What is Kanak Dhara Stotram recitation?

The Kanakadhara Stotram is a powerful hymn dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The word "Kanak" means gold, and "Dhara" means flow or shower. So, Kanakadhara Stotram means “a hymn that brings a shower of gold.”

It was composed by the great saint Adi Shankaracharya to please Goddess Lakshmi. This stotram is very dear to the Goddess and is believed to remove poverty and attract wealth and prosperity.

By regularly chanting the Kanakadhara Stotram, a person can receive the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, get rid of financial difficulties, and experience overall well-being. It is also known as a Debt-Relief and Auspicious Hymn, and those who sincerely recite it are believed to gain wealth and freedom from all kinds of troubles.

Origin of Kanakadhara Stotram recitation

The Kanakadhara Stotram was first chanted by the great spiritual teacher Adi Shankaracharya. It is said that Goddess Lakshmi was so pleased by his prayer that she showered wealth in the courtyard of a poor Brahmin woman. Here's the sacred and inspiring story behind it:

Once, Adi Shankaracharya went to a Brahmin household to ask for alms (bhiksha). The Brahmin was very poor but deeply honest and religious. When the Brahmin’s wife saw the saint standing at their door—looking wise and radiant—she was filled with respect but also confusion, because she had nothing to offer him.

After searching her small home carefully, she found a single amla (gooseberry) fruit. With humility and devotion, she brought it to the young ascetic Shankaracharya and offered it to him with great hesitation and reverence, feeling sorry that she couldn’t give more.

Acharya Shankaracharya understood the poor condition of the Brahmin woman. But seeing her selfless spirit of giving, he was deeply moved and impressed. Her difficult situation filled his heart with sorrow, and he felt great compassion for her.

He decided in his heart that he would pray to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and try to please her—so that she would bless the kind Brahmin woman and free her from her poverty. Acharya Shankaracharya was determined to help her through his devotion and powerful prayer.

So, Acharya Shankaracharya began to lovingly praise Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Narayana and the divine ruler of wealth and prosperity. Touched by his heartfelt devotion, Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared before him in her radiant, divine form that enchants all three worlds.

With a gentle and sweet voice, she asked, “O great sage Shankaracharya, why have you remembered me today?”

Acharya first offered his respects to the Goddess and then, with deep sorrow, described the miserable condition of the poor Brahmin woman. He humbly prayed to Goddess Lakshmi, saying,

“O Mother, please have mercy on this poor Brahmin family and bless them with your grace.”

Hearing Acharya Shankaracharya’s heartfelt prayer, Goddess Lakshmi gently replied,

“O great sage, it is not written in that Brahmin’s destiny to receive wealth in this lifetime.”

But Acharya humbly and compassionately pleaded again, saying,

“Mother, it is true that this Brahmin may not have done any good deeds or charity in his past life to deserve wealth now. However, in this life, he gave a single amla (gooseberry) to a poor monk like me with a pure and selfless heart. That one act of kindness is a great virtue.”

Acharya then lovingly and respectfully requested Goddess Lakshmi once more to show her mercy.

Seeing the depth of Acharya’s compassion and devotion, Goddess Lakshmi could not deny his request. Moved by his plea, she blessed the poor Brahmin woman — and showered gold into her home.

From that day, the Brahmin's poverty ended, and he and his family became prosperous. Because of this divine event — the rain of gold — the hymn composed by Shankaracharya came to be known as “Kanakadhara Stotram”,

where “Kanak” means gold, and “Dhara” means a flow or shower.