“Mahalakshmi”

Mahalakshmi is depicted as Devi in her universal form as Shakti. The manifestation of the Devi to kill Mahishasura is formed by the effulgences of all the gods. The Goddess is described as eighteen-armed, bearing a string of beads, battle axe, mace, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, water pot, cudgel, lance, sword, shield, conch, bell, wine cup, trident, noose and the discus sudarsana. She has a complexion of coral and is seated on a lotus. She is known as Ashta Dasa Bhuja Mahalakshmi.

Mahalakshmi is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both either side of Sri Venkateshwara or Vishnu. Bhudevi is the representation and totality of the material world or energy, called the aparam Prakriti, in which she is called Mother Earth. Sridevi is the spiritual world or energy, called the Param Prakriti. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Lakshmi. Lakshmi is the power of Lord Vishnu.

Mahalakshmi is the embodiment of love, from which devotion to God or Bhakti flows from. Lakshmi plays a special role as the mediator between her husband Lord Vishnu and His worldly devotees. While Vishnu is often conceived of as a stern, easily perturbed patriarch, Lakshmi represents a more soothing, warm and approachable mother figure who willingly intervenes in the lives of devotees on His behalf. Often, it is Lakshmi who acts as the advocate for the request of a given mortal. When asking Vishnu for grace or the forgiveness of sins, Hindus often approach Him through the intermediary presence of Lakshmi. She is also the personification of the spiritual energy, called Kundalini, within us and the universe. Also, she embodies the spiritual world, also known as Vaikunta, the abode of Lakshmi-Narayana or Vishnu, or what would be considered Heaven in Vaishnavism. She is also the divine qualities of God and the soul. Lakshmi is the embodiment of God's superior spiritual feminine energy, or the Param Prakriti, which purifies, empowers and uplifts the individual. Hence, she is called the Goddess of Fortune. Due to her motherly feelings and being the consort of Narayan (Supreme Being), she is believed as the Mother of the Universe.

MahaLakshmi Kavcham

अस्य श्री महा लक्ष्मी कवच महा मन्त्रस्य ब्रह्म ऋषि, गयथ्री चन्द,
महालक्ष्मिर देवथा, महा लक्ष्मीर प्रीथ्यर्थे जपे विनियोग.

Asya Sri Maha Lakshmi Kavcha Maha mantrasya Brahma Rishi, Gayathri Chanda,

Mahalakshmir devatha, Maha Lakshmir preethyarthe Jape Viniyoga.

For the Armour of Maha Lakshmi , the sage is Brahma, meter is Gayathri, god addressed is Maha Lakshmi, The chant is started to please Maha Lakshmi.

इन्द्र उवाच :-
समास्थ कवचानां थु थेजस्वि, कवचोथामं,
आत्मा रक्षणं, आरोग्यं, सत्यं, थ्वम् ब्रूहि गीष्पथे. 1

Indra Uvacha:-

Samastha kavachanaam thu thejaswi, Kavachothamam,

Aathma rakshanam, araogyam, sathyam, thwam broohi geeshpathe. 1

Indra said:-

Oh, teacher of devas, be pleased to tell the greatest of armours,

Which is brighter than all other armours,

Which protects the soul, health and is the truth.

श्री गुरुर उवाच :

महा लक्ष्म्यस्थु कवचं प्रवक्ष्यामि समा साथ,
चथुर दशासु लोकेषु रहस्यं ब्रःमनोदिथं. 2

Sri Gurur Uvacha:-

Maha lakshmyasthu kavacham pravakshyami sama satha,

Chathur dasasu lokeshu rahasyam brahmanoditham. 2

Sri Guru said:-

I would tell you in brief , the armour of Maha Lakshmi,

Which is the most secret in fourteen worlds and has been told by Brahma.

ब्राह्मो उवाच :

शिरो मय विष्णु पथ्नि च, ललाटं अम्रुथोतः भव,
चक्षुषि सुविसलक्षि, श्रवणे सगरंबुज. 3

Brahmo Uvacha:-

Siro may Vishnu Pathni cha, lalatam amruthoth bhava,

Chakshushi suvisalakshi, sravane Sagarambuja. 3

Brahama said:-

Let the consort of Vishnu protect my head,

Let my forehead be protected by her who was born with nectar,

Let the broad eyed one protect my eyes,

Let my ears be protected by she who was born out of ocean.

ग्राणं पथु वररोहो, जिह्वम् आम्नाय रूपिणी,
मुखं पथु महा लक्ष्मी, कान्तं वैकुन्त वासिनि. 4

Granam pathu vararoho, jihwam aamnaya roopini,

Mukham pathu maha Lakshmi, kantam vaikunta vasini. 4

Let my nose be protected by the giver of boons,

Let my toungue be protected by, she who has the form of food,

Let my face be protected by Maha Lakshmi,

Let my neck be protected by she who lives in Vaikunta.

श्र्कन्धौ मय जानकी पथु, भुजौ भार्गव नन्दिनी,
बहु ध्वोव् ध्रविनि पथु, करौ हरि वराङ्गन. 5

Skandhou may janaki pathu, bhujou bhargava nandini,

Bahu dhvow dhravini pathu, karou hari varangana. 5

Let my throat be protected by daughter of Janaka,

Let my arms be protected by daughter of Bhrugu,

Let both my both hands be protected by Goddess of wealth,

Let my hands be protected by the blessed lady of Hari.

वक्ष पाहु च स्रिदेवि, हृदयं हरि सुन्दरी,
कुक्षिं च वैष्णवी पथु, नाभिं भुवन मथ्रुक. 6

Vaksha pahu cha sridevi, hrudayam hari sundari,

Kukshim cha Vaishnavi pathu, nabhim bhuvana mathruka. 6

Let Sri Devi protect my breasts,

Let my heart be protected by the beauty of Hari,

Let my belly be protected by Vaishnavi,

Let my stomach be protected by mother of the world.

कटिं च पथु वाराहि, सक्थिनी देव देवथा,
ऊरु नारायणि पथु, जानुनी चन्द्र सोधरि. 7

Katim cha pathu varahi, sakthini deva devatha,

OOru Narayani pathu, Janunee chandra sodhari. 7

Let my hips be protected by Varahi,

Let my joints be protected by goddess of gods,

Let my thighs be protected by Narayani,

Let my knees be protected by sister of moon.

इन्दिरा पथु जङ्गे मय, पधौ भक्था नमस्कृथ,
नखान ठेजस्विनि पथु, सर्वाङ्गं करुनंयि. 8

Indira pathu Jange may, padhou bhaktha Namaskrutha,

Nakhaan Thejaswini pathu, Sarvangam karunamyi. 8

Let my calves be protected by Indira,

Let my feet be protected by her who is saluted by devotees,

Let my nails be protected by she who shines,

And let all parts of my body by the merciful one.

ब्रह्मणा लोक रक्षार्थं निर्मिथं कवचं श्रिया,
य़ेअ पदन्थि महत्ह्मनस्थे, च धन्य जगत त्रये. 9

Brahmana loka rakshartham nirmitham Kavacham sriya,

Yea padanthi mahathmanasthe, cha dhanya Jagat traye. 9

This Armour was composed by Lord Brahma,

For the sake of protection of the world,

And if this is read by great human beings,

They would become richest in all three worlds.

कवचेनवृथानां जनानां, जयध सदा,
मथेव सर्व सुखद, भव थ्वम् आमरेस्वरि. 10

Kavachenavruthanaam jananam, jayadha sada,

Matheva sarva sukhada, Bhava thwam aamareswari. 10

Those people who are protected by this armour,

Would without doubt always achieve victory,

And Oh mother who cares for all people,

Be pleased to become the goddess of devas.

भूय सिधमवप्नोथि, पूर्वोक्थं ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्,
लक्ष्मीर हरि प्रिय पद्म, येतान नाम त्रयं समरन. 11

Bhooya sidhamavapnothi, poorvoktham brahmana swayam,

Lakshmeer hari Priya padma, yetan nama thrayam smaran. 11

Those who constantly pray her would get more,

As has been told by Lord Brahma himself,

If they remember the three holy names .

Lakshmi , darling of Hari and the Lotus.

नमथ्रयमिधं जप्थ्व स यथि परमां श्रियं,
य पदेथ्स च धर्मथ्म, सर्वान कमन्वप्नुयतः. 12

Namathrayamidham japthwa sa yathi paramaam sriyam,

Ya padethsa cha dharmathma, sarvan kamanvapnuyath. 12

Devotees who chant these three names,

Would reach the holiest Goddess Lakshmi,

The holy ones who read it, would get all their desires fulfilled.

इथि ब्रह्म पुराने इन्द्रो उपदिष्टं महा लक्ष्मी कवचं संपूर्णं.

Ithi Brahma purane Indro upadishtam Maha Lakshmi kavacham Sampoornam.

Thus ends the armour of Maha Lakshmi which was taught to Indra and occurs in Brahma Purana.