तीं श्रियं लोके देवजुष्टामुदाराम्
तां पद्मिनीमीं शरणमहं प्रपद्येऽलक्ष्मीर्मे नश्यतां त्वां वृणे

candrāṃ prabhāsāṃ yaśasā jvalantīṃ śriyaṃ loke devajuṣṭāmudārām
tāṃ padminīmīṃ śaraṇamahaṃ prapadye’lakṣmīrme naśyatāṃ tvāṃ vṛṇe

I take refuge in that lotus-dwelling Lakshmi, may misfortune within and without be destroyed

आदित्यवर्णे तपसोऽधिजातो वनस्पतिस्तव वृक्षोऽथ बिल्वः
तस्य फलानि तपसानुदन्तु मायान्तरायाश्च बाह्या अलक्ष्मीः

ādityavarṇe tapaso’dhijāto vanaspatistava vṛkṣo’tha bilvaḥ
tasya phalāni tapasānudantu māyāntarāyāśca bāhyā alakṣmīḥ

O Lakshmi of solar radiance born of tapas, may the fruits of tapas remove delusion and misfortune

उपैतु मां देवसखः कीर्तिश्च मणिना सह
प्रादुर्भूतोऽस्मि राष्ट्रेऽस्मिन् कीर्तिमृद्धिं ददातु मे

upaitu māṃ devasakhaḥ kīrtiśca maṇinā saha
prādurbhūto’smi rāṣṭre’smin kīrtimṛddhiṃ dadātu me

May glory and prosperity come to me and grant inner and outer growth

क्षुत्पिपासामलां ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं नाशयाम्यहम्
अभूतिमसमृद्धिं च सर्वां निर्णुद मे गृहात्

kṣutpipāsāmalāṃ jyeṣṭhāmalakṣmīṃ nāśayāmyaham
abhūtimasamṛddhiṃ ca sarvāṃ nirṇuda me gṛhāt

May hunger, impurity and misfortune be destroyed and driven away from my home

गन्धद्वारां दुराधर्षां नित्यपुष्टां करीषिणीम्
ईश्वरींग् सर्वभूतानां तामिहोपह्वये श्रियम्

gandhadvārāṃ durādharṣāṃ nityapuṣṭāṃ karīṣiṇīm
īśvarīṅg sarvabhūtānāṃ tāmihopahvaye śriyam

Invoke that Lakshmi who is the source of fragrance and abundance, the ruler of all beings

मनसः काममाकूतिं वाचः सत्यमशीमहि
पशूनां रूपमन्नस्य मयि श्रीः श्रयतां यशः

manasaḥ kāmamākūtiṃ vācaḥ satyamaśīmahi
paśūnāṃ rūpamannasya mayi śrīḥ śrayatāṃ yaśaḥ

May Sri dwell in me as inner glory and outer prosperity

कर्दमेन प्रजाभूता मयि सम्भव कर्दम
श्रियं वासय मे कुले मातरं पद्ममालिनीम्

kardamena prajābhūtā mayi sambhava kardama
śriyaṃ vāsaya me kule mātaraṃ padmamālinīm

O Kardama, bring your mother Lakshmi to dwell in my family

आपः सृजन्तु स्निग्धानि चिक्लीत वस मे गृहे
नि च देवीं मातरं श्रियं वासय मे कुले

āpaḥ sṛjantu snigdhāni ciklīta vasa me gṛhe
ni ca devīṃ mātaraṃ śriyaṃ vāsaya me kule

O Chiklita, bring moisture and beauty and let Lakshmi dwell in my home

आर्द्रां पुष्करिणीं पुष्टिं पिङ्गलां पद्ममालिनीम्
चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह

ārdrāṃ puṣkariṇīṃ puṣṭiṃ piṅgalāṃ padmamālinīm
candrāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīṃ jātavedo ma āvaha

O Jatavedo, invoke for me that nourishing Lakshmi with moon-like golden radiance

आर्द्रां यः करिणीं यष्टिं सुवर्णां हेममालिनीम्
सूर्यां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह

ārdrāṃ yaḥ kariṇīṃ yaṣṭiṃ suvarṇāṃ hemamālinīm
sūryāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīṃ jātavedo ma āvaha

O Jatavedo, invoke for me that Lakshmi radiant like the sun

तां म आवह जातवेदो लक्ष्मीमनपगामिनीम्
यस्यां हिरण्यं प्रभूतं गावो दास्योऽश्वान् विन्देयं पूरुषानहम्

tāṃ ma āvaha jātavedo lakṣmīmanapagāminīm
yasyāṃ hiraṇyaṃ prabhūtaṃ gāvo dāsyo’śvān vindeyaṃ pūruṣānaham

Invoke that ever-abiding Lakshmi by whose grace abundance manifests

यः शुचिः प्रयतो भूत्वा जुहुयादाज्यमन्वहम्
सूक्तं पञ्चदशर्चं च श्रीकामः सततं जपेत्

yaḥ śuciḥ prayato bhūtvā juhuyādājyamanvaham
sūktaṃ pañcadaśarcaṃ ca śrīkāmaḥ satataṃ japet

Those who recite these verses with purity attain Sri

पद्मानने पद्म ऊरु पद्माक्षी पद्मासम्भवे
त्वं मां भजस्व पद्माक्षी येन सौख्यं लभाम्यहम्

padmānane padma ūru padmākṣī padmāsambhave
tvaṃ māṃ bhajasva padmākṣī yena saukhyaṃ labhāmyaham

O lotus-born Lakshmi, dwell in me and grant divine bliss

अश्वदायि गोदायि धनदायि महाधने
धनं मे जुषतां देवि सर्वकामांश्च देहि मे

aśvadāyi godāyi dhanadāyi mahādhane
dhanaṃ me juṣatāṃ devi sarvakāmāṃśca dehi me

Grant me wealth and fulfillment of all desires

पुत्रपौत्र धनं धान्यं हस्त्यश्वादिगवे रथम्
प्रजानां भवसि माता आयुष्मन्तं करोतु माम्

putrapautra dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ hastyaśvādigave ratham
prajānāṃ bhavasi mātā āyuṣmantaṃ karotu mām

Bless me with prosperity, lineage and long life

धनमग्निर्धनं वायुर्धनं सूर्यो धनं वसुः
धनमिन्द्रो बृहस्पतिर्वरुणं धनमश्नुते

dhanamagnirdhanaṃ vāyurdhanaṃ sūryo dhanaṃ vasuḥ
dhanamindro bṛhaspatirvaruṇaṃ dhanamaśnute

You are the power behind all cosmic forces

वैनतेय सोमं पिब सोमं पिबतु वृत्रहा
सोमं धनस्य सोमिनो मह्यं ददातु सोमिनः

vainateya somaṃ piba somaṃ pibatu vṛtrahā
somaṃ dhanasya somino mahyaṃ dadātu sominaḥ

Grant me divine bliss, O possessor of soma

न क्रोधो न च मात्सर्य न लोभो नाशुभा मतिः
भवन्ति कृतपुण्यानां भक्तानां श्रीसूक्तं जपेत्सदा

na krodho na ca mātsarya na lobho nāśubhā matiḥ
bhavanti kṛtapuṇyānāṃ bhaktānāṃ śrīsūktaṃ japetsadā

Devotees who recite Sri Suktam are free from negativity

वर्षन्तु ते विभावरि दिवो अभ्रस्य विद्युतः
रोहन्तु सर्वबीजान्यव ब्रह्म द्विषो जहि

varṣantu te vibhāvari divo abhrasya vidyutaḥ
rohantu sarvabījānyava brahma dviṣo jahi

Shower your grace and destroy all hatred

पद्मप्रिये पद्मिनि पद्महस्ते पद्मालये पद्मदलायताक्षि
विश्वप्रिये विष्णु मनोऽनुकूले त्वत्पादपद्मं मयि सन्निधत्स्व

padmapriye padmini padmahaste padmālaye padmadalāyatākṣi
viśvapriye viṣṇu mano’nukūle tvatpādapadmaṃ mayi sannidhatsva

May your lotus feet abide within me

य एवं वेद
ॐ महादेव्यै च विद्महे विष्णुपत्नी च धीमहि
तन्नो लक्ष्मीः प्रचोदयात्
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

ya evaṃ veda
oṃ mahādevyai ca vidmahe viṣṇupatnī ca dhīmahi
tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

Description of Sri Suktam

The Śrī Sūkta (also called Shri Suktam) is a collection of ancient Sanskrit devotional hymns, specifically a hymn in praise of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is revered as the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fertility.Here’s a more detailed explanation:

• Meaning of “Sri” and “Suktam”: “Sri” signifies Mother Divine, opulence, prosperity, refuge, and progress, while “Suktam” means eloquence, an ode of praise, or a hymn worthy of recitation.
• Origin and Purpose: The Śrī Sūkta is believed to be one of the earliest recorded Sanskrit hymns, originating from the Rig Veda, and is considered a powerful Vedic mantra.
• Invocation and Benefits: Reciting the Śrī Sūkta is believed to invoke the grace of Lakshmi, bringing prosperity, peace, and all-round abundance to the chanter and those they influence.
• Content: The Śrī Sūkta describes Lakshmi as glorious, ornamented, royal, lustrous as gold, and radiant as fire, moon, and the sun.
• Significance: The Śrī Sūkta is considered a powerful tool for attracting abundance and nurturance, and for experiencing life’s fullness.
• Other Names and Associations: The Śrī Sūkta is also known as the “Shri Suktam” or “Shri Suktam” and is one of the central texts of Sri Vidya, a Hindu Tantric system dedicated to the worship of the Mother Goddess.
• Sadhana: The Sri Suktam is also used in Sri Suktam Sadhana, a spiritual practice that involves chanting the verses and making offerings to Lakshmi.

This hymn is found in the Rig Vedic khilanis, which are appendices to the Rigveda that date to pre-Buddhist times. The Śrī Sūkta is one of the Pañca-Sūktam (5 Suktams) recited during the 3-hour long Thirumanjanam of Venkateswara, at the famed ancient Hill Shrine of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The Thirumanjanam to the main deity is performed every Friday.

Sri Suktam

The sacred hymn Sri Suktam is one of the most revered Vedic prayers dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the divine embodiment of wealth, prosperity, beauty, purity, peace, and spiritual abundance. Chanted for centuries by sages, devotees, and spiritual seekers, Sri Suktam occupies a special place in Hindu spiritual traditions because of its deep spiritual vibrations and divine significance. This ancient hymn is found in the Rig Veda Khila portion and is considered highly auspicious for invoking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. The verses glorify the radiant form of the Divine Mother and describe her as the source of abundance, harmony, fortune, and well-being in both material and spiritual life. The wisdom and spiritual power contained within Sri Suktam continue to inspire millions of devotees across the world who seek divine grace, inner peace, and prosperity.

The chanting of this sacred hymn is not merely meant for obtaining material wealth but also for attaining purity of mind, spiritual growth, and righteous living. The divine energy invoked through Sri Suktam purifies the surroundings and fills the heart with devotion, positivity, and divine consciousness. According to spiritual traditions, Goddess Lakshmi blesses those who lead a life of honesty, compassion, humility, discipline, and devotion. Therefore, the recitation of the hymn is often accompanied by spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, charity, and selfless service. The ancient sages understood that true prosperity includes not only financial well-being but also peace, wisdom, good health, moral values, and spiritual fulfilment.

The verses of the hymn beautifully describe Goddess Lakshmi seated on a lotus, shining with divine brilliance, surrounded by purity and auspiciousness. The lotus itself symbolises spiritual awakening, purity amidst worldly life, and divine beauty. Through regular chanting of Sri Suktam, devotees cultivate positive thoughts, faith in divine grace, and a peaceful state of mind. The vibrations produced by the sacred mantras are believed to create harmony in the home and remove negative energies. In many Hindu households, temples, and spiritual gatherings, the hymn is recited during Friday worship, Lakshmi puja, Diwali celebrations, and other sacred occasions dedicated to the Divine Mother.

The spiritual significance of Sri Suktam extends far beyond rituals and ceremonies. It teaches humanity the importance of gratitude, righteousness, humility, and devotion. Goddess Lakshmi is not merely the giver of material wealth; she also represents divine virtues such as compassion, generosity, purity, patience, and spiritual wisdom. A person blessed with divine prosperity uses wealth for noble purposes, charity, service, and the welfare of others. Thus, the hymn reminds devotees that prosperity should always be accompanied by moral responsibility and spiritual awareness. The teachings associated with Goddess Lakshmi encourage individuals to maintain harmony in relationships, purity in actions, and sincerity in spiritual practice.

In the modern world, people often become trapped in stress, greed, competition, and endless desires. In such times, the sacred wisdom of Sri Suktam provides spiritual balance and inner strength. The hymn encourages individuals to look beyond temporary pleasures and cultivate lasting peace through devotion and divine remembrance. The regular recitation of the sacred verses helps calm the mind and develop faith, contentment, and positivity. Many spiritual practitioners believe that chanting the hymn with sincerity creates an atmosphere of peace and divine protection within the home and heart.

Ancient spiritual traditions also explain that Goddess Lakshmi resides wherever truth, cleanliness, discipline, kindness, and devotion are present. Homes filled with anger, dishonesty, selfishness, and negativity are considered unfit for divine grace. Therefore, the practice of chanting Sri Suktam is often combined with maintaining purity in thought, word, and action. Spiritual seekers are encouraged to cultivate virtues such as self-control, compassion, humility, and gratitude while performing worship. Through sincere devotion and righteous conduct, one gradually becomes worthy of receiving divine blessings and spiritual prosperity.

The sacred hymn is also closely connected with spiritual energy and the awakening of higher consciousness. The sound vibrations of Vedic mantras have been honoured for thousands of years because of their transformative effect on the mind and soul. The chanting of Sri Suktam creates a sense of sacredness, devotion, and divine awareness within the individual. As the mind becomes calm and focused, spiritual understanding deepens, and the seeker experiences greater inner harmony. The hymn thus serves as both a devotional prayer and a path toward spiritual refinement and self-purification.

Many spiritual organisations and devotional platforms continue to preserve and spread the sacred teachings associated with Goddess Lakshmi and Vedic wisdom. Devotional india has played an important role in introducing spiritual seekers to ancient hymns, mantras, and devotional traditions that nourish both the heart and soul. Through sacred teachings, bhajans, mantras, and spiritual guidance, Devotional india helps devotees connect with the timeless wisdom of Sanatana Dharma and Vedic spirituality. The preservation of sacred hymns and spiritual traditions ensures that future generations remain connected to divine culture, devotion, and righteous living.

The spiritual beauty of Sri Suktam lies in its ability to unite material well-being with spiritual wisdom. It reminds humanity that true prosperity is not measured only by external possessions but by purity of heart, peace of mind, devotion to God, and compassion toward others. The hymn encourages seekers to live with gratitude, humility, and awareness of the Divine presence in all aspects of life. Through sincere recitation and spiritual discipline, devotees gradually experience greater peace, positivity, faith, and inner fulfilment.

Even today, countless devotees begin their mornings with the sacred recitation of Sri Suktam to invite divine blessings, auspiciousness, and spiritual harmony into their lives. The timeless wisdom contained in the hymn continues to illuminate hearts and inspire devotion across generations. The teachings associated with Goddess Lakshmi encourage humanity to lead a balanced life rooted in righteousness, devotion, and selfless service. Through the efforts of spiritual communities and platforms like Devotional india, the sacred message of divine prosperity and spiritual awakening continues to guide seekers toward peace, harmony, and divine grace.

-Sarva Mangala Mangalye