Sri Kamakshi Stava
shree kaamaakshee stavah'
kand'oolagand'avigal'anmadavaaridhaaraa-
gand'ooshapand'itamadhuvratamand'itaaya |
shund'aalabandhuramukhaaya tushaarabhaanu-
khand'aavatam'sakalitaaya namah' shivaaya ||1||
rasaal'atalabhooshitam' rajanibandhunaa bhooshitam'
samagramanukampayaa savidhasevitam' kampayaa |
namatsumanasam' pade namata santatam' sampade
gireeshamadhikaanchi tam' girisutaakuchaankaanchitam' ||2||
jayanti shreemanto jad'imahimasam'haaramihiraa
maneeshaamaakandaprasavanavavaasantadivasaah' |
giraam' naathe! naanaarasabhanitiyoshaabhisarana-
pradoshaa nirdoshaastava charana sannaamavidhayah' ||3||
ka esha prastaavastava navanasannaahapadavee -
daveeyo deveedam' dhishanadhishanaanaipunamapi |
tadaastaamudyogah' stutivachasi yaache punaridam'
samasto'tra stotreebhavatu mama sanjalpanavidhih' ||4||
sadaa yaacham' yaacham' kathitabahuvaacham' janamimam'
prati krodho vedhoramani! karaneeyo na kalayaa |
na yogapraaveenyam' na cha bahuvidhastotrapat'imaa
na vaa sevaadaakshyam' kimiha vidadhe yaachanamri'te ||5||
jatudraavam' devi! dravatu javatashchittajad'imaa
sharatpadmonmeelam' mama vilalamunmeelatu manah' |
mukhaadveechee vaachaam' tridivavigal'annirjaradhunee-
tarangaal'eegaal'am' gal'atu madhunishyandamadhuraa ||6||
jagannaathe ! jaalmam' nibid'ajad'ibhagranthijat'ilam'
janam' deenam' mainam' janani ! manuthaah' smaanyasharanam' |
prameel'aaprabhlaanam' padayugal'anaal'eekavigal'a-
nmadhool'eepaal'eebhirmama sarajasam' kshaal'aya manah' ||7||
jaganmaatarjaataprathimani maneeshaajad'imani
stri'naane khindaanah' kimiva manavai kim' vitanavai |
praseedaaseedaatmanyakhiladuritotsaadini ! dine
dine deene'deene! mayi vitara kaarunyakanikaam' ||8||
kare vaame vaame ! kamalamri'dul'e pustakadharam'
parasmin saakshasraksphat'ikanibhamatraasavaradam' |
bhavatvantah' saakshaadakri'panakri'paakandal'amil'at-
kat'aakshavyaapaaram' vapurupanishajjeevitamidam' ||9||
kri'paakopaat'opasphuritapadapanchaasyadal'itaad
dhanasvaantadhvaantaprakarakarisandohashirasah' |
samunmuktaa muktaamanaya iva shuddhaa bhanitayosa
bhavadbhaktaasyebhyo bhagavati! visarpanti paritah' ||10||
mamaantarvaani ! tvam' hara timiramityarthanavidhaam'
vidhaasyan yastasmai padayugal'amaatram' kathayate |
asau shaastrajnyatvam' varayitumupakraanta iti tad
dadaanah' sadyaste jayati sadayaasambhramarasah' ||11||
asau sevaa daave ruditamiyamijyaa jalalipi-
rgajasnaanam' dhyaanam' tadapi sa japo bhasmani hutam' |
pranaamo naamasha prakri'tijal'amookaanghripatanam'
yadambaalambyeta pratidinamanuddishya bhavateem' ||12||
sajeevo maa jeevan bhavati bata maa jaagradapi maa
vijaanan maa dhyaayan janajanani ! tasyaastvajananih' |
na yastvaamaashaaste na vinamati na stauti manute
na nopaaste naadhyetyavati na vri'neete na cha sakri't ||13||
gal'addabhbhaam' shubhbhatpri'thulakuchakumbhaam' hri'tashashi-
prabhaad'abhbhaam' sambhaavitalikhitagubhphaajapapat'aam' |
manastambhaarabhbhaprathumani(?) bhaje tvaam' kri'takri'paa-
pareerabhbhaammambhoruhasadanasambhogakalikaam' ||14||
bhavatyaa nityottam'sitasitasudhaativigal'at-
sudhaasaarasrotovisara iva hri'tpankajajushah' |
nri'naam' tvaddhyaatree'naam' navavadananaal'eekakuhara-
pranaal'eenaal'ena ksharati kavitaasaurabhabharah' ||15||
gatisvinnaam' vanyastabakanivahanyaasavilasat-
kachaam' kechit kaachaavalikhachitaneechetarakuchaam' |
hri'di tvaameekshante kapat'amri'gayoh' patrapat'alee-
dukoolaam' kaalaareranupadachareem' kaananachareem' ||16||
dhare ! durgaam' svargaa dhipavimatavargaapaharaneem'
mahaaram'hassim'hapravaraparivinyastacharanaam' |
kare valgatkhad'gapravihitajagattraanavibhavaam'
bhavaartivyaavri'ttyai bhagavati ! bhajante hi bhavateem' ||17||
idam' syaadetat syaanmama punaradah' syaaditi sadaa
shrutam' vaa dri'sht'am' vaa sakalamupayaache na bhavateem' |
sakri'nmahyam' muhyanmalinamanase maataramalaam'
tvadeeye deeyeta dyutimati pade bhaarati! ratim' ||18||
atho yaa vaa saa vaa bhava bhavarameshaambujabhuvaa-
mapeed'ye ! peed'ye'ham' janajanani ! jaad'yena na yathaa |
tathaa bhrooyaad bhooyaaniha tava vibhootistavavidhih'
kathankaaram' kartum' kavibhirapi shakyeta sakalah' ||19||
iti kaamaaksheestavah' sampoornah' |
Meaning
1. Opening Praise:
Salutations to Goddess Kamakshi, whose moonlike face glows with divine beauty, adorned with cool radiance and compassion, worshipped by celestial bees and sweet fragrance.
2. Compassionate Mother:
Clad in red silks and divine scent, her gentle eyes radiate mercy. Adored by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, she purifies the hearts of her devotees.
3. Goddess of Speech and Wisdom:
Her holy names inspire eloquence and knowledge; the grace of her feet makes one master of speech and poetry.
4. Humble Prayer:
The poet admits — “My words are feeble, yet my devotion is deep. Accept my imperfect praises, O compassionate Mother.”
5. Helpless Devotion:
“Without yoga, knowledge, or ritual skill, I can only ask for your mercy — that alone is my prayer.”
6. Purification of Mind:
“Let my dullness melt away like wax; may my speech flow like nectar and my heart bloom like a lotus in your remembrance.”
7. Surrender:
“O Universal Mother, wash away my sins with the dust of your lotus feet and sanctify my heart.”
8. Daily Grace:
“Grant me, O Kamakshi, even a drop of your compassion each day. Destroy my sorrows and guide me with love.”
9. Divine Vision:
In one hand she holds a lotus, in the other a crystal rosary; her compassionate gaze is life itself for those devoted to her.
10. Blessed Speech:
The words of her devotees shine like pearls — pure, radiant, and filled with divine light through her grace.
11. True Knowledge:
He alone who remembers her feet attains true wisdom. Her grace transforms knowledge into enlightenment.
12. Simple Devotion:
Even without elaborate rituals, remembering her with a pure heart is the highest worship.
13. Life Without Her:
A life without remembrance of Kamakshi is empty — such a being merely exists but never truly lives.
14. Her Beauty:
Her form glows with moonlight and fragrance; her smile is the dawn of compassion, soothing all hearts.
15. Source of Poetry:
From hearts that meditate on her flows the fragrance of divine poetry — she is the muse behind all art and inspiration.
16. Beyond Illusion:
Her presence moves unseen through creation — elusive even to celestial beings, yet ever guiding the sincere seeker.
17. As Durga:
As the lion-riding Goddess, she slays demons and protects the virtuous. Her sword cuts through fear and delusion.
18. Final Prayer:
“Even if my heart is impure, O Mother, let me dwell for a moment in your radiant presence. Bless me with devotion.”
19. Limitless Glory:
“Your greatness transcends speech and thought — even the gods and poets cannot grasp your full glory.”
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Summary:
The Sri Kamakshi Stava is a deeply devotional hymn blending humility, wisdom, and surrender. The devotee speaks not with pride, but with longing — seeking the Mother’s grace to cleanse ignorance and fill life with divine light. Kamakshi here is seen as the compassionate Goddess of beauty, speech, and liberation. Reciting this stava opens the heart to devotion, clarity, and spiritual peace.
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