Sri Suktam, also called Sri Sukta, is a Sanskrit sacred devotional hymn revering Sri as Laksmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity, wealth, and fertility. This hymn is chanted with a strict adherence to the Chandas (Sanskrit prosody), to invoke the goddess’ blessings.
This sacred hymn is found in the Rig Vedic khilanis, which are appendices to the Ṛkveda that probably date to pre-Buddhist times. The hymn describes the nama, rupa, swaroopa, greatness of goddess Sri, who is the wife of Lord Vishnu, one of the most important gods in the Hindu pantheon.
This chant is one of the Panca-Suktam (5 Suktams) chanted during the 3-hour long Abhiseka of Venkateswara, at the famed ancient Hill Shrine of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. The Abhisekam to the main deity is performed every Friday. This hymn is also chanted during the daily Arjitha Vasanthotsavam seva.
Goddess Laksmi is also the personification of the spiritual energy called kuṇḍalini within us and the Universe. The Sanskrit word “kundalini” means coiled, like a snake. Also, the goddess embodies the Spiritual World or Vaikuṇtha; the abode of Lakṣmi-Narayaṇa or Viṣhṇu is not to be confused with Heaven, as The Heavenly Planets are still part of the Material Universe. Vaikuṇtha-Dham is purely spiritual, self-illuminating and eternal.
Goddess Laksmi is also supposed to have the Divine characteristics and qualities of God and the soul. She is God’s superior spiritual feminine energy or the Param Prakṛti, which empowers, purifies, and uplifts the individual. Thus, Laksmi is called the Goddess of Fortune.
Furthermore, the term Lakshmi has been associated with wealth and prosperity but interestingly, it is just one of the traits and characteristics related to the Divine Mother. Almost everyone worships the divine mother for money and improving finances in their lives. Remember that partial worship/prayer would yield partial results only.
The goddess assumed 8 forms, known as “ASHTA LAKSHMI” to eradicate poverty of 8 kinds. Our scriptures say that a human being can face poverty on 8 fronts, so it is very important to eradicate all with the divine blessings of Shri Lakshmi. For more details, we can turn to the Lakshmi Tantra, a Pancharatra text which takes the form of a dialogue between Indra and Lakshmi.
Chanting Sri Suktam – Vedic mantra benefits:
This mantra is a powerful prayer in which the radiance, glory, beauty, all forms of the Goddess Lakshmi, her motherhood, her divinity, her blessings have been personified. The constant chanting of the hymn satisfies the Divine Mother to the utmost level and she showers her blessings upon her children.
