By Victor M Fontane
The Kanakadhara Stotram is a famous hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya. It is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, and abundance.
Origin of Kanakadhara Stotram:
As the story goes, Adi Shankaracharya, during his early years as a wandering monk (sannyasi), was once traveling through a village. He was practicing the tradition of bhiksha (begging for alms), which is customary for monks in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. He knocked on the door of a very poor Brahmin woman, seeking alms.
The woman, despite her extreme poverty, wanted to offer something to the young monk. However, she had nothing but a single dried amla (Indian gooseberry) in her house. Out of her deep respect and devotion, she gave it to Shankaracharya.
Moved by her selflessness and seeing her dire poverty, Shankaracharya composed the Kanakadhara Stotram in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, praying for her blessings upon the poor woman. The legend states that Goddess Lakshmi was so pleased with Shankaracharya's sincere prayer that she showered the woman's house with a rain of golden amlas (kanakadhara means "flow of gold").
This miraculous event is said to have brought prosperity to the woman and her household, thus demonstrating the power of devotion and selfless giving. The Kanakadhara Stotram has since been recited by devotees to invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi for wealth, prosperity, and removal of poverty.
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