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The ''Kanakadhara Stotra'' () is a
Kanakadhara Storam
translated by P. R. Ramachander
Learn Sri Kanakadhara Stotram
Where to read the Kankdhara Stotra
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanakadhara Stotram Hindu texts Hymns Adi Shankara Advaita Vedanta texts Vaishnava texts
The ''Kanakadhara Stotra'' () is a Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
hymn (stotram
''Stotra'' (Sanskrit: wikt:स्तोत्र, स्तोत्र) is a Sanskrit word that means "ode, eulogy or a hymn of praise."Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'Stotra'' I ...
) composed in Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
by the Hindu guru Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedanga, Vedic scholar, Hindu philosophy, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and h ...
.
Etymology
means "the stream () of gold ()", and the hymn is called by this name since legend has it that whenAdi Shankara
Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedanga, Vedic scholar, Hindu philosophy, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and h ...
recited it, the goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...
showered a stream of gold within the hut of his poor Brahmana benefactor.
Description
The hymn is attributed toAdi Shankara
Adi Shankara (8th c. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya (, ), was an Indian Vedanga, Vedic scholar, Hindu philosophy, philosopher and teacher (''acharya'') of Advaita Vedanta. Reliable information on Shankara's actual life is scant, and h ...
, a revered Hindu philosopher.
According to tradition, as a young boy, Adi Shankara was out seeking alms
Alms (, ) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. Providing alms is often considered an act of Charity (practice), charity. The act of providing alms is called almsgiving.
Etymology
The word ''alms'' come ...
to prepare his lunch and happened upon the doorstep of a very poor Brahmana
The Brahmanas (; Sanskrit: , International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''Brāhmaṇam'') are Vedas, Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas (hymns and mantras) of the Rigveda, Rig, Samaveda, Sama, Yajurveda, Yajur, and Athar ...
woman. Having nothing edible in her home, the lady frantically searched her house, only to find a single gooseberry
Gooseberry ( or (American and northern British) or (southern British)) is a common name for many species of ''Ribes'' (which also includes Ribes, currants), as well as a large number of plants of similar appearance, and also several unrela ...
fruit, which she then offered to Shankara. Shankara was so moved by the incredible selflessness of this woman that he burst forth into poetry and sang 22 stanzas in praise of the goddess Lakshmi. Pleased by the beauty of the hymn, the goddess instantly showered the lady's house with gooseberries made of pure gold.
Hymn
The first hymn of the ''Kanakadhara Stotra'' is as follows:See also
* ''Ashtalakshmi Stotra The ''Ashtalakshmi Stotra'' (), also rendered the ''Ashta Lakshmi Stotram'', is a Hindu mantra. It extols the eight aspects of the goddess Lakshmi, designated as the Ashta Lakshmi, regarded to represent the eight forms of wealth.
Description
The ...
''
* ''Sri Stuti
The ''Sri Stuti'' () is a Sanskrit hymn written by the Hindu philosopher Vedanta Desika. Comprising 25 verses, the work is an ode to the goddess Lakshmi (Sri).
Etymology
In Sanskrit, ''sri'' denotes prosperity and is another name of the goddess ...
''
* '' Sri Sukta''
References
External links
Kanakadhara Storam
translated by P. R. Ramachander
Learn Sri Kanakadhara Stotram
Where to read the Kankdhara Stotra
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanakadhara Stotram Hindu texts Hymns Adi Shankara Advaita Vedanta texts Vaishnava texts