Among the countless stotras dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, none is as widely cherished and recited as the Kanakadhara Stotram. Composed by the child saint Adi Shankaracharya, this hymn is infused with compassion, divine grace, and the miraculous power of sincere prayer. It is believed that this stotram has the potency to invoke Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings of prosperity, not just in wealth, but also in virtue, wisdom, and contentment.
The Story Behind Kanakadhara
When Adi Shankaracharya was a young boy, he once went begging for alms as part of his monastic life. He stopped at a poor Brahmin woman’s house, who had nothing to offer except a single dry gooseberry (āmla). Despite her poverty, she gave it to him with a pure and selfless heart.
Moved by her devotion, Shankaracharya composed the Kanakadhara Stotram on the spot, praising Goddess Lakshmi with 21 melodious verses. Pleased with his prayer, Lakshmi appeared and showered the woman’s house with a rain of golden gooseberries (kanaka dhārā literally means “a stream of gold”).
This miracle became immortalized as the Kanakadhara legend, symbolizing how sincere devotion and selflessness can draw divine grace.
Kanakadhara Stotram
Verse 1
Sanskrit:
अंगं हरेः पुलकभूषणमाश्रयन्ती
बृन्दावने किमपि योगिनि योगनिद्राम् ।
आद्र्यं यथा हरिहराधिपतेः प्रसादात्
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ १॥
aṅgaṃ hareḥ pulaka-bhūṣaṇam āśrayantī
bṛndāvane kim api yogini yoganidrām |
ādryaṃ yathā hari-harādhipateḥ prasādāt
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgaladevate’mbā || 1 ||
Verse 2
दृष्ट्वैव काममणिमञ्जुशुभं कपीशं
यत्पादपद्मपरिचारकरत्नचूडम् ।
भक्त्या समस्तजगतां स्मरतां मुदेयं
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ २॥
dṛṣṭvaiva kāma-maṇi-mañju-śubhaṃ kapīśaṃ
yatpāda-padmāparicāraka-ratna-cūḍam |
bhaktyā samasta-jagatāṃ smaratāṃ mudeyaṃ
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgaladevate’mbā || 2 ||
Verse 3
अङ्गीकृताखिलविभूतिरपाङ्गलीला
माङ्गल्यदायिनि मनोञ्जसुतेक्षणे त्वम् ।
बाल्येऽपि भक्तिवशगं भवतीं स्मरन्ति
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ३॥
aṅgīkṛtākhila-vibhūtir apāṅga-līlā
māṅgalya-dāyini manoñjasu-tekṣaṇe tvam |
bālye’pi bhakti-vaśagaṃ bhavatīṃ smaranti
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgaladevate’mbā || 3 ||
Verse 4
जात्यन्धबन्धुजनमन्दिरमण्डनं त्वां
जात्यन्धबन्धुजनमङ्गलचन्द्रिकां च ।
यः सन्निधिं प्रणमतां स भवत्यनुग्रं
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ४॥
jātyandha-bandhu-jana-maṇḍiram aṇḍanaṃ tvām
jātyandha-bandhu-jana-maṅgala-candrikāṃ ca |
yaḥ sannidhiṃ praṇamatāṃ sa bhavaty anugraṃ
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgaladevate’mbā || 4 ||
Verse 5
नित्यं स्मरामि जगतोऽखिलमङ्गलानां
कृच्छ्रप्रणाशनकरां कमलालयां त्वाम् ।
भक्त्या सदा प्रणमतां हृदये निवासां
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ५॥
nityaṃ smarāmi jagato’khila-maṅgalānāṃ
kṛcchra-praṇāśana-karāṃ kamalālayāṃ tvām |
bhaktyā sadā praṇamatāṃ hṛdaye nivāsāṃ
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgaladevate’mbā || 5 ||
Verse 6
सत्यानृते तव पदे निलयं प्रयाणं
संसारसागरनिमग्नजनावलीनाम् ।
श्रीमन्मखेशववधूमणिमण्डनं त्वां
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ६॥
satyānṛte tava pade nilayaṃ prayāṇaṃ
saṃsāra-sāgara-nimagna-janāvalīnām |
śrīman-makheśava-vadhū-maṇi-maṇḍanaṃ tvām
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 6 ||
Verse 7
देवेश! लोकनमितं शिरसा विधत्ते
संसारदुःखशमनं तव सन्निधाने ।
सर्वार्थसिद्धिजननीं सतताभिजुष्टां
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ७॥
deveśa! loka-namitaṃ śirasā vidhatte
saṃsāra-duḥkha-śamanaṃ tava sannidhāne |
sarvārtha-siddhi-jananīṃ satatābhijuṣṭāṃ
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 7 ||
Verse 8
संसारसागरसमुद्धरणैकसेतुम्
संसारवृत्तिनिवृत्तिकरं दयार्द्रम् ।
सर्वार्थसिद्धिसदनं श्रितशरण्यभूतं
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ८॥
saṃsāra-sāgara-samuddharaṇaika-setum
saṃsāra-vṛtti-nivṛtti-karaṃ dayārdram |
sarvārtha-siddhi-sadanaṃ śrita-śaraṇya-bhūtaṃ
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 8 ||
Verse 9
आस्तां चिरं भवतु मे सुखसम्पदस्ते
संसारमङ्गलकरि त्वदनुग्रहेण ।
वक्त्रारविन्दविलसन्मधुरानुगानां
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ९॥
āstāṃ ciraṃ bhavatu me sukha-sampad-aste
saṃsāra-maṅgala-kari tvad-anugraheṇa |
vaktrāravinda-vilasan-madhurānugānāṃ
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 9 ||
Verse 10
आस्तां चिरं मम गृहे भवता कृतार्थं
संसारसौख्यकरि संतनु नः प्रसादम् ।
पाणौ निधाय करुणामृतवारिधाराम्
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ १०॥
āstāṃ ciraṃ mama gṛhe bhavatā kṛtārthaṃ
saṃsāra-saukhya-kari saṃtanu naḥ prasādam |
pāṇau nidhāya karuṇāmṛta-vāridhārām
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 10 ||
Verse 11
सर्वार्थदायिनि सुधामयि सुप्रसन्ने
संसारमङ्गलकरि त्वदनुग्रहेण ।
आस्तां ममापि च कृतार्थमिदं गृहेषु
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ ११॥
sarvārtha-dāyini sudhāmayi suprasanne
saṃsāra-maṅgala-kari tvad-anugraheṇa |
āstāṃ mamāpi ca kṛtārtham idaṃ gṛheṣu
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 11 ||
Verse 12
कान्तारमध्यगतदुःखविनाशकारि
कान्तारसारसुभगे कमलालय त्वम् ।
संसारमङ्गलमयी भव मेऽनुकम्पा
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ १२॥
kāntāra-madhya-gata-duḥkha-vināśa-kāri
kāntāra-sāra-subhage kamalālaya tvam |
saṃsāra-maṅgala-mayī bhava me’nukampā
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 12 ||
Verse 13
आस्तां चिरं भवतु मे तव सन्निधाने
संसारमङ्गलमयी भव शान्तिरन्या ।
आस्तां चिरं मम गृहे भवतः प्रसादो
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ १३॥
āstāṃ ciraṃ bhavatu me tava sannidhāne
saṃsāra-maṅgala-mayī bhava śāntir anyā |
āstāṃ ciraṃ mama gṛhe bhavataḥ prasādo
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 13 ||
Verse 14
संसारमङ्गलकरि त्वदनुग्रहेण
आस्तां ममापि च सुखं सतताभियुक्तम् ।
आस्तां चिरं मम गृहे भवतः प्रसादो
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ १४॥
saṃsāra-maṅgala-kari tvad-anugraheṇa
āstāṃ mamāpi ca sukhaṃ satatābhiyuktam |
āstāṃ ciraṃ mama gṛhe bhavataḥ prasādo
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 14 ||
Verse 15
सर्वार्थदायिनि सदानुग्रहमातरं मे
संसारमङ्गलमयी भव मे प्रसन्ना ।
आस्तां चिरं मम गृहे भवतः प्रसादो
श्रीमन्नमस्तु तव मङ्गलदेवतेऽम्ब ॥ १५॥
sarvārtha-dāyini sadānugraha-mātaraṃ me
saṃsāra-maṅgala-mayī bhava me prasannā |
āstāṃ ciraṃ mama gṛhe bhavataḥ prasādo
śrīmannamastu tava maṅgala-devate’mbā || 15 ||
Structure of the Stotram
- 21 Shlokas (Verses): Each verse glorifies the radiant beauty, compassion, and divine qualities of Goddess Lakshmi.
- Tone: Unlike hymns that demand or command blessings, Shankaracharya’s stotram is filled with humility and devotion. He petitions Lakshmi to extend her grace not just to the devotee, but to all beings.
- Imagery: The verses describe Lakshmi’s shining form, her compassionate glance, and her inseparable connection with Lord Vishnu.
Meaning of the Name
- Kanaka – Gold, symbol of prosperity.
- Dhārā – Stream, flow, or shower.
- Stotram – Hymn of praise.
Together: “The Hymn of the Golden Stream”, which invokes an uninterrupted flow of blessings from Goddess Lakshmi.
Philosophical Significance
- Grace Beyond Karma: Even if karmic destiny denies material wealth, Lakshmi’s compassion can override and shower abundance.
- Prosperity as Dharma: True wealth is not only money—it is health, knowledge, generosity, and freedom from greed.
- Selflessness as a Key: The poor woman’s willingness to give, even in her lack, shows that generosity invites divine blessings.
Benefits of Reciting Kanakadhara Stotram
- Wealth & Abundance: Traditionally believed to bring financial relief and prosperity.
- Purification of Heart: Encourages generosity, humility, and detachment.
- Removal of Obstacles: Invokes Lakshmi’s grace to overcome debts, poverty, and struggles.
- Spiritual Prosperity: Nurtures contentment, wisdom, and devotion alongside material success.
How to Practice
- Time: Fridays, early mornings, and special days like Akshaya Tritiya, Dhanteras, or Diwali.
- Mode: Chant with devotion, lighting a lamp before Goddess Lakshmi.
- Number: Many devotees recite the 21 verses daily, or at least on Fridays.
- Focus: More than ritual precision, it is sincerity and humility that awaken Lakshmi’s blessings.
Relevance Today
In today’s world of financial stress and endless desires, the Kanakadhara Stotram offers a gentle reminder: wealth alone is not enough—compassion, humility, and generosity make it sacred. The hymn is as much about transforming the heart as it is about attracting prosperity.
Closing Thought
The Kanakadhara Stotram is not just a hymn of wealth—it is a hymn of grace. It teaches that true prosperity flows when the heart is pure, selfless, and aligned with dharma. Just as the poor Brahmin woman’s single offering became the cause of infinite blessings, our smallest act of faith can invoke the endless compassion of Goddess Lakshmi.
“When the compassionate glance of Lakshmi falls upon us, even dry gooseberries can turn to gold.”
