Janaki Stotram
श्री जानकी स्तोत्रम्
Also known as: janaki stuti · janaki twam namasyami · sita stotram · shri janaki stotram · janaki stotra
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✦ Meaning
The Janaki Stotram (also called Janaki Stuti), beginning 'Janaki tvaam namasyaami', is a beloved eight-verse hymn to Goddess Sita, the consort of Lord Rama. It salutes Sita not only as the ideal devoted wife and daughter of King Janaka, but as the universal Mother — identical with Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Uma and Prakriti, the destroyer of sin and poverty, and the giver of fearlessness. Devotees recite it for prosperity, marital harmony, fearlessness and the grace of the Divine Mother.
Origin & Story
Traditional Sanskrit hymn to Goddess Sita (Janaki Stuti) · Traditional (anonymous) · Classical / medieval devotional period
The Janaki Stotram belongs to the rich tradition of Sita-stuti, hymns that exalt Sita as the Goddess (Shakti) inseparable from Rama. While the Ramayana tells the story of Sita as the devoted wife of Rama and daughter of Janaka, this hymn unfolds her divine identity: she is Lakshmi who arose from the milk-ocean, Sarasvati the mother of the Vedas, Uma the consort of Shiva, and Prakriti the primordial Nature. Each verse begins or ends with 'namaami' / 'namasyaami' (I bow), making the stotra a continuous garland of salutations to the universal Mother.
✦ As told in scripture
In the tradition of Mithila and among Rama devotees, it is held that those burdened by poverty and fear who worship Sita through this stotra are lifted by the Mother's grace, for she is explicitly hailed as 'daaridrya-rana-samhartri' — she who makes war upon poverty itself — and 'abhaya-pradaa', the bestower of fearlessness.
Complete Text with Meaning
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जानकि त्वां नमस्यामि सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्। दारिद्र्यरणसंहर्त्रीं भक्तानामभयप्रदाम्॥१॥
Jaanaki tvaam namasyaami sarvapaapapranaashineem, Daaridryarana-samhartreem bhaktaanaam abhayapradaam. (1)
Meaning:O Janaki, I bow to you, the destroyer of all sins, the annihilator of poverty, the giver of fearlessness to devotees.
विदेहराजतनयां राघवानन्दकारिणीम्। भूमेर्दुहितरं विद्यां नमामि प्रकृतिं शिवाम्॥२॥
Videhaaraajatanayaam raaghavaanandakaarineem, Bhoomerduhitaram vidyaam namaami prakritim shivaam. (2)
Meaning:Daughter of the king of Videha, the bringer of joy to Raghava (Rama); I bow to the daughter of the Earth, who is Knowledge itself and the auspicious Prakriti.
पौलस्त्यैश्वर्यसंहत्रीं भक्ताभीष्टां सरस्वतीम्। पतिव्रताधुरीणां त्वां नमामि जनकात्मजाम्॥३॥
Paulastyaishwaryasamhatreem bhaktaabheeshtaam sarasvateem, Pativrataadhureenaam tvaam namaami janakaatmajaam. (3)
Meaning:Destroyer of Ravana's lordly power, fulfiller of devotees' wishes, the very Sarasvati; I bow to you, foremost of devoted wives, the daughter of Janaka.
अनुग्रहपरामृद्धिमनघां हरिवल्लभाम्। आत्मविद्यां त्रयीरूपामुमारूपां नमाम्यहम्॥४॥
Anugrahaparaamriddhim anaghaam harivallabhaam, Aatmavidyaam trayeeroopaam umaaroopaam namaamyaham. (4)
Meaning:I bow to her who is supremely gracious, ever-prosperous, sinless, the beloved of Hari; who is the knowledge of the Self, the form of the three Vedas, and the form of Uma.
प्रसादाभिमुखीं लक्ष्मीं क्षीराब्धितनयां शुभाम्। नमामि चन्द्रभगिनीं सीतां सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरीम्॥५॥
Prasaadaabhimukheem lakshmeem ksheeraabdhi-tanayaam shubhaam, Namaami chandrabhagineem seetaam sarvaanga-sundareem. (5)
Meaning:I bow to her who turns her gracious glance upon us, who is Lakshmi, the auspicious daughter of the milk-ocean; I bow to Sita, sister of the moon, beautiful in every limb.
नमामि धर्मनिलयां करुणां वेदमातरम्। पद्मालयां पद्महस्तां विष्णुवक्षःस्थलालयाम्॥६॥
Namaami dharmanilayaam karunaam vedamaataram, Padmaalayaam padmahastaam vishnuvakshahsthalaalayaam. (6)
Meaning:I bow to her who is the abode of dharma, who is compassion itself and the Mother of the Vedas; who dwells in the lotus, holds a lotus, and rests upon the chest of Vishnu.
नमामि चन्द्रनिलयां सीतां चन्द्रनिभाननाम्। आह्लादरूपिणीं सिद्धिं शिवां शिवकरीं सतीम्॥७॥
Namaami chandranilayaam seetaam chandranibhaananaam, Aahlaadaroopineem siddhim shivaam shivakareem sateem. (7)
Meaning:I bow to her who dwells in (the cool radiance of) the moon, to Sita whose face resembles the moon; who is the embodiment of bliss, perfection (Siddhi), auspiciousness, the doer of good, the chaste Sati.
नमामि विश्वजननीं रामचन्द्रेष्टवल्लभाम्। सीतां सर्वानवद्याङ्गीं भजामि सततं हृदा॥८॥
Namaami vishvajananeem raamachandreshtavallabhaam, Seetaam sarvaanavadyaangeem bhajaami satatam hridaa. (8)
Meaning:I bow to the Mother of the universe, the cherished beloved of Ramachandra; I forever worship in my heart that Sita, whose every limb is flawless and perfect.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Janaki Stotram
Invokes the grace of Goddess Sita as the Divine Mother, who destroys all sins (sarva-paapa-pranaashini)
Specifically praised as the destroyer of poverty (daaridrya-rana-samhartri) — recited for prosperity and abundance
Bestows fearlessness, as Sita is the 'giver of abhaya' (fearlessness) to her devotees
Honoured for marital harmony and the blessings of an ideal devoted partnership, Sita being foremost of pativratas
Identifies Sita with Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Uma and Prakriti, drawing the combined grace of the Goddess
Cultivates the qualities of dharma, compassion and chastity by meditating on Sita as their very abode
Brings peace and auspiciousness (Shiva, Sati) into the home and heart of the devotee
How to Chant Janaki Stotram
After bathing, sit before an image of Sita-Rama and light a lamp. Offer red or yellow flowers to Mother Sita. Recite all eight verses with devotion, holding the feeling that you are bowing again and again ('namaami') to the universal Mother. It is especially auspicious to recite the Janaki Stotram on Sita Navami (Sita's appearance day) and during the nine nights of Navaratri. Married couples often recite it together for harmony, and those seeking prosperity recite it on Fridays before Goddess Lakshmi-Sita.