Meaning & Translation
Sanskrit
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Transliteration
Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namaha
Pronunciation
Deity / Quality Invoked
Lakshmi
Full Translation
A salutation to Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, beauty, and grace, invoked here in her great form, Maha-Lakshmi. The seed-syllable "Shreem" is her bija mantra — a sound-vibration that calls in both worldly abundance and inner, spiritual wealth.
Spiritual Significance
Lakshmi's abundance is understood to be more than material: she is the flow of grace, well-being, and beauty through life. Chanting her seed mantra is a way of opening to receive — and of recognizing the divine within prosperity itself.
For Leaders
Chords and structure for leading this chant on harmonium or guitar — transcribed from the linked recording. New to leading? Read our guide to leading kirtan →
Original key
D
Tempo & feel
Soft japa-like repetition (~72 bpm); abundant, settled, unhurried
Chord Chart
Strumming & rhythm (4/4)
D = downstrum, U = upstrum, · = let it ring. soft japa pulse: even boom-chick, settled and unhurried.
Call & Response Structure
Essentially a one-chord D drone — the recording sits on D for whole minutes, with A appearing only as a brief breath before each return. Sing it like japa: identical call and response, letting the single harmony hold while the mantra does the work.