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The Shri Sukta (Sanskrit: श्रीसूक्तम्, romanized: Śrīsūktam), also called the Shri Suktam, is the earliest recorded Sanskrit devotional hymns that revere Shri-Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fertility.^[1] The Shri Sukta is recited, with a strict adherence to Sanskrit prosody for the veneration of the goddess. This hymn is found in the Rigvedic khilanis, which are appendices to the Rigveda that can be dated back to the pre-Buddhist era.^[2]

Literary sources

The Shri Sukta forms part of the khilanis or appendices to the Rigveda. These were late additions to the Rigveda, found only in the Bāṣkala śākhā, and the hymn exists in several strata that differ both in content and period of composition. For instance, according to J. Scheftelowitz, stratum 1 consists of verses 1–19 (with verses 3–12 addressed to the goddess Shri and 1–2 and 13–17 to Lakshmi), while the second stratum has verses 16–29 (i.e., the second version deletes verses 16–19 of the first). The third stratum, with verses beginning from number 23, similarly overlaps with the second version.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The first stratum is the most commonly attested and is usually appended to the Fifth Mandala of the Rigveda. Most of its verses were probably composed during the period of the Brahmana, with a few added in the Upanishadic times. The second stratum post-dates the first; while the third is attested in a single, more recent, text.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Text and symbolism

The goddess Shri appears in several earlier vedic hymns, and is the personification of auspicious and royal qualities.^[2] Shri Sukta is perhaps the first text in which the homology between Shri and Lakshmi is drawn, and the goddesses are further associated with the god of fire, Agni.^[4] Since the later epic period (ca 400 CE), Shri-Lakshmi is particularly associated with Vishnu as his wife or consort.^[6]

The Shri Sukta describes Shri as glorious, ornamented, royal, lustrous as gold, and radiant as fire, moon, and the sun. She is addressed as the bestower of fame, bounty and abundance in the form of gold, cattle, horses and food; and is entreated to banish her sister Alakshmi (misfortune), who is associated with need, hunger, thirst, and poverty. The hymn also associates Shri with (agrarian) fertility and she is described as the mother of kardama (mud), moist, perceptible through odour, and producing abundant harvest.^[2]

The Shri Sukta uses the motifs of lotus (padma or kamala) and elephant (gaja) – symbols that are consistently linked with the goddess Shri-Lakshmi in later references. The lotus is thought to be symbolic of purity, beauty, spiritual power, life, fertility, growth or, in Tantra, the entire created universe. It is a recurring motif in Hindu (as well as Buddhist and Jain) literature and a lotus growing from Vishnu's navel is said to mark the beginning of a new cosmic creation. The elephants are symbolic of royalty and, in Hindu mythology, are also related with cloud and rain; they thus reinforce Shri-Lakshmi's stature as the goddess of abundance and fertility.^[7]

Later Hindu iconography often represents Shri-Lakshmi in the form of Gaja-Lakshmi, standing on a lotus, flanked by two elephants that are shown showering her with water with their trunks.^[7]^[8]

Recital in Tirumala

The Shri Sukta is one of the Pañca-Sūktam (five Suktams) recited during the 3-hour long Thirumanjanam of Venkateswara, at the famed ancient Hill Shrine of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. The Thirumanjanam to the main deity is performed every Friday. The Shri Suktam is also recited during the daily Arjitha Vasanthotsavam seva.

Citations

^ "Sri Suktam: The Earliest Hymn to Goddess Lakshmi".
^ ^a ^b ^c Kinsley 1999, p. 20
^ ^a ^b Coburn 1988, pp. 258–264
^ ^a ^b ^c Scheftelowitz 1906
^ ^a ^b Scheftelowitz 1921
^ Kinsley 1999, p. 19
^ ^a ^b Kinsley 1999, pp. 21–22
^ Singh 1983, pp. 8–10

References

Kambhampati, Parvathi Kumar (2012), Sri Suktam – The Nature and Characteristics of the World Mother, Dhanishta Publications
Kinsley, David R. (1999), Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., ISBN 81-208-0394-9
Coburn, Thomas B. (1988), Devi Mahatmya: The Crystallization of the Goddess Tradition, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., ISBN 81-208-0557-7
Scheftelowitz, Isidor (1906), Die Apokryphen des Rgveda, Breslau
Scheftelowitz, Isidor (1921), "Sri Sukta", Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, 75, Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft: 37–50
Singh, Om Prakash (1983), Iconography of Gaja-Lakshmī, Bharati Prakashan

External links

"Prapatti.com – English transliteration of Sri sukta" (PDF). (38.1 KB)

[1] "Sri Suktam: The Earliest Hymn to Goddess Lakshmi".

[Kinsley20-2] Kinsley 1999, p. 20

[Coburn-3] Coburn 1988, pp. 258–264

[Sch06-4] Scheftelowitz 1906

[Sch21-5] Scheftelowitz 1921

[Kinsley19-6] Kinsley 1999, p. 19

[Kinsley21-7] Kinsley 1999, pp. 21–22

[Singh8-8] Singh 1983, pp. 8–10

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[File:The Hindu Goddess Shri Lakshmi LACMA M.87.210 (1 of 2).jpg|thumb|Statue of the goddess Shri-Lakshmi, 12-18th century, Odisha.]]
+{{Short description|Rigvedic hymns dedicated to Lakshmi}}
+{{italic title}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
 {{Hinduism small}}
-'''Śrī [[Rigveda#Sukta|Sūkta]]''', also called '''Śrī Sūktam''', is a  [[Sanskrit]] devotional hymn (set of shlokas / [[slokas|Śloka-s]]) revering [[Sri|Śrī]] as [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]], the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity and fertility. Śrī Sūkta is recited, with a strict adherence to the [[vedic meter|Chandas]], to invoke the goddess' blessings. The hymns are found in the [[Khilani|Rig Vedic khilanis]], which are appendices to the [[Rigveda|Ṛkveda]] that probably date to pre-Buddhist times.<ref name = Kinsley20>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|p=20}}</ref>
+The '''Shri Sukta''' ''({{langx|sa|श्रीसूक्तम्|translit=Śrīsūktam}})'', also called the '''Shri Suktam''', is the earliest recorded [[Sanskrit]] devotional [[Shloka|hymns]] that revere [[Shri]]-[[Lakshmi]], the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fertility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/shri-sukta-an-introductory-exposition|title=Sri Suktam: The Earliest Hymn to Goddess Lakshmi|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> The Shri Sukta is recited, with a strict adherence to [[Sanskrit prosody]] for the veneration of the goddess. This hymn is found in the [[Khilani|Rigvedic khilanis]], which are appendices to the [[Rigveda]] that can be dated back to the pre-Buddhist era.<ref name = Kinsley20>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|p=20}}</ref>
+==Literary sources==
-==Source and versions==
+{{Vaishnavism}}
-The Śrī Sūkta forms part of the [[khilani]]s or appendices to the [[Rigveda|Ṛkveda]]. These were late additions to the [[Rigveda|Ṛkveda]], found only in the ''Bāṣkala'' [[shakha|śākhā]], and the hymn themselves exist in several strata that differ both in content and period of composition. For instance, according to J. Scheftelowitz, stratum 1 consists of verses 1–19 (with verses 3–12 addressed to the goddess ''Śri'' and 1–2 and 13–17 to [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]]), while the second stratum has verses 16–29 (i.e., the second version deletes verses 16–19 of the first). The third stratum, with verses beginning from number 23, similarly overlaps with the second version.<ref name = Coburn>{{Harvnb|Coburn|1988|pp=258–264}}</ref><ref name ="  Sch06">{{Harvnb|Scheftelowitz|1906}}</ref><ref name = Sch21>{{Harvnb|Scheftelowitz|1921}}</ref>
+The Shri Sukta forms part of the [[khilani]]s or appendices to the [[Rigveda]]. These were late additions to the Rigveda, found only in the ''Bāṣkala'' [[shakha|śākhā]], and the hymn exists in several strata that differ both in content and period of composition. For instance, according to J. Scheftelowitz, stratum 1 consists of verses 1–19 (with verses 3–12 addressed to the goddess Shri and 1–2 and 13–17 to [[Lakshmi]]), while the second stratum has verses 16–29 (i.e., the second version deletes verses 16–19 of the first). The third stratum, with verses beginning from number 23, similarly overlaps with the second version.<ref name="Coburn">{{Harvnb|Coburn|1988|pp=258–264}}</ref><ref name="Sch06">{{Harvnb|Scheftelowitz|1906}}</ref><ref name="Sch21">{{Harvnb|Scheftelowitz|1921}}</ref>
-The first stratum is the most commonly attested and is usually appended to the [[Mandala 5|Fifth Mandala of Ṛkveda (Rigveda)]]. Most of its verses were probably composed during the period of the [[Brahmanas|Brāhmaṇa]], with a few added in the [[Upanishad|Upaniṣad]]ic times. The second stratum post-dates the first; while the third is attested in a single, more recent, text.<ref name = Coburn/><ref name ="  Sch06"/><ref name ="  Sch21"/>
+The first stratum is the most commonly attested and is usually appended to the [[Mandala 5|Fifth Mandala of the Rigveda]]. Most of its verses were probably composed during the period of the [[Brahmanas|Brahmana]], with a few added in the [[Upanishad]]ic times. The second stratum post-dates the first; while the third is attested in a single, more recent, text.<ref name="Coburn" /><ref name="Sch06" /><ref name="Sch21" />
 ==Text and symbolism==
-[[File:Ravi Varma-Lakshmi.jpg|thumb|125px|left|[[Raja Ravi Varma]]'s painting of [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]]]].
-The goddess ''Śrī'' appears in several earlier vedic hymns, and is the personification of auspicious and royal qualities.<ref name = Kinsley20/> Śrī Sūkta is perhaps the first text in which the homology between ''Śrī'' and ''Lakṣmī'' is drawn, and the goddesses are further associated with the god of fire, [[Agni]].<ref name = Sch06/> Since the later epic period (ca 400 CE), Śrī-Lakṣmī is particularly associated with [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]] as his wife or consort.<ref name = Kinsley19>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|p=19}}</ref>
+The goddess Shri appears in several earlier vedic hymns, and is the personification of auspicious and royal qualities.<ref name = Kinsley20/> Shri Sukta is perhaps the first text in which the homology between Shri and Lakshmi is drawn, and the goddesses are further associated with the god of fire, [[Agni]].<ref name = Sch06/> Since the later epic period (ca 400 CE), Shri-Lakshmi is particularly associated with [[Vishnu]] as his wife or consort.<ref name = Kinsley19>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|p=19}}</ref>
-The ''Śrī Sūkta'' describes ''Śrī '' as glorious, ornamented, royal, lustrous as gold, and radiant as fire, moon and the sun. She is addressed as the bestower of  fame, bounty and abundance in the form of gold, cattle, horses and food; and entreated to banish her sister ''alakṣmī'' (misfortune), who is associated with need, hunger, thirst and poverty. The hymn also associates ''Śrī'' with (agrarian) fertility and she is described as the mother of ''Kārdama'' (mud), moist, perceptible through odour, dwelling in cowdung and producing abundant harvest.<ref name = Kinsley20/>
+The Shri Sukta describes Shri as glorious, ornamented, royal, lustrous as gold, and radiant as fire, moon, and the sun. She is addressed as the bestower of fame, bounty and abundance in the form of gold, cattle, horses and food; and is entreated to banish her sister [[Alakshmi]] (misfortune), who is associated with need, hunger, thirst, and poverty. The hymn also associates Shri with (agrarian) fertility and she is described as the mother of ''kardama'' (mud), moist, perceptible through odour, and producing abundant harvest.<ref name = Kinsley20/>
-The ''Śrī Sūkta'' uses the motifs of [[lotus (plant)|lotus]] (''padma'' or ''kamala'') and [[elephant]] (''gaja'')&nbsp;– symbols that are consistently linked  with the goddess ''Śrī-Lakṣmī'' in later references. The lotus is thought to be symbolic of purity, beauty, spiritual power, life, fertility, growth or, in [[Tantra]], the entire created universe. It is a recurring motif in Hindu (as well as [[Buddhist]] and [[Jain]]) literature and a lotus growing from [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]]'s navel is said to mark the beginning of a new cosmic creation. The elephants are symbolic of royalty and, in Hindu mythology, are also  related with cloud and rain; they thus reinforce ''Śrī-Lakṣmī'''s stature as the goddess of abundance and fertility.<ref name = Kinsley21>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|pp=21–22}}</ref>
+The Shri Sukta uses the motifs of [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]] (''padma'' or ''kamala'') and [[elephant]] (''[[gaja]]'') – symbols that are consistently linked with the goddess Shri-Lakshmi in later references. The lotus is thought to be symbolic of purity, beauty, spiritual power, life, fertility, growth or, in [[Tantra]], the entire created universe. It is a recurring motif in Hindu (as well as [[Buddhist]] and [[Jain]]) literature and a lotus growing from [[Vishnu]]'s navel is said to mark the beginning of a new cosmic creation. The elephants are symbolic of royalty and, in Hindu mythology, are also related with cloud and rain; they thus reinforce Shri-Lakshmi's stature as the goddess of abundance and fertility.<ref name = Kinsley21>{{Harvnb|Kinsley|1999|pp=21–22}}</ref>
-Later [[Hindu iconography]] often represents ''Śrī-Lakṣmī'' in the form of ''Gaja-Lakṣmī'', standing on a lotus, flanked by two elephants that are shown showering her with water with their trunks.<ref name = Kinsley21/><ref name = Singh8>{{Harvnb|Singh|1983|pp=8–10}}</ref>
+Later [[Hindu iconography]] often represents Shri-Lakshmi in the form of [[Gajalakshmi|Gaja-Lakshmi]], standing on a lotus, flanked by two elephants that are shown showering her with water with their trunks.<ref name = Kinsley21/><ref name = Singh8>{{Harvnb|Singh|1983|pp=8–10}}</ref>
-==Significance==
-The Śrī Sūktam assumes specific significance because of Śrī [[Mahalakshmi|Mahālakṣmī]]'s presence on Lord Śrī Venkaṭeśvara, at Tirumala, or [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]]'s chest, at the Heart. Lakṣmi is the embodiment of Love, from which devotion to God or [[Bhakti]] flows. It is through Love/Bhakti or [[Lakshmi|Lakṣmī]] that the [[Atma (Hinduism)|Ātmā]] or soul is able to reach God or Viṣṇu.
-Śrī or Lakṣmī is also the personification of the spiritual energy within us and universe called [[Kundalini energy|kuṇḍalinī]]. Also, She embodies the Spiritual World or [[Vaikunta|Vaikuṇtha]]; the abode of Lakṣmī-[[Narayana|Nārāyaṇa]] or Viṣṇu, not to be confused with Heaven, as The Heavenly Planets are still part of the Material Universe. Vaikuṇtha-Dham is purely spiritual, eternal and self illuminating.  She is also supposed to have the Divine qualities of God and the soul. Lakshmi is God's superior spiritual feminine energy or the Param [[Prakriti|Prākṛti]], which purifies, empowers and uplifts the individual. Hence, She is called the Goddess of Fortune.
 ==Recital in Tirumala==
-The Śrī Sūkta is one of the Pañca-Sūktam (5 Suktams) recited during the 3-hour long [[Abhisheka|Thirumanjanam]] of [[Venkateswara]], at the famed ancient Hill Shrine of the [[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. The ''Thirumanjanam'' to the main deity is performed every Friday.
+The Shri Sukta is one of the Pañca-Sūktam (five Suktams) recited during the 3-hour long [[Abhisheka|Thirumanjanam]] of [[Venkateswara]], at the famed ancient Hill Shrine of the [[Tirumala Venkateswara Temple]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. The ''Thirumanjanam'' to the main deity is performed every Friday. The Shri Suktam is also recited during the daily Arjitha Vasanthotsavam ''seva''.
-Śrī Sūktam is also recited during the daily [[Arjitha Vasanthotsavam]] ''seva''.
-==Notes==
+==Citations==
 {{reflist|2}}
 ==References==
-* {{citation| last = Kambhampati| first = Parvathi Kumar| title = [http://www.worldteachertrust.org/books_kpk_sri_suktam_e.htm#Seitenkopf Sri Suktam&nbsp;– The Nature and Characteristics of the World Mother]| publisher = Dhanishta Publications |year = 2012}}
+* {{citation| last = Kambhampati| first = Parvathi Kumar|url=http://www.worldteachertrust.org/books_kpk_sri_suktam_e.htm#Seitenkopf |title=Sri Suktam&nbsp;– The Nature and Characteristics of the World Mother| publisher = Dhanishta Publications |year = 2012}}
 * {{citation| last = Kinsley| first = David R.| title = Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious| publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |year = 1999 | isbn=81-208-0394-9}}
 * {{citation| last =Coburn |first = Thomas B. | title = Devi Mahatmya: The Crystallization of the Goddess Tradition |publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |year = 1988|isbn= 81-208-0557-7}}
@@ Line 39: / Line 38: @@
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.divyajivan.org/ashtalakshmi/sri_suktam.htm Sanskrit text and English translation]
-* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znx82Y4glAk  Youtube.com&nbsp;– Audio rendition of the Sri sukta]
 * {{cite web|url= http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/english/sriisuuktam.pdf   |title=Prapatti.com&nbsp;– English transliteration of Sri sukta }}&nbsp;{{small|(38.1&nbsp;KB)}}
+{{Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala}}
-* [http://www.askganesha.com/puja/shri_suktam.asp श्री सूक्त Sanskrit Salokas, श्री सूक्त Audio & Video Clip]
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Sri Sukta}}
 [[Category:Hindu devotional texts]]
@@ Line 50: / Line 46: @@
 [[Category:Sanskrit texts]]
 [[Category:Vedic hymns]]
-[[Category:Shaktism]]
+[[Category:Lakshmi]]
+[[Category:Rigvedic Suktas]]

v t e Venkateswara Temple
History	Legend Bruce's Code Vaikuntha Varaha Purana
Deities	Tirumala Dhruva Bera Bhoga Srinivasa Malayappa swami Ugra Srinivasa Koluvu Srinivasa Tirumala Krishna
Festivals	Srivari Brahmotsavam Abhideyaka Abhishekam Pavithrotsavam Tirumala Shanivaralu Vasantotsavam
Geography and sites	Tirumala Alipiri Seshachalam Hills Venkata Natural Arch Sapthagiri Tirumala ghat roads Vaikuntam Queue Complex
Architecture	Ananda Nilayam
TTD	Tirupati laddu SVBC Sapthagiri
People related to the temple	Tarigonda Vengamamba Annamacharya
See also	Vaikuntha Ekadasi Garuda Śrī Sūkta