Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Navarathri Shakti Series

Shakti series part 6: Kanakadhara Stotram.

The Kanakadhara Stotram is a hymn in praise of Mahalakshmi, composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th century.

Sankara took up sanyasa at the age of 8. One day he stopped at the house of a poor Brahmin lady to beg for alms so that he could prepare his lunch. The lady was upset since there was absolutely nothing to eat in the house. Finally she came upon an amla fruit which she offered to Sankara. Deeply moved, Sankara spontaneously composed & chanted a hymn in praise of Mahalakshmi. Pleased, Lakshmi appeared before Sankara & asked him the reason for calling out to Her.

Sankara asked Her to bless the poor lady with wealth. At first, Devi Lakshmi refused, saying the lady had not performed a single act of charity in her previous birth & hence was destined to this fate which could not be changed. Sankara pleaded, saying She was the only one who could change the fate of a person as decided by Lord Brahma. Pleased, Devi Mahalakshmi at once showered golden gooseberries(amla) on the lady's house. Hence the hymn is called 'Kanakadhara Stotram' - the word Kanakadhara meaning 'shower of gold'.

Here's a verse from the stotram:

स्तुवन्ति ये स्तुतिभिरमूभिरन्वहं

त्रयीमयीं त्रिभुवनमातरं रमाम् ।

गुणाधिका गुरुतरभाग्यभागिनो

भवन्ति ते भुवि बुधभाविताशयाः ॥१८॥

With this hymn, Those who glorify Mother Lakshmi (Rama - the delightful one), who is the embodiment of 3 Vedas (Trayimayi), & who is the mother of the universe (Tribhuvana Mataram), shall be blessed with abundant virtues (Gunadhika) & the good fortune of respectable persons (Gurutara Bhagya Bhaginah), & shall become wise by Her grace that will awaken their wisdom (Bhavanti te Bhuvi Budha Bhavitashayaah).

May Madhusudana Kamini (the beloved of Madhusudana, i.e. Krishna) bless one & all abundantly. Jai Mata Di