The seed-sound of abundance, Śrīṁ; addressed to Mahālakṣmī with the simplest of salutations.
Lakṣmī, goddess of fortune and nourishment Purāṇic & tantric worship Prosperity
The mantra
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
oṁ śrīṁ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ
Meaning
Oṁ, Śrīṁ (her seed sound); salutations to Mahālakṣmī, the great Lakṣmī.
In the tradition
The śrīṁ bīja is the whole of the request compressed to one humming syllable. Tradition adds a warning-label in story form: Lakṣmī is a flowing goddess, she visits clean, generous, open houses, and leaves the miser’s vault however full it stands.
Sources & further reading
- Śrī Sūkta , the Vedic hymn to Śrī (the goddess invoked as prosperity's living presence)
- Purāṇic & tantric Lakṣmī liturgies , the devotional traditions (the śrīṁ bīja in daily worship)