Original text
महालक्ष्मी नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यं सुरेश्वरि । हरि प्रिये नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यं दयानिधे ॥ पद्मालये नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यं च सर्वदे । सर्वभूत हितार्थाय वसु सृष्टिं सदा कुरु ॥ ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता। तुमको निसदिन सेवत, हर विष्णु विधाता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥ उमा, रमा, ब्रह्माणी, तुम ही जग माता। सूर्य चंद्रमा ध्यावत, नारद ऋषि गाता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥ दुर्गा रूप निरंजनि, सुख-संपत्ति दाता। जो कोई तुमको ध्याता, ऋद्धि-सिद्धि धन पाता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥ तुम ही पाताल निवासनि, तुम ही शुभदाता। कर्म-प्रभाव-प्रकाशनि, भवनिधि की त्राता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥ जिस घर तुम रहती, तहँ सब सद्गुण आता। सब संभव हो जाता, मन नहीं घबराता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥ तुम बिन यज्ञ न होते, वस्त्र न कोई पाता। खान-पान का वैभव, सब तुमसे आता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥ शुभ गुण मंदिर सुंदर, क्षीरोदधि जाता। रत्न चतुर्दश तुम बिन, कोई नहीं पाता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥ महालक्ष्मी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गाता। उर आनंद समाता, पाप उतर जाता॥ ॥ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता॥
Transliteration
Mahalakshmi Namastubhyam Namastubhyam Sureshwari. Hari Priye Namastubhyam Namastubhyam Dayanidhe. Padmalaye Namastubhyam Namastubhyam Cha Sarvade. Sarvabhoot Hitarthaya Vasu Srishtim Sada Kuru. Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, Maiya Jai Lakshmi Mata. Tumako Nisidin Sevat, Har Vishnu Vidhata. (Refrain) Uma, Rama, Brahmani, Tum Hi Jag Mata. Surya Chandrama Dhyavat, Narad Rishi Gata. (Refrain) Durga Roop Niranjani, Sukh-Sampatti Data. Jo Koi Tumako Dhyata, Riddhi-Siddhi Dhan Pata. (Refrain) Tum Hi Patal Nivasani, Tum Hi Shubhadata. Karma-Prabhav-Prakashani, Bhavanidhi Ki Trata. (Refrain) Jis Ghar Tum Rahti, Tanh Sab Sadgun Ata. Sab Sambhav Ho Jata, Man Nahi Ghabrata. (Refrain) Tum Bin Yagya Na Hote, Vastra Na Koi Pata. Khan-Pan Ka Vaibhav, Sab Tumse Ata. (Refrain) Shubh Gun Mandir Sundar, Ksheerodadhi Jata. Ratna Chaturdash Tum Bin, Koi Nahi Pata. (Refrain) Mahalakshmi Ji Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Nar Gata. Ur Anand Samata, Paap Utar Jata. (Refrain)
Where the opening verse comes from
The aarti traditionally opens with a Sanskrit invocation, "Mahalakshmi Namastubhyam," a separate, older verse of salutation to Lakshmi as the consort of Hari (Vishnu) and the bestower of grace, before moving into the Hindi aarti itself, "Om Jai Lakshmi Mata."
What the aarti praises her for
Each verse names a different aspect of Lakshmi's presence — as the one worshipped alongside Uma and Brahmani, as the one who grants wealth and success (riddhi-siddhi) to those who meditate on her, as the source of the fourteen jewels churned from the ocean of milk, and as the one whose presence in a household brings virtue and steadiness of mind. The recurring idea across verses is that prosperity, in this framework, isn't only material — it includes good conduct and mental calm as much as wealth.
When it's sung
This is the standard aarti sung during Lakshmi Puja on Diwali, and is also commonly sung on Fridays, the day of the week traditionally associated with her.