I have been using a free software called Baraha to write Kannada in English and using the normal keyboard. Within just a few minutes after you download the software you are ready to start using the program. It’s so easy. I use this software to write emails to my Mother-in-law in Bangalore.
I am also using this to write all the lyrics I am adding in my web log as well. This software isn’t just for Kannada, you can also write Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati and many other languages. I have tested my lyrics with Kannada & Devanagari. Copy all the lyrics from this weblog and paste it in the bottom half of the software, and click on the Convert toolbar button. Its really fun and easy. If you are having any problems using this software, just reply to this thread. I will help you. 
Here is a screen shot of Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam lyrics written in Baraha:
And here it is in Devanagari script:
This simple prayer is very ancient and has been chanted by generations for solving all their problems. This is one of the most popular Lakshmi stotras.
namastEstu mahAmAye shrIpIThe surapUjite
shaMkhacakra gadAhaste mahAlakShmi namostu tenamaste garuDA rUDhe kolAsura bhayankari
sarvapApa hare dEvi mahAlakShmi namostu tesarvajne sarva varade sarva duShTabhayakari
sarvaduHkha hare dEvi mahAlakShmi namostu tesiddhi buddhi prade dEvi bhukti mukti pradAyini
mantramUrte sadA dEvi mahAlakShmi namostu teAdyantarahite dEvi Adishakti maheshvari
yogajne yoga sambhUte mahAlakShmi namostu testhUla sUkShma mahAraudre mahAshakti mahodare
mahApApahare dEvi mahAlakShmi namostu tepadmAsana sthite dEvi para brahma svarUpiNi
parameshi jaganmAtaH mahAlakShmi namostu teshvetAmbaradhare dEvi nAnAlaNkAra bhUShite
jagatsthite jaganmAtaH mahAlakShmi namostu temahAlakShmyaShTakaM stotraM yaH paThed bhakti mAnnaraH
sarva siddhi mavApnoti rAjyaM prApnoti sarvadAekakAle paThEnnityaM mahApApa vinAshanam
dvikAlaM yaH paThEnnityaM dhanadhAnya samanvitaHtrikAlaM yaH paThEnnityaM mahAshatru vinAshanam
mahAlakShmIr bhavEnnityaM prasannA varadA shubhAiti shrI mahalakshmyashtakam saMpUrNam
Posted by Lalitha Rao on December 27, 2007 at 3:36 pm
How do you write emails in Kannada? I have Baraha in our house.
Posted by meeraghu on December 27, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Hi Aunty,
I send it as an attachment.
Posted by aa on August 1, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Hi,
Many thanks for the Baraha rendering of this prayer. It was very useful.
Namaskara.
Posted by Radha on October 16, 2008 at 1:29 am
I want song arathiya etthire devige arisina kunkuma achchi song from kannada
Posted by meeraghu on October 16, 2008 at 6:47 am
Radha,
I haven’t heard that song. Any idea who the composer is?
Posted by Jillian on February 19, 2009 at 2:20 am
Hi I came across your webpage and i downloaded the software baraha because I wanted to translate something from english into devanagari script, but the only problem is that the first word namaste looks a little bit different than that of other translations I see on the internet, so I’m not sure if I am doing something wrong. I was wondering if you could help me
Posted by ramya on July 7, 2009 at 4:29 am
can anyone send the same in tamil script
Posted by meera on August 25, 2009 at 2:53 pm
hi would someone kindly translate “jai shree krishna” or “jai shri krishna” into sanskrit writting for me as i want to get a tattoo done and dont wont the wrong text tattooed on me .. thank you in advance
Posted by meeraghu on August 25, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Meera,
It is added at the top of this post.Enjoy getting the Tattoo.
Posted by Muralidhar on November 16, 2009 at 4:08 am
send me more about pojas
Posted by chethan B E on May 26, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Hello All,
Could you please send me the Maha Lakshmi Ashtakam in kannada. I searched a lot in net, but no luck.
Can any body help me in this.
thank you,
with regards,
chethan B E
Posted by meeraghu on May 26, 2010 at 12:04 pm
The lyrics are posted there up at the top? Not sure I understand your request.
Posted by Manjula on July 16, 2010 at 5:57 am
Could you please send me the Maha Lakshmi Ashtakam in Telugu. I searched a lot in net
Posted by Durgapriye on August 17, 2010 at 4:45 am
Hi Meera,
Baraha is good but editing features are not so good I would like to copy all my kannada docs in kannada to Word to apply formats that is not so easy is there any way we can do this using baraha please explain.
Thanks Durga
Posted by meeraghu on August 17, 2010 at 9:07 am
Try this:
http://www.google.com/transliterate/indic/KANNADA
Posted by nithish on September 25, 2010 at 8:47 am
good
Posted by JAIKISHAN on June 7, 2011 at 11:11 pm
why are you not updating anything after 2007 including the calendar.
Posted by vishnu vardhan m on December 9, 2011 at 1:58 am
plz send me mahalaxmi astakam in telugu
Posted by Meena on February 3, 2012 at 1:14 pm
very good
Posted by usha on April 14, 2012 at 7:07 am
please send Mahalakshmi Ashtakam in Hindi. Itz very nice
Posted by kiran on December 2, 2012 at 9:20 am
thanku
Posted by Radhika on March 9, 2013 at 8:44 am
Hi had wanted the Navagraha stotram, Durga saptashati, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam in Kannada. The provided list in Kannada was making me too difficult to Copy and Paste in Word Format . would you please change the Font for this
Thanks in Advance
My Email Id is rr80896@gmail.com
Would wait for your response