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The Meaning of Kanaka Dhara
The Kanakadhara Stotram composed by Adi Shankaracharya is a tribute to Goddess Lakshmi. It consists of 21 verses. ‘Kanaka’ means ‘gold’ while ‘dhara’ means ‘flow’. Hence, the Kanakadhara Stotram brings in a flow of wealth and prosperity helping one repay debts and loans. Lets Explore the Kanakadhara stotram meaning with the wordings
Kanakadhara stotram meaning with the wordings (18 Main Verses)
1.
Aṅgaṁ hareḥ pulakabhūṣaṇamāśrayantī
bhṛṅgāṅganeva mukulābharaṇaṁ tamālam |
Aṅgīkṛtākhilavibhūtirapāṅgalīlā
māṅgalyadāstu mama maṅgaladevatāyāḥ ||1||
Meaning:
May the side-glance of the Goddess, who makes Lord Hari’s body bloom with bliss like goosebumps, just as a bee rests on a budding flower, bless me with auspiciousness. Her very glance carries all of divine opulence and grace.
2.
Mugdhā muhurvidadhatī vadane murāreḥ
prematrapāpraṇihitāni gatāgatāni |
Mālā dṛśormadhukarīva mahotpale yā
sā me śriyaṁ diśatu sāgarasambhavāyāḥ ||2||
Meaning:
May the Goddess born from the ocean, whose eyes move shyly in love toward Murāri (Lord Viṣṇu) and resemble bees playing over large lotuses, bestow prosperity upon me.
3.
Viśvāmarendrapadavibhramadānadakṣam
ānandaheturadhikaṁ muravidviṣo’pi |
Īṣanniṣīdatu mayi kṣaṇamīkṣaṇārdham
indīvarodarasahodaramindirāyāḥ ||3||
Meaning:
Even a brief moment of the Goddess’s side-glance, which has the power to bestow lordship over the heavens and bring supreme bliss even to Viṣṇu, may it fall upon me and bless me.
4.
Āmīlitākṣamadhigamya mudā mukundam
ānandakandamanimeṣamanangatantram |
Ākekarasthitakanīnikapakṣmanetraṁ
bhūtyai bhavenmama bhujaṅgaśayāṅganāyāḥ ||4||
Meaning:
May the half-closed, joyful glance of Lakṣmī Devi, who constantly gazes at Mukunda, the source of bliss, protect and prosper me. Her focused, unmoving eyes radiate the energy of love and beauty.
5.
Bāhvantare madhujitaḥ śritakaustubhe yā
hārāvalīva harinīlamayī vibhāti |
Kāmapradā bhagavato’pi kaṭākṣamālā
kalyāṇamāvahatu me kamalālayāyāḥ ||5||
Meaning:
Like a garland shining with sapphire-blue hues near the chest of Lord Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī Devi’s chain of sidelong glances fulfills all desires, even those of Bhagavān Himself. May it bring auspiciousness to me.
6.
Kālāmbudālalalitorasi kaiṭabhārer
dhārādhare sphurati yā taḍidaṅganeva |
Mātuḥ samastajagatāṁ mahanīyamūrtir
bhadrāṇi me diśatu bhārgavanandanāyāḥ ||6||
Meaning:
She shines on the dark-blue chest of Viṣṇu like lightning on a rain-laden cloud. This divine form of the Mother of the worlds, daughter of Bhṛgu, may she grant me goodness and auspiciousness.
7.
Prāptaṁ padaṁ prathamataḥ kila yatprabhāvān
māṅgalyabhāji madhumāthini manmathena |
Mayyāpatettadiha mantharamīkṣaṇārdhaṁ
mandālasaṁ ca makarālayakanyakāyāḥ ||7||
Meaning:
It was Her glance that helped Kāmadeva first influence Madhusūdana. May that same slow, graceful, half-glance of the daughter of the ocean fall upon me too, bringing with it divine blessings.
8.
Dadyād dayānupavano draviṇāmbudhārām
asminnakiñcanavihaṅgaśiśau viṣaṇṇe |
Duṣkarmagharmamapanīya cirāya dūraṁ
nārāyaṇapraṇayinīnayanāmbuvāhaḥ ||8||
Meaning:
Let the breeze of her compassion shower me, a helpless fledgling, with the rains of wealth. Let her glances wash away the heat of my bad karma and bless me from the eyes that love Nārāyaṇa.
9.
Iṣṭā viśiṣṭamatayo’pi yayā dayārdra-
dṛṣṭyā triviṣṭapapadaṁ sulabhaṁ labhante |
Dṛṣṭiḥ prahṛṣṭakamalodaradīptiriṣṭāṁ
puṣṭiṁ kṛśīṣṭa mama puṣkaraviṣṭarāyāḥ ||9||
Meaning:
Even the most brilliant souls gain access to the supreme heavens by the compassionate glance of Lakṣmī. May that glowing, joy-filled gaze of the lotus-dwelling goddess bring me nourishment and success.
10.
Gīrdevateti garuḍadhvajasundarīti
śākambarīti śaśiśekharavallabheti |
Sṛṣṭisthitipralayakeliṣu saṁsthitāyai
tasyai namastribhuvanai kagurostaruṇyai ||10||
Meaning:
I bow to that youthful Goddess, the Mother of the three worlds, known as Sarasvatī, Śākambarī, Viṣṇu’s beloved, and consort of Śiva. She plays in the cosmic acts of creation, sustenance, and destruction.
11.
Śrutyai namo’stu śubhakarmaphalaprasūtyai
ratyai namo’stu ramaṇīyaguṇārṇavāyai |
Śaktyai namo’stu śatapatraniketanāyai
puṣṭyai namo’stu puruṣottamavallabhāyai ||11||
Meaning:
Salutations to her who is the essence of the Vedas, the giver of all good karmic results, the ocean of lovely virtues, the divine power behind all creation, and the beloved of Puruṣottama (Viṣṇu).
12.
Namo’stu nālīkanibhānanāyai
namo’stu dugdhodadhijanmabhūtyai |
Namo’stu somāmṛtasodarāyai
namo’stu nārāyaṇavallabhāyai ||12||
Meaning:
Salutations to the one with a lotus-like face, born from the ocean of milk, sister of the Moon and Nectar, and the beloved of Nārāyaṇa.
13.
Sampatkarāṇi sakalendriyanandanāni
sāmrājyadānavibhavāni saroruhākṣi |
Tvadvandanāni duritāharaṇodyatāni
māmeva mātaranishaṁ kalayantu manye ||13||
Meaning:
O lotus-eyed Mother, your worship brings all wealth, pleasures of the senses, and royal prosperity. May I always offer you such worship that removes all sorrows and sins.
14.
Yatkaṭākṣasamupāsanāvidhiḥ
sevakasya sakalārthasampadaḥ |
Saṁtanoti vacanāṅgamānasais
tvāṁ murārihṛdayeśvarīṁ bhaje ||14||
Meaning:
By worshipping you through word, body, and mind, your devotee receives all that he needs. I adore you, the Queen of Lord Murāri’s heart, and seek your gracious glance.
15.
Sarasijanilaye sarojahaste
dhavalatamāṁśukagandhamālyaśobhe |
Bhagavati harivallabhe manojñe
tribhuvanabhūtikari prasīda mahyam ||15||
Meaning:
O lotus-dwelling, lotus-handed Goddess! You shine with white garments, fragrant garlands, and heavenly beauty. You are Hari’s beloved and the source of fortune across all three worlds, please bless me.
16.
Digghastibhiḥ kanakakumbhamukhāvasṛṣṭa-
svarvāhinīvimalacārujalaplutāṅgīm |
Prātar namāmi jagatāṁ jananīmaśeṣa-
lokādhināthagṛhiṇīmamṛtābdhiputrīm ||16||
Meaning:
In the morning I bow to the Mother of all creation, the consort of the Lord of the worlds, daughter of the ocean of nectar, whose body is bathed in pure waters poured from golden vessels by celestial elephants.
17.
Kamale kamalākṣavallabhe
tvaṁ karuṇāpūrataraṅgitairapāṅgaiḥ |
Avalokaya māmakiñcanānāṁ
prathamaṁ pātramakṛtrimaṁ dayāyāḥ ||17||
Meaning:
O Kamalā, beloved of the lotus-eyed Lord! With waves of compassion in your sidelong glances, look upon me, poor and helpless, who is the true and first object of your mercy.
18.
Stuvanti ye stutibhiramūbhiranvahaṁ
trayīmayīṁ tribhuvanamātaraṁ ramām |
Guṇādhikā gurutarabhāgyabhāgino
bhavanti te bhuvi budhabhāvitāśayāḥ ||18||
Meaning:
Those who daily praise this divine Mother of the three worlds with these verses, the embodiment of the Vedas, become rich in virtues, blessed with great fortune, and are honored among the wise.
Some Benefits of Kanakadhara Stotram (కనకధారా స్తోత్రం)
It is also good for businesses and start-ups. Ideally, you should chant this Stotram on Fridays and Purnima for best results. The chanter’s house shall be prosperous and abundant. There shall never be a dearth of grains in such a house. The Stotram transports one to higher states of consciousness. Goddess Lakshmi enters the house of the chanter in the form of wealth. People suffering from poverty due to past bad karma gain respite.
A few Kanakadhara stotram benefits: Among the widely acknowledged Kanakadhara Stotram benefits is its ability to dissolve ancestral poverty patterns and bring auspicious openings. From business elevation to household peace, this Stotram works in unseen yet definite ways to invoke Lakshmi’s compassionate glances.
Benefits of chanting Kanakadhara stotram daily: The benefits of chanting Kanakadhara Stotram daily go far beyond money. It subtly shifts one’s consciousness into humility, attracting not just wealth but the wisdom to handle it with grace. Daily chanting becomes a spiritual discipline that aligns our inner frequency to divine prosperity.
Adi Shankara glorifies Lakshmi Devi’s side glances at 13 places of the Kanakadhara Stotram emphasizing that a mere side glance of Devi can bring in untold wealth and benefits. Chanting the Stotram ends all financial difficulties and unemployment by giving the required energy for material accomplishment.
Devi does not personally come. She comes in the form of inspiration and ideas yielding fortune in the future. The Kanakadhara Stotram is extremely poetic describing the beauty, power, intelligence, and personality of Goddess Lakshmi.
It emphasizes her extreme beauty that even captivates the heart of Lord Vishnu.
Desirelessness is the Key to Long-Term Benefits
In a nutshell, the Kanakadhara Stotram vanquishes the demon of poverty and initiates a financially assured life. I want to emphasize with certainty that the Kanakadhara Stotram cannot generate wealth by mere recitation with a desire to become rich. Bhakti of Laxmi Devi has to be done with utter desirelessness, with humility in the heart, just to gain her Love. This is the only mood that will attract Devi’s attention and Grace.
The Kanakadhara Stotram should only be an effort to gain the Love of Devi with the Seva or service of chanting the Stotram to Her, for Her pleasure alone. Devi never fulfills desires born out of greed. Devi provides wealth for sustenance, That’s all.
The Story Behind Kanakadhara Stotram
The story of the Kanakadhara Stotram goes like this-
After the death of his father, the 4-year-old Shankara joined Guru Kula. As per the custom, the young Brahmin boys would go door-door collecting alms. These alms were then shared with fellow-god-brothers and consumed. The practice may seem bizarre as it promotes the act of begging which may appear socially reproachable. A true Brahmana should beg for alms; this was part of the original Sanatana Dharma system.
A true Brahmana of the modern day should attain Bhagavan, keeping that as a primary goal, and depend on Bhagavan for his sustenance. Bhagavan takes care of his needs through Seva and Donations. He need not categorically demand a fee for his services as a teacher. Devi will make arrangements for his upkeep and welfare.
By seeking alms or accepting donations without demand, a Brahmana subdues the ego and instills the virtue of humility. It also proves the dependence on Bhagawan.
One day young Shankara spotted a woman standing in front of a hut. With the hope of getting Bhiksha, Shankara called out “Bhavati Bhiksham Dehi” which means “Oh mother, give me alms”. Influenced by Shanakara’s brilliance, the old lady smiled at him. Startled as she was, she lived in utter poverty.
Clad in tattered clothes, the lady immediately ran inside to see what she could offer.
Alas, there were only empty pots and pans. In Bharat, people sincerely followed this dictum- ‘Athithi devo Bhava’ which means ‘A guest is God in disguise’. Turning down a Brahmin disappointed on a Dwadashi day would incur sin, she thought. Suddenly, she remembered a gooseberry kept on the upper shelf of the kitchen. The gooseberry had shrunk and dried up.
However, that was the only asset she had. The lady doubtfully placed the gooseberry in Shankara’s bowl. Touched by her act, the Kanakadhara Stotram poured out from Shankara’s lotus mouth like ambrosia. He pleaded to Mahalakshmi to cast her merciful glance at this lady.
At first, Lakshmi Devi refused, as the lady had not performed any charity or good deeds in her previous births. Nobody can change the line of fate. However, Adi Shankara argued that a lady who offered her all to a Brahmin certainly deserved this fortune. As a result of his prayers, a downpour of golden gooseberries piled up on the ground. It was the rainfall of gold in broad daylight.
This showed that though Shankara had luxuries at his beck and call, he followed his dharma of asking Bhiksha. Also, watch our video on Ashtalakshmi Stotram to know the significance of Ashtalakshmi. The lady’s hut which existed in Punnorkode got the name ‘Swarnathu Mana’ meaning ‘Golden House’.
A Mahalakshmi temple stands at that spot which was consecrated in 2018.
Process of Chanting Kanakadhara Stotram
Now I shall cover the process of chanting the Kanakadhara Stotram. Sit facing the east or north direction. The surroundings should be clean and conducive for Lakshmi Sadhana. The chanting should not be whimsical.
Chant it daily as a spiritual discipline. Light a ghee lamp in the morning to invite spiritual vibration. You can also keep an image of Lakshmi devi for ease in the Dhyana of the mother goddess. Then start the recitation once, thrice, or five times as time permits.
You do not need initiation to recite Kanakadhara Stotram.All are eligible to chant this stotram.