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Home › Mantras › Kamakshi Stotram
Tripura Sundari Kamakshi Stotram: four-armed Kamakshi seated beneath a mango tree on the Kampa bank with goad, noose, sugarcane bow and flower arrows
Kamakshi sits at the root of the mango tree on the Kampa bank, her parrot on her sugarcane bow
Mantra · Ten verses to the Goddess of Kanchi, each bowing to Shiva's beloved

Kamakshi Stotram

कल्पानोकहपुष्पजालविलसन्नीलालकां मातृकां कान्तां कञ्जदलेक्षणां कलिमलप्रध्वंसिनीं कालिकाम् । काञ्चीनूपुरहारदामसुभगां काञ्चीपुरीनायिकां कामाक्षीं करिकुम्भसन्निभकुचां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

Also known as Kalpanokaha Pushpajala

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Kamakshi Stotram is

The Kamakshi Stotram, also printed as the Sri Kamakshi Stotram, is a Sanskrit hymn of ten verses to Kamakshi, the Goddess of Kanchipuram, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Its lines run in the long nineteen-syllable shardulavikridita metre, and each of the first nine verses gathers descriptions of her before landing on one refrain, vande maheshapriyam, I bow to the beloved of Shiva. The sequence moves from her appearance into doctrine. Verses 1 and 2 give her hair, eyes and slow elephant gait. Verse 3 names the seed syllables Aim, Klim and Sauh, and Verse 4 makes Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra depend on her. Verse 5 is built almost wholly on the sound ksha. Verse 6 is a chain of images: lamp in the courtyard of Om, dove on the mansion of the Upanishads, parrot in the cage of Kanchi. Verse 8 calls her goddess of speech, daughter of the milk ocean and daughter of the mountain. Verse 10 changes its grammar and closes as a prayer.

The Mango Tree on the Kampa

No traditional account of this hymn's occasion is generally told; it carries Shankara's name by custom, and nothing fixes where or when it was composed. What it does preserve is a place. Verse 10 sets the Goddess at the root of the mango tree on the bank of the Kampa, and that one compound points to a story told at length elsewhere. The Skanda Purana gives a form of it in the Arunachala Mahatmya. Parvati comes to Kanchi with her companions and stops at an Ekamra mango heavy with fruit and noisy with birds, where she worships a linga made of earth. To test her, Shiva sends the Kampa into flood. Her companions urge her to leave; she tells them to go, puts her arms around the linga and stays motionless as the water closes over her. A voice with no body then tells her the flood has fallen and she may let go, and sends her on to the sage Gautama and to Arunachala. In this Purana, then, Kanchi is a stage on her journey. Temple tradition at Kanchi ends the episode with her marriage instead, and some tellings name the Vegavati in place of the Kampa. The Sri Chakra before her image is credited to Shankara in most accounts and to the sage Durvasa in others.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiकल्पानोकहपुष्पजालविलसन्नीलालकां मातृकां कान्तां कञ्जदलेक्षणां कलिमलप्रध्वंसिनीं कालिकाम् । काञ्चीनूपुरहारदामसुभगां काञ्चीपुरीनायिकां कामाक्षीं करिकुम्भसन्निभकुचां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥
Tamilகல்பாநோகஹபுஷ்பஜாலவிலஸந்நீலாலகாம் மாத்ருகாம் காந்தாம் கஞ்ஜதலேக்ஷணாம் கலிமலப்ரத்வம்ஸிநீம் காலிகாம் । காஞ்சீநூபுரஹாரதாமஸுபகாம் காஞ்சீபுரீநாயிகாம் காமாக்ஷீம் கரிகும்பஸந்நிபகுசாம் வந்தே மஹேஶப்ரியாம் ॥
Teluguకల్పానోకహపుష్పజాలవిలసన్నీలాలకాం మాతృకాం కాన్తాం కఞ్జదలేక్షణాం కలిమలప్రధ్వంసినీం కాలికామ్ । కాఞ్చీనూపురహారదామసుభగాం కాఞ్చీపురీనాయికాం కామాక్షీం కరికుమ్భసన్నిభకుచాం వన్దే మహేశప్రియామ్ ॥
Kannadaಕಲ್ಪಾನೋಕಹಪುಷ್ಪಜಾಲವಿಲಸನ್ನೀಲಾಲಕಾಂ ಮಾತೃಕಾಂ ಕಾನ್ತಾಂ ಕಞ್ಜದಲೇಕ್ಷಣಾಂ ಕಲಿಮಲಪ್ರಧ್ವಂಸಿನೀಂ ಕಾಲಿಕಾಮ್ । ಕಾಞ್ಚೀನೂಪುರಹಾರದಾಮಸುಭಗಾಂ ಕಾಞ್ಚೀಪುರೀನಾಯಿಕಾಂ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷೀಂ ಕರಿಕುಮ್ಭಸನ್ನಿಭಕುಚಾಂ ವನ್ದೇ ಮಹೇಶಪ್ರಿಯಾಮ್ ॥
Malayalamകല്പാനോകഹപുഷ്പജാലവിലസന്നീലാലകാം മാതൃകാം കാന്താം കഞ്ജദലേക്ഷണാം കലിമലപ്രധ്വംസിനീം കാലികാമ് । കാഞ്ചീനൂപുരഹാരദാമസുഭഗാം കാഞ്ചീപുരീനായികാം കാമാക്ഷീം കരികുമ്ഭസന്നിഭകുചാം വന്ദേ മഹേശപ്രിയാമ് ॥
EnglishRoman transliterationkalpānokahapuṣpajālavilasannīlālakāṃ mātṛkāṃ kāntāṃ kañjadalekṣaṇāṃ kalimalapradhvaṃsinīṃ kālikām | kāñcīnūpurahāradāmasubhagāṃ kāñcīpurīnāyikāṃ kāmākṣīṃ karikumbhasannibhakucāṃ vande maheśapriyām ||
“I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva: the Mother, whose dark locks gleam with clusters of flowers from the wish-granting tree, the lovely one with eyes like lotus petals, Kalika who destroys the stains of the Kali age. She is graceful with girdle, anklets, necklace and garland, the queen of the city of Kanchi, her bosom full like the brow of an elephant.”
कल्पानोकहपुष्पजालविलसन्नीलालकां
kalpānokahapuṣpajālavilasannīlālakāṃ — whose dark locks gleam with clusters of flowers from the wish-granting tree
मातृकां
mātṛkāṃ — the Mother
कान्तां
kāntāṃ — the lovely one
कञ्जदलेक्षणां
kañjadalekṣaṇāṃ — with eyes like lotus petals
कलिमलप्रध्वंसिनीं
kalimalapradhvaṃsinīṃ — destroyer of the stains of the Kali age
कालिकाम्
kālikām — Kalika
काञ्चीनूपुरहारदामसुभगां
kāñcīnūpurahāradāmasubhagāṃ — graceful with girdle, anklets, necklace and garland
काञ्चीपुरीनायिकां
kāñcīpurīnāyikāṃ — queen of the city of Kanchi
कामाक्षीं
kāmākṣīṃ — Kamakshi
करिकुम्भसन्निभकुचां
karikumbhasannibhakucāṃ — her bosom full like the brow of an elephant
वन्दे
vande — I bow to
महेशप्रियाम्
maheśapriyām — to the beloved of Shiva

Kamakshi Stotram lyrics in full

Ten verses, nine ending on the refrain vande maheshapriyam and the tenth a prayer for blessing. The printed closing line is given at the end.

All 11 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Kamakshi Stotram PDFAll 11 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

Verse 1

कल्पानोकहपुष्पजालविलसन्नीलालकां मातृकां कान्तां कञ्जदलेक्षणां कलिमलप्रध्वंसिनीं कालिकाम् ।
काञ्चीनूपुरहारदामसुभगां काञ्चीपुरीनायिकां कामाक्षीं करिकुम्भसन्निभकुचां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva: the Mother, whose dark locks gleam with clusters of flowers from the wish-granting tree, the lovely one with eyes like lotus petals, Kalika who destroys the stains of the Kali age. She is graceful with girdle, anklets, necklace and garland, the queen of the city of Kanchi, her bosom full like the brow of an elephant.

Verse 2

काशाभां शुकभासुरां प्रविलसत्कोशातकीसन्निभां चन्द्रार्कानललोचनां सुरुचिरालङ्कारभूषोज्ज्वलाम् ।
ब्रह्मश्रीपतिवासवादिमुनिभिः संसेविताङ्घ्रिद्वयां कामाक्षीं गजराजमन्दगमनां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva: pale as kasha blossom and radiant with her parrot, shining like the koshataki flower, with the moon, sun and fire for eyes, bright with beautiful ornaments. Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and the sages serve her two feet, and she walks slowly like a royal elephant.

Verse 3

ऐं क्लीं सौरिति यां वदन्ति मुनयस्तत्त्वार्थरूपां परां वाचामादिमकारणं हृदि सदा ध्यायन्ति यां योगिनः ।
बालां फालविलोचनां नवजपावर्णां सुषुम्नाश्रितां कामाक्षीं कलितावतंससुभगां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva: the Supreme whom sages name as Aim, Klim and Sauh, the very meaning of truth, the first cause of speech, on whom yogis always meditate in the heart. She is the young girl with an eye on her forehead, the colour of fresh hibiscus, resting in the sushumna, lovely with the ornament she wears.

Verse 4

यत्पादाम्बुजरेणुलेशमनिशं लब्ध्वा विधत्ते विधिर्विश्वं तत्परिपाति विष्णुरखिलं यस्याः प्रसादाच्चिरम् ।
रुद्रः संहरति क्षणात्तदखिलं यन्मायया मोहितः कामाक्षीमतिचित्रचारुचरितां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva, whose story is wonderful and beautiful: receiving ever a speck of the dust of her lotus feet, Brahma makes the universe; by her grace Vishnu long protects it all; and Rudra, enchanted by her maya, dissolves it all in a moment.

Verse 5

सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतरां सुलक्षिततनुं क्षान्ताक्षरैर्लक्षितां वीक्षाशिक्षितराक्षसां त्रिभुवनक्षेमङ्करीमक्षयाम् ।
साक्षाल्लक्षणलक्षिताक्षरमयीं दाक्षायणीं साक्षिणीं कामाक्षीं शुभलक्षणैः सुललितां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva, lovely with auspicious marks: subtler than the subtle, of clearly marked form, denoted by the letters that end in ksha. She disciplines demons with a glance, brings welfare to the three worlds, and is imperishable; she is the embodiment of the letters known by their signs, Dakshayani, the Witness.

Verse 6

ओङ्काराङ्गणदीपिकामुपनिषत्प्रासादपारावतीं आम्नायाम्बुधिचन्द्रिकामघतमःप्रध्वंसहंसप्रभाम् ।
काञ्चीपट्टणपञ्जरान्तरशुकीं कारुण्यकल्लोलिनीं कामाक्षीं शिवकामराजमहिषीं वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva, queen of Shiva Kamaraja: she is the lamp in the courtyard of Om, the dove on the mansion of the Upanishads, the moonlight on the ocean of the Vedas, the swan-bright radiance that destroys the darkness of sin, the parrot in the cage of the city of Kanchi, a river of compassion.

Verse 7

ह्रीङ्कारात्मकवर्णमात्रपठनादैन्द्रीं श्रियं तन्वतीं चिन्मात्रां भुवनेश्वरीमनुदिनं भिक्षाप्रदानक्षमाम् ।
विश्वाघौघनिवारिणीं विमलिनीं विश्वम्भरां मातृकां कामाक्षीं परिपूर्णचन्द्रवदनां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva, whose face is the full moon. The verse says that by merely reciting the syllable Hrim she bestows the wealth of Indra. She is pure consciousness, ruler of the worlds, able each day to grant alms, remover of the world's flood of sins, spotless, bearer of the universe, mother of letters.

Verse 8

वाग्देवीति च यां वदन्ति मुनयः क्षीराब्धिकन्येति च क्षोणीभृत्तनयेति च श्रुतिगिरो यां आमनन्ति स्फुटम् ।
एकानेकफलप्रदां बहुविधाऽऽकारास्तनूस्तन्वतीं कामाक्षीं सकलार्तिभञ्जनपरां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva, who is intent on breaking every sorrow: sages call her the goddess of speech and the daughter of the milk ocean, and the words of the Veda clearly declare her the daughter of the mountain. Giver of results both one and many, she takes bodies of many forms.

Verse 9

मायामादिमकारणं त्रिजगतामाराधिताङ्घ्रिद्वयां आनन्दामृतवारिराशिनिलयां विद्यां विपश्चिद्धियाम् ।
मायामानुषरूपिणीं मणिलसन्मध्यां महामातृकां कामाक्षीं करिराजमन्दगमनां वन्दे महेशप्रियाम् ॥

I bow to Kamakshi, beloved of Shiva, who walks slowly like the king of elephants: she is Maya, the first cause of the three worlds, whose two feet are worshipped; she dwells in the ocean of the nectar of bliss, she is Knowledge, the insight of the wise. She takes a human form through Maya, her waist shines with gems, and she is the Great Mother.

Verse 10

कान्ता कामदुघा करीन्द्रगमना कामारिवामाङ्कगा कल्याणी कलितावतारसुभगा कस्तूरिकाचर्चिता ।
कम्पातीररसालमूलनिलया कारुण्यकल्लोलिनी कल्याणानि करोतु मे भगवती काञ्चीपुरीदेवता ॥

May the Goddess, the deity of Kanchipuri, grant me all that is auspicious: the lovely one, the wish-granting cow, with the gait of a great elephant, seated at the left side of Shiva, the enemy of Kama. She is Kalyani, graceful in her chosen descent, anointed with musk, dwelling at the root of the mango tree on the bank of the Kampa, a river of compassion.

Closing

इति श्री कामाक्षी स्तोत्रम् ॥

Thus ends the Shri Kamakshi Stotram.

The syllable people get wrong

The refrain word maheśapriyām is often flattened to "Mahesh priyam": keep the short a after the ś, so ma-HAY-sha-pri-YAAM, with a long e and a long final ā. The ś is the soft palatal sh, and the word is one compound, Mahesha plus priya, beloved of Shiva.

When the Kamakshi Stotram is chanted

Weekday. Friday

Festival. Annual Masi festival of the Kamakshi temple, Kanchipuram

Questions

Tradition attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya, and several printings carry his name in their author line. The short closing line printed on this page names no one, and no early source confirms the attribution, so it is best read as a traditional ascription. Shankara's link with Kanchi is told separately, in the account that he consecrated the Sri Chakra before her image. Other hymns share the title, including a modern composition, so the opening words identify this one.
It means 'I bow to Kamakshi, the beloved of Maheshvara'. Vande is 'I bow', and Mahesha, the Great God, is Shiva, so maheshapriyam is she who is dear to him. Nine verses close on these words, with a different epithet between her name and the last two words: Verse 2 and Verse 9 use her elephant gait, Verse 6 calls her queen of Shiva Kamaraja. Verse 10 drops the refrain altogether.
It is not an ashtakam: an ashtakam has eight verses and this text has ten, and it does not call itself one. It also has no phala shruti in the usual sense, since no verse says what a reader of the hymn receives. Verse 10 is a benediction, asking the Goddess of Kanchipuri to grant 'me' all that is auspicious. A longer compilation printed under the same name reorders the verses and adds others; it is a different form.
Both praise Kamakshi of Kanchi, but the Mooka Panchashati is a work of five hundred verses by Mooka Kavi, the poet tradition describes as a mute man given speech at this temple, and one of its verses appears on our Kamakshi Mantra page. The Kamakshi Stotram is ten verses under Shankara's name, held together by a single refrain. Its images change quickly from verse to verse, from the sound of Om to the three seed syllables.
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