kanakadhara Stotram

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DIVINE MOTHER - THE BESTOWER OF PROSPERITYSri Kanakadharastavam of Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada is a widely known

composition. The circumstances which led to thecomposition and

recitation of this prayer is interesting. After his Upanayana,

performed at a very early age, Sri Adi Sankara rigorously followed the

injunctions of the brahmacharya life and lived on the food obtained by

begging or biksha. In the course of his daily biksha rounds, he stood

at the threshold of a poor Brahmin, one day, and asked for alms, by

uttering the prescribed formula, Bhavati bikshaam dehi. The master of

the house, who himself lived on the charity of his neighbours, was away

and the lady of the house, who possessed a magnanimous heart, wanted to

give something to this child with a divine countenance. Her search

resulted in unearthing only a small amalaka fruit. This she deposited

in the begging bowl devoutly, her heart melting at the thought that she

had nothing better to offer. Sri Sankara divined the situation and

realised that the small gift came from a heart as expansive as the sky

itself. He composed and sang the 18 verses, which go by the name of Sri

Kanakadharastavam. Sri Mahalakshmi responded to the prayer and showered

golden fruits inside the house of the poor Brahmin couple and banished

their poverty. Incidentally this was also the first composition of Sri

Sankara.

 

There is internal evidence in the stotra itself to substantiate this story. The verse providing this evidence is :

 

 

 

 

" Dadyaat dayaanupavano dravina-ambudhaaraam

Asmin-akinchana vihanga sisau vishanne

Dushkarma gharmam-apaneeya chiraaya dooram

Naaraayana-pranayinee nayanaambuvaahah " .

 

In this verse, Sri Sankara prays that impelled by the wind of

kindness (dayaanupavano) of Sri Mahalakshmi who is the beloved of Sri

Narayana (Naaraayana pranayini) the cloud of her glance

(nayana-ambuvaahah) should shower (daadyaar) the rain of wealth

(dravina-ambudhaaram) driving away to a distance (apaneeya chiraaya

dooram), the scorching heat (gharmam) of the past sins (dushkarma) of

this suffering (vishanne) fledgling (vihangasisu). The bird referred to

here is the mythical chaataka, which can quench its thirst only when

rain falls. The utter helplessness of the poor householder is indicated

by a comparison to the fledgling of chaataka. To meet the possible

objection that the householder's present plight is the consequence of

his past wrong deeds (dushkarma), Sri Sankara says that this prayer, on

his behalf, should be sufficient to absolve him of all his past sins.

 

While the other verses in this stotra are all in praise of the

Divine Mother, this particular verse alone contains the request for

wealth. In the same way as showers relieve the parched condition of the

scorching summer heat, he prays that the cooling grace of the Mother

should relieve the sufferings of the poor householder.

 

 

 

" Ishtaavisishtamatayopi yayaa dayaardra-

Drshtyaa trivishtapapadam sulabham labhante;

Vrshtih prahrshta kamalodaradeeptirishtaam

Pushtim krsheeshta mama pushkaravishtaraayaah

Geerdevateti garudadhwaja-sundareeti

Sakambhareeti sasisekhara-vallabheti;

Srshti-sthiti-pralaya kelishu samsthitaayai

Tasyai namasstribhuvanaikagurostarunyai " .

 

In the first of the above two verses, also occurring in Sri

Kanakadhaaraastavam, Sri Sankara prays for the bestowal of desired

prosperity (Ishtaam pushtim), wealth, crop, family, etc. Here Sri

Sankara indicates that even those who perform the prescribed rites to

qualify them for a place in heaven, can attain that status only when

the benevolent glance of the Divine Mother, seated on the lotus, falls

on them. The second verse indicates the true nature of the Mother. It

also teaches that the Divine Mother, known by different names as

Saraswati, Lakshmi, Saakambhari & Parvati, are but manifestations

of the same Supreme Divinity, who is none else than that Creative

Energy, who forms part of the static Paramatma (Tribhuvanaika Guru),

both together constituting the Father and Mother of the universe, and

to whom creation, preservation, and destruction are mere sport (keli).

 

If we too recite this Sri Kanakadhaaraastavam with devotion, we

shall be relieved of poverty, sufferings and afflictions and sins

(daaridrya, taapa and paapa).

http://www.kamakoti.org/acall/prosperity.html