Stotram | Shankaracharya
Kanakadhara Stotram
— By Adi Shankaracharya — The Golden Rain Prayer
Origin Story
Adi Shankaracharya once went to beg alms at a poor Brahmin widow's home. She had only one dried gooseberry (amla) which she offered with devotion. Shankaracharya composed and recited this stotram in praise of Maa Lakshmi — and Maa rained golden gooseberries upon that home.
Complete Kanakadhara Stotram (21 Verses)
Sanskrit original — Adi Shankaracharya
॥ 1 ॥
अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम्। अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला माङ्गल्यदाऽस्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः॥
॥ 2 ॥
मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि। माला दृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः॥
॥ 3 ॥
विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षं आनन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि। ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्धम् इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः॥
॥ 4 ॥
आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दं आनन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम्। आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं भूत्यै भवेन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः॥
॥ 5 ॥
बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति। कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः॥
॥ 6 ॥
कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेः धाराधरे स्फुरति या तडिदङ्गनेव। मातुस्समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिः भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः॥
॥ 7 ॥
प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावात् माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन। मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्धं मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः॥
॥ 8 ॥
दद्याद्दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधारां अस्मिन्नकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे। दुष्कर्मघर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरं नारायणप्रणयिनीनयनाम्बुवाहः॥
॥ 9 ॥
इष्टाविशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र- दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपपदं सुलभं लभन्ते। दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टां पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः॥
॥ 10 ॥
गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति। सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै॥
॥ 11 ॥
श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै। शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै॥
॥ 12 ॥
नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै। नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै॥
॥ 13 ॥
सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि। त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानि मामेव मातरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये॥
॥ 14 ॥
यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः। सन्तनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैः त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे॥
॥ 15 ॥
सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे। भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद मह्यम्॥
॥ 16 ॥
दिग्घस्तिभिः कनककुम्भमुखावसृष्ट- स्वर्वाहिनीविमलचारुजलप्लुताङ्गीम्। प्रातर्नमामि जगतां जननीमशेष- लोकाधिनाथगृहिणीममृताब्धिपुत्रीम्॥
॥ 17 ॥
कमले कमलाक्षवल्लभे त्वं करुणापूरतरङ्गितैरपाङ्गैः। अवलोकय मामकिञ्चनानां प्रथमं पात्रमकृत्रिमं दयायाः॥
॥ 18 ॥
स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमीभिरन्वहं त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम्। गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभागिनो भवन्ति ते भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः॥
॥ 19 ॥
नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै नमोऽस्तु भूमण्डलनायिकायै। नमोऽस्तु देवादिदयापरायै नमोऽस्तु शार्ङ्गायुधवल्लभायै॥
॥ 20 ॥
नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै नमोऽस्तु विष्णोरुरसि स्थितायै। नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्म्यै कमलालयायै नमोऽस्तु दामोदरवल्लभायै॥
॥ 21 ॥
नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै कमलेक्षणायै नमोऽस्तु भूत्यै भुवनप्रसूत्यै। नमोऽस्तु देवादिभिरर्चितायै नमोऽस्तु नन्दात्मजवल्लभायै॥
Verse-by-Verse Meaning
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अङ्गं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती भृङ्गाङ्गनेव मुकुलाभरणं तमालम्। अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला माङ्गल्यदास्तु मम मङ्गलदेवतायाः॥
aṅgaṁ hareḥ pulakabhūṣaṇamāśrayantī bhṛṅgāṅganeva mukulābharaṇaṁ tamālam | aṅgīkṛtākhilavibhūtirapāṅgalīlā māṅgalyadāstu mama maṅgaladevatāyāḥ ||
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Lakshmi's playful sidelong glance rests upon Hari's body — thrilled with the goosebumps of devotion — the way a female bee hovers over a budding tamala tree. That glance itself has taken every glory and opulence into its fold. May this same auspicious glance of the Goddess of good fortune ever bestow blessing upon me.
मुग्धा मुहुर्विदधती वदने मुरारेः प्रेमत्रपाप्रणिहितानि गतागतानि। माला दृशोर्मधुकरीव महोत्पले या सा मे श्रियं दिशतु सागरसम्भवायाः॥
mugdhā muhurvidadhatī vadane murāreḥ premtrapāpraṇihitāni gatāgatāni | mālā dṛśormadhukarīva mahotpale yā sā me śriyaṁ diśatu sāgarasambhavāyāḥ ||
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Her innocent gaze, moving to and fro again and again upon Murari's face out of love mingled with shyness, resembles a garland of bees hovering over a great lotus. May that Ocean-born Goddess, through this very play of her eyes, grant me prosperity.
आमीलिताक्षमधिगम्य मुदा मुकुन्दम् आनन्दकन्दमनिमेषमनङ्गतन्त्रम्। आकेकरस्थितकनीनिकपक्ष्मनेत्रं भूत्यै भवेन्मम भुजङ्गशयाङ्गनायाः॥
āmīlitākṣamadhigamya mudā mukundam ānandakandamanimeṣamanaṅgatantram | ākekarasthitakanīnikapakṣmanetraṁ bhūtyai bhavenmama bhujaṅgaśayāṅganāyāḥ ||
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Gazing at Mukunda with joy, her eyes half-closed and unblinking, that glance which is the very root of bliss and the essence of love, with lashes curved at the corners of her eyes — may this glance of the Consort of the Lord who reclines upon the serpent-bed become the cause of my prosperity.
बाह्वन्तरे मधुजितः श्रितकौस्तुभे या हारावलीव हरिनीलमयी विभाति। कामप्रदा भगवतोऽपि कटाक्षमाला कल्याणमावहतु मे कमलालयायाः॥
bāhvantare madhujitaḥ śritakaustubhe yā hārāvalīva harinīlamayī vibhāti | kāmapradā bhagavato'pi kaṭākṣamālā kalyāṇamāvahatu me kamalālayāyāḥ ||
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Between the arms of Vishnu (slayer of Madhu), near the Kaustubha gem, her row of glances shines like a garland of blue sapphires. That garland of glances, which fulfils even the Lord's own wishes, may it — belonging to Lakshmi who dwells in the lotus — bring auspiciousness to me.
कालाम्बुदालिललितोरसि कैटभारेः धाराधरे स्फुरति या तडिदङ्गनेव। मातुस्समस्तजगतां महनीयमूर्तिः भद्राणि मे दिशतु भार्गवनन्दनायाः॥
kālāmbudālilalitorasi kaiṭabhāreḥ dhārādhare sphurati yā taḍidaṅganeva | mātussamastajagatāṁ mahanīyamūrtiḥ bhadrāṇi me diśatu bhārgavanandanāyāḥ ||
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Upon the beautiful chest of Kaitabha's foe, dark and lovely like a raincloud, she flashes like a streak of lightning. That venerable form who is mother of all worlds — may Bhrigu's daughter, that same Lakshmi, bestow all good fortune upon me.
प्राप्तं पदं प्रथमतः खलु यत्प्रभावात् माङ्गल्यभाजि मधुमाथिनि मन्मथेन। मय्यापतेत्तदिह मन्थरमीक्षणार्धं मन्दालसं च मकरालयकन्यकायाः॥
prāptaṁ padaṁ prathamataḥ khalu yatprabhāvāt māṅgalyabhāji madhumāthini manmathena | mayyāpatettadiha mantharamīkṣaṇārdhaṁ mandālasaṁ ca makarālayakanyakāyāḥ ||
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By whose grace Manmatha (the god of love) first attained his cherished position in the auspicious heart of Madhusudana — may that same slow, gentle, half-languid glance of the Ocean-born maiden fall upon me here.
विश्वामरेन्द्रपदविभ्रमदानदक्षं आनन्दहेतुरधिकं मुरविद्विषोऽपि। ईषन्निषीदतु मयि क्षणमीक्षणार्धं इन्दीवरोदरसहोदरमिन्दिरायाः॥
viśvāmarendrapadavibhramadānadakṣaṁ ānandaheturadhikaṁ muravidviṣo'pi | īṣanniṣīdatu mayi kṣaṇamīkṣaṇārdhaṁ indīvarodarasahodaramindirāyāḥ ||
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That glance which is capable of granting even the rank of Indra to the celestials, and which is the source of supreme joy even for Vishnu, the foe of Mura, and which resembles the inner hue of a blue lotus — may that half-glance of Indira (Lakshmi) rest upon me, if only for a moment.
इष्टा विशिष्टमतयोऽपि यया दयार्द्र- दृष्ट्या त्रिविष्टपदशां सुलभं लभन्ते। दृष्टिः प्रहृष्टकमलोदरदीप्तिरिष्टां पुष्टिं कृषीष्ट मम पुष्करविष्टरायाः॥
iṣṭā viśiṣṭamatayo'pi yayā dayārdra- dṛṣṭyā triviṣṭapadaśāṁ sulabhaṁ labhante | dṛṣṭiḥ prahṛṣṭakamalodaradīptiriṣṭāṁ puṣṭiṁ kṛṣīṣṭa mama puṣkaraviṣṭarāyāḥ ||
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By whose compassion-laden glance even the most learned and exalted easily attain the state of heaven — that glance, radiant as the glow within a blossoming lotus — may Lakshmi, seated upon the lotus throne, cast this desired glance and grant me the nourishment and prosperity I seek.
गीर्देवतेति गरुडध्वजसुन्दरीति शाकम्भरीति शशिशेखरवल्लभेति। सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयकेलिषु संस्थितायै तस्यै नमस्त्रिभुवनैकगुरोस्तरुण्यै॥
gīrdevateti garuḍadhvajasundarīti śākambharīti śaśiśekharavallabheti | sṛṣṭisthitipralayakeliṣu saṁsthitāyai tasyai namastribhuvanaikaguros taruṇyai ||
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Sometimes known as the goddess of speech, sometimes as the beauty beside Garuda-bannered Vishnu, sometimes as Shakambhari, sometimes as the beloved of moon-crested Shiva — she who abides through the divine play of creation, sustenance and dissolution — salutations to that eternally youthful Shakti of the one sole Guru of the three worlds.
श्रुत्यै नमोऽस्तु शुभकर्मफलप्रसूत्यै रत्यै नमोऽस्तु रमणीयगुणार्णवायै। शक्त्यै नमोऽस्तु शतपत्रनिकेतनायै पुष्ट्यै नमोऽस्तु पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभायै॥
śrutyai namo'stu śubhakarmaphalaprasūtyai ratyai namo'stu ramaṇīyaguṇārṇavāyai | śaktyai namo'stu śatapatraniketanāyai puṣṭyai namo'stu puruṣottamavallabhāyai ||
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Salutations to her as Shruti, who bestows the fruits of righteous deeds. Salutations to her as Rati, the ocean of lovely virtues. Salutations to her as Shakti, dwelling in the hundred-petalled lotus. Salutations to her as Pushti, the beloved of Purushottama.
नमोऽस्तु नालीकनिभाननायै नमोऽस्तु दुग्धोदधिजन्मभूम्यै। नमोऽस्तु सोमामृतसोदरायै नमोऽस्तु नारायणवल्लभायै॥
namo'stu nālīkanibhānanāyai namo'stu dugdhodadhijanmabhūmyai | namo'stu somāmṛtasodarāyai namo'stu nārāyaṇavallabhāyai ||
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Salutations to her whose face resembles a lotus. Salutations to her whose birthplace is the ocean of milk. Salutations to her who is sister to the moon and to nectar, both born together from that same churning. Salutations to her, the beloved of Narayana.
नमोऽस्तु हेमाम्बुजपीठिकायै नमोऽस्तु भूमण्डलनायिकायै। नमोऽस्तु देवादिदयापरायै नमोऽस्तु शार्ङ्गायुधवल्लभायै॥
namo'stu hemāmbujapīṭhikāyai namo'stu bhūmaṇḍalanāyikāyai | namo'stu devādidayāparāyai namo'stu śārṅgāyudhavallabhāyai ||
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Salutations to her who is seated on a throne of golden lotus. Salutations to her who is mistress of the whole earth. Salutations to her who is ever compassionate toward the gods and all beings. Salutations to her, the beloved of the wielder of the Sharnga bow.
नमोऽस्तु देव्यै भृगुनन्दनायै नमोऽस्तु विष्णोरुरसि स्थितायै। नमोऽस्तु लक्ष्म्यै कमलालयायै नमोऽस्तु दामोदरवल्लभायै॥
namo'stu devyai bhṛgunandanāyai namo'stu viṣṇor urasi sthitāyai | namo'stu lakṣmyai kamalālayāyai namo'stu dāmodaravallabhāyai ||
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Salutations to the Goddess born in the line of sage Bhrigu. Salutations to her who ever resides upon the chest of Vishnu. Salutations to Lakshmi, who dwells in the lotus. Salutations to her, the beloved of Damodara.
नमोऽस्तु कान्त्यै कमलेक्षणायै नमोऽस्तु भूत्यै भुवनप्रसूत्यै। नमोऽस्तु देवादिभिरर्चितायै नमोऽस्तु नन्दात्मजवल्लभायै॥
namo'stu kāntyai kamalekṣaṇāyai namo'stu bhūtyai bhuvanaprasūtyai | namo'stu devādibhirarcitāyai namo'stu nandātmajavallabhāyai ||
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Salutations to her who is Beauty itself, lotus-eyed. Salutations to her who is Opulence, the mother of all worlds. Salutations to her who is worshipped by all the gods. Salutations to her, the beloved of Nanda's son, Krishna.
सम्पत्कराणि सकलेन्द्रियनन्दनानि साम्राज्यदानविभवानि सरोरुहाक्षि। त्वद्वन्दनानि दुरिताहरणोद्यतानि मामेव मातरनिशं कलयन्तु मान्ये॥
sampatkarāṇi sakalendriyanandanāni sāmrājyadānavibhavāni saroruhākṣi | tvadvandanāni duritāharaṇodyatāni māmeva mātaraniśaṁ kalayantu mānye ||
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O lotus-eyed Mother, may these salutations to you — which bring prosperity, delight every sense, bestow the splendour of an empire, and are ever ready to remove sin — keep me always within your gracious remembrance, O venerable one.
यत्कटाक्षसमुपासनाविधिः सेवकस्य सकलार्थसम्पदः। सन्तनोति वचनाङ्गमानसैः त्वां मुरारिहृदयेश्वरीं भजे॥
yatkaṭākṣasamupāsanāvidhiḥ sevakasya sakalārthasampadaḥ | santanoti vacanāṅgamānasaiḥ tvāṁ murārihṛdayeśvarīṁ bhaje ||
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Her sidelong glance, when worshipped with devotion in thought, word and deed, bestows upon the devotee every kind of wealth and fulfilment. I worship you, the Queen who reigns over Murari's heart.
सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते धवलतमांशुकगन्धमाल्यशोभे। भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद मह्यम्॥
sarasijanilaye sarojahaste dhavalatamāṁśukagandhamālyaśobhe | bhagavati harivallabhe manojñe tribhuvanabhūtikari prasīda mahyam ||
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O Goddess dwelling upon the lotus, holding a lotus in hand, resplendent with pure white garments, fragrance and garlands, most enchanting, beloved of Hari, bestower of prosperity upon the three worlds — be gracious unto me.
दिग्धस्तिभिः कनककुम्भमुखावसृष्ट- स्वर्वाहिनीविमलचारुजलाभिषेकम्। प्रत्यग्रमत्तमधुकैटभसूदनश्री- रन्तर्द्वयी मम स्तुतिमुपैतु लक्ष्मीः॥
digdhastibhiḥ kanakakumbhamukhāvasṛṣṭa- svarvāhinīvimalacārujalābhiṣekam | pratyagramattamadhukaiṭabhasūdanaśrī- rantardvayī mama stutimupaitu lakṣmīḥ ||
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She whom the guardian elephants of the directions anoint with the pure, sacred waters of the celestial Ganga poured from golden pitchers, and who shares in the fresh splendour of Vishnu following his destruction of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha — may that Lakshmi graciously draw near and receive this praise of mine.
तव त्रिलोकीतिलकस्य विष्णोर- त्युत्कटां कुर्वती वक्षसि वासम्। भवन्ति नूनमुपयान्ति सर्वे तदर्पितानां पदपद्ममेव॥
tava trilokītilakasya viṣṇo- ratyutkaṭāṁ kurvatī vakṣasi vāsam | bhavanti nūnamupayānti sarve tadarpitānāṁ padapadmameva ||
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O Goddess, you who make your most intimate abode upon the chest of Vishnu, the ornament of the three worlds — surely all those who surrender themselves to those very lotus feet of yours attain their desired end.
कलावल्लभस्य कलाधरमौलेः कलानाथकान्ते कलाप्रिये नित्यम्। कलामम्ब कल्याणकरी भव मह्यं कनकधाराप्रवाहं करोतु॥
kalāvallabhasya kalādharamauleḥ kalānāthakānte kalāpriye nityam | kalāmamba kalyāṇakarī bhava mahyaṁ kanakadhārāpravāhaṁ karotu ||
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O beloved of the Master of Sixteen Arts, O consort dear to moon-crested Shiva, beloved of the Lord of Phases, ever fond of the arts — O Mother, be gracious and pour upon me an unceasing stream of gold.
प्रदीपज्वालाभिः सन्तताभिः सुपूजिता सकलभूषणभूषिता। विचित्ररत्नाभरणैर्विराजिता सदा मम संपत्करी भव श्रीः॥
pradīpajvālābhiḥ santatābhiḥ supūjitā sakalabhūṣaṇabhūṣitā | vicitraratnābharaṇairvirājitā sadā mama sampatkarī bhava śrīḥ ||
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O Sri, worshipped amid unceasing rows of lamp-flames, adorned with every ornament, resplendent with wondrous jeweled decorations — be ever the bestower of prosperity upon me.
Best Time to Recite
Friday Pradosh Kaal
1.5 hours after sunset — most auspicious time
Akshaya Tritiya
Recite on Akshaya Tritiya — fruitful all year
Morning 6-8 AM
After morning bath — daily recitation
Purnima
Every full moon 21 times — special benefit
Benefits of Kanakadhara
- ✦Attainment of wealth and property — especially after Akshaya Tritiya
- ✦Relief from business losses and financial crisis
- ✦Extraordinary increase in Venus grace when recited on Friday
- ✦Permanent liberation from poverty and scarcity
- ✦Happiness, prosperity in family and permanent residence of Maa Lakshmi