MAHALAKSHMI

The four famous stotras in praise of goddess Lakshmi are Saint Yamunacharya's Chatussloki, Kurattalwar's  Sristava, Parasara Bhatta's Sri Gunaratnakosa and the Sristuti by Vedanta desikar. others too like Sri suktam and Kanakadhara Stotra too give us the Picture of the Thayar through the eyes of great seers and sages.
The first and the foremost description of Thayar is what is given by the three alvars who were blessed with the vision of the divine couple. Two of them lit lamps the third alwar Pey alwar saw the divine vision. He began to describe what he saw as

Thiru kanden ponmeni kanden tigazhum
Arutkanni niranmum kanden - serukkilirum
Ponnazhi kanden - parisangam kaikanden
Yennazhi vannan pal inru

Thiru kanden ponmeni kanden means I saw Thiru. Thiru in Tamil stands for Lakshmi or Sri.
the alwars first saw  Lakshmi and then only the Lord.
The word SRI has been interpreted in six ways in Bhagavat sastras (Pancha ratra) etimologically.
S'riyate      (is resorted to)
S'rayate     (resorts to)
S'rnoti       (listens)
S'ravayati  (makes listen)
S'rnati       (removes)
S'rinati      (makes ripe)

Mahalakshmi personifies the concept of a life of health happiness and prosperity. She is the goddess of fortune and prosperity and bestower of wellbeing and wealth. She was one of the fourteen precious items emerging from the ocean of milk with a lotus in her hand during Amritamanthana.
She is regarded as the goddess of wealth, fortune, love, beauty, Māyā, Yoga Maya, joy and prosperity. She is both the wife and divine energy (shakti) of Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism and the Supreme Being in the Vaishnava tradition. Lakshmi is often depicted with Saraswati and Parvati as forming the trinity (Tridevi). It is described that for mankind, 8 types of goals (lakshmi) are necessary according to Hinduism: spiritual enlightenment, food, knowledge, resources, progeny, abundance, patience, and success. Hence there are Ashta Lakshmis ('Eight Lakshmis'): Ādi ('primeval'), Dhānya ('grain'), Vidya ('knowledge'), Dhana ('money'), Santāna ('progeny'), Gaja ('elephant'), Dhairya ('courage'), and Vijaya ('victorious') Lakshmi.

Lakshmi is depicted in Indian art as an elegantly dressed, prosperity-showering golden-coloured woman with an owl as her vehicle, signifying the importance of economic activity in maintenance of life, her ability to move, work and prevail in confusing darkness. She typically stands or sits like a yogin on a lotus pedestal, while holding a lotus in her hand, symbolizing fortune, self-knowledge, and spiritual liberation. Her iconography shows her with four hands, which represent the four aspects of human life important to Hindu culture: dharma, kāma, artha, and moksha.

Archaeological discoveries and ancient coins suggest the recognition and reverence for Lakshmi existing by the 1st millennium BCE. Lakshmi's iconography and statues have also been found in Hindu temples throughout Southeast Asia, estimated to be from the second half of the 1st millennium CE.The festivals of Diwali and Sharad Purnima (Kojagiri Purnima) are celebrated in her honor.

भद्रैषां लक्ष्मीर्निहिताधि वाचि bhadraiṣāṁ lakṣmīrnihitādhi vāci

"an auspicious fortune is attached to their words"

Karagre Vasute Lakshmi, karamadhye Saraswati,
Karamule tu govindaha prabhate karadarshanam.

One tells this sloka on waking up and it is symbolic of seeing Lakshmi first thing in the morning making each day an auspicious beginining.

Sri or Lakshmi occupies a pivotal position in the Srivaishnava system. We have the srisuktam where Lakshmi is refered to as Sri, and addressed as the goddess of plenty, prosperity, charm and golden complexion. She is always associated with Vishnu. Yamunacharya in Chatussloki, describes her as the goddess of plenty, prosperity, compassion and supreme authority. She is so great that even the lord does not know her in full. (so too what man can comprehend a Woman). Without her grace no one can aspire for any welfare, even liberation. Other great poets who have written about her glory are Kuresa, Parasara and Vedanta desikar.
However the two school of Srivaishnavism, the Vadagalai (Nothern) and Tengalai (Southern) are sharply divided regarding the exact status and nature of Lakshmi.

Vadagalai (Vedanta Desikar.)view.                       Tengalai (Pillai Lokacarya's.) view
Sri is the mother of all jivas.                                 Sri is the mother of all jivas.
Sri is all pervasive like God.                                 Sri is atomic in size.
Sri is "isvari"(belongs to category of God)             Sri belongs to category of Jivas but she is
                                                                         superior to all jivas.
Sri is the mediator.                                              Sri is the mediator.
Sri can grant Moksha.                                         Sri cannot grant Moksha.
Sri forms the goal of human life.                          Sri forms the goal of human life.

Sri Ramanujacharya refers to Lakshmi in his Saranagathi gadya as the mother of all, the consort of Lord Narayana. "sriyam devim nityanapayinim ............ saranam aham prapadye".
She tells Hanuman;
"papanam va subhanam va vadharhanam plavangama,
karyam karunam aryena na kaschit na aparadhyati."
"A noble person must be kind even to the most abominable sinners. there is none in this world who does not err."
The concept of Sri or Lakshmi or Periya Piratti (as she is called in Tamil) is unique to Srivaishnavism and has no parallel in any other religion or philosophy in the world. Right from the Vedic times to the present days there are innumerable texts extolling her Glory her constant presence and total unity with the Lord. She being the Upaya, Upeya and also the Mediatrix (Purusakara interceding between the souls and the Supreme being.
A few extracts from the vedas and puranas to understand Goddess Lakshmi's all pervading attributes.

Laksmya saha Hrsikeso divya karunya rupaya,
Raksakassarva siddhante Vedante api ca giyate.
Hrsikesa along with lakshmi with their divine merciful forms are the protectors of the entire cosmos. From Lakshmi Tantra.

Deva tiryanmanusyesu punnama Bhagavan Harih,
Strinami Lakshmih Maitreya nanayorvidyate param.
O Maitreya! among celestials, human beings and animals there are none greater than Lord Hari among males and Goddess Lakshmi among females. Sage Parasara.
Raghavatve abhavat Sita Rukmini Krsnajanmani,
Anyesu cavataresu Visnoresa anapayini.
Sita appeared along Lord Raghava while rukmini came with Krishna so also in all other advents also she appears when he does)
Nityamesa Jaganmata Visnosriranapayini.
Yatha sarvagato Vishustadaivayam dvijottama.
Just like Visnu, she is pervading all never leaving him. she is the universal mother, O highest among Brahmins.
Sri Parasara in Sri vishnu Purana.

Ananya Raghavenaham Bhaskarena prabha yatha..   (Sri Sita in Sundarakandam)
I am to Lord Raghava what lustre is to the Sun.

From Tiruvoimoli.
Veri marada pumeliruppal vinaitirkkume.
Nin tiruvarulum Pangayattan tiruvarulum kondu nin koil siyttu.
Ahalahilleniraiyum enralarmel mangai yurai marba.
Unakkerkum kola malarppavai.
Yanyanyani yatha sukham viharato rupani sarvanitan,'
Ahnsvairanurupa rupa vibhavai ghadhopa gudha yate.
Sada tavaivocitaya tavasriya.

Yamaambhya sukhenemam dustaramhi gunodadhim,
Niscarantyacirenaiva vyakta dhyana parayanah. 
The wise sages cross the ocean of senses and human existences by clinging to Her alone( Sri Satvata samhita)

Sakrtvibhata Sarvarthi samudra parisosini,
Bhavapankapaharini,
Paranirvana dayini.
She removes the sorrows of human existence and grants eternal bliss. (Brahma Purana)

Sarvakamapradam ramyam samsararnava tarinim,
ksipraprasadinim devim saranyam anucintayet.
those who seek to surrender should constantly meditate on goddess Lakshmi who gratifies all desires and helps to cross the ocean of life and grants prayers instantaneously.( Lord Brahma.)

Vacah param prarthayita prapadyennityatah sriyam.
those who wish to reach Godhead should worship goddess Sri in a disciplined and appropriate manner. sage Saunaka.

Akarasyatu vignanam akarajnana purvakam,
Tenakaram Sriyam jnatva tnatavya bhagavan harih.
It is only after realising Goddess Sri that one could understand Lord Hari.
sreyo nahyaravinda locanamanah kanta prasadadrte,
Samsrtyaksara vaisnavadhvasu nrnam sambhavyate karhicit.
For without the grace of the darling of the heart of the Lotus eyed Narayana bliss is never possible for the souls anywhere, in this world, in the kaivalya and in moksa samrajya. (Sri alavandar in Catuhksloki)

Alamesa paritratum raksasyo mahato bhayat,
Alamasmat paritratum Raghavat raksasi Ganam.
Sita alone can protect the demonesses from destruction as well as Sri Raghava's anger. (trijata in sundarakanda)

Atma vidya ca devi tvam vimukti phala dayini.
O goddess you are the one to grant knowledge of the soul as well as the fruits of liberation. (Indra in Vishnupurana)

Sriyam loke devajustam udaram.
She grants boons bounteously and is worshipped by Gods, for getting their ends accomplished.
Aisvaryamaksaragatim paramam padam va
Kasmaicit anjalibharam vahate vitirya
Asmai na kincit ucitam krtamitya thamba
Tvam lajjase kathaya koayamudara bhavah.
Should a man merely raise his joined hands in obeisance, you are pleased to grant him wealth, eternal soul knowledge and also salvation; yet you feel you have given very little and therefore feel ashamed, what magnanimity is this pray tell me? (Sri Guna Ratnakosa)

yace kim tvamahamiha yatah sitalodara sila
Bhuyo bhuyo disasi mahatam mangalanam prabandhan.
what more should I ask? You shower, without limit or obligation, blessings aplenty, lasting, cool and auspicious! You are so generous indeed! (Sri Stuti)

Yatassatvam tato laksmih.
Where Lakshmi is there exists auspiciousness and goodness. (VishnuPurana)

Yasyaste mahimanamatmana iva tvadvallabhoapi prabhuh
Nalammatumiyattaya niravadhim nityanukulam svatah.
Your greatness is limitless, eternal and full of  bliss. Though your loving consort is omnipotent and omniscient he cannot comprehend it in entrety even as He does not know his own greatness.

Yasyah kataksa viksa ksana laksam laksita Mahesasyuh,
Sri Rangaraja Mahisisa mamapi viksatam Laksmih.
May She, Laksmi, whose single glance brings ordinary mortals prosperity true, Direct Her looks, even a mere askance, towards me and bless me too.