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Mookambika Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

श्री मूकाम्बिकाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Mookambika Ashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. namaste jagad-dhatri sad-brahma-rupe
  2. Verse 2. vidhih krittivasa harir vishvam etat
  3. Verse 3. tvaya mayaya vyaptam etat samastam
  4. Verse 4. yaya bhakta-varga hi lakshyanta ete
  5. Verse 5. punar vak-patutvadi-hina hi muka
  6. Verse 6. yad advaita-rupat para-brahmanas tvam
  7. Verse 7. haresadi-dehottha-tejomaya-pra-
  8. Verse 8. namah shankha-chakrabhaya-bhishta-haste
  9. Verse 9. idam stotra-ratnam kritam sarva-devair
Verse 1#

namaste jagad-dhatri sad-brahma-rupe

नमस्ते जगद्धात्रि सद्ब्रह्मरूपे नमस्ते हरोपेन्द्रधात्रादिवन्द्ये। नमस्ते प्रपन्नेष्टदानैकदक्षे नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥१॥

namaste jagad-dhatri sad-brahma-rupe namaste haropendra-dhatradi-vandye | namaste prapanneshta-danaika-dakshe namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||1||

MeaningSalutations to you, sustainer of the world, whose form is the true Brahman; salutations to you, worshipped by Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma and all the gods; salutations to you, the one adept at granting the wishes of those who take refuge — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 2#

vidhih krittivasa harir vishvam etat

विधिः कृत्तिवासा हरिर्विश्वमेतत् सृजत्यत्ति पातीति यत्तत्प्रसिद्धम्। कृपालोकनादेव ते शक्तिरूपे नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥२॥

vidhih krittivasa harir vishvam etat srijaty atti patiti yat tat prasiddham | kripa-lokanad eva te shakti-rupe namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||2||

MeaningThat Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu create, dissolve and protect this universe is well known; yet it is only by your compassionate glance, O Power-embodied one, that they do so — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 3#

tvaya mayaya vyaptam etat samastam

त्वया मायया व्याप्तमेतत्समस्तं धृतं लीयसे देवि कुक्षौ हि विश्वम्। स्थितां बुद्धिरूपेण सर्वत्र जन्तौ नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥३॥

tvaya mayaya vyaptam etat samastam dhritam liyase devi kukshau hi vishvam | sthitam buddhi-rupena sarvatra jantau namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||3||

MeaningBy you, as Maya, is all this pervaded; you bear and then dissolve the whole universe within your womb, O Goddess, and you abide in every creature as its intelligence — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 4#

yaya bhakta-varga hi lakshyanta ete

यया भक्तवर्गा हि लक्ष्यन्त एते त्वयाऽत्र प्रकामं कृपापूर्णदृष्ट्या। अतो गीयसे देवि लक्ष्मीरिति त्वं नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥४॥

yaya bhakta-varga hi lakshyanta ete tvaya'tra prakamam kripa-purna-drishtya | ato giyase devi lakshmir iti tvam namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||4||

MeaningBy your glance, brimming with grace here at will, these throngs of devotees are watched over; therefore, O Goddess, you are sung as 'Lakshmi' — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 5#

punar vak-patutvadi-hina hi muka

पुनर्वाक्पटुत्वादिहीना हि मूका नरास्तैर्निकामं खलु प्रार्थ्यसे यत्। निजेष्टाप्तये तेन मूकाम्बिका त्वं नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥५॥

punar vak-patutvadi-hina hi muka naras tair nikamam khalu prarthyase yat | nijeshtaptaye tena mukambika tvam namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||5||

MeaningFurther, men who are mute, lacking eloquence and the like, earnestly pray to you for the gaining of their desires; because of that you are 'Mookambika' (Mother of the mute) — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 6#

yad advaita-rupat para-brahmanas tvam

यदद्वैतरूपात्परब्रह्मणस्त्वं समुत्था पुनर्विश्वलीलोद्यमस्था। तदाहुर्जनास्त्वां गौरीं कुमारीं नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥६॥

yad advaita-rupat para-brahmanas tvam samuttha punar vishva-lilodyamastha | tad ahur janas tvam cha gaurim kumarim namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||6||

MeaningSince you arise from the non-dual Supreme Brahman and then stand poised in the play of the universe, people call you Gauri and Kumari — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 7#

haresadi-dehottha-tejomaya-pra-

हरेशादिदेहोत्थतेजोमयप्र- स्फुरच्चक्रराजाख्यलिङ्गस्वरूपे। महायोगिकोलर्षिहृत्पद्मगेहे नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥७॥

haresadi-dehottha-tejomaya-pra- sphurach-chakra-rajakhya-linga-svarupe | maha-yogi-kolarshi-hrit-padma-gehe namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||7||

MeaningO one whose form is the luminous Linga, the radiant Sri Chakra-raja arising from the splendour of the bodies of Shiva, Vishnu and the gods, dwelling in the heart-lotus of the great yogi sage Kola — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 8#

namah shankha-chakrabhaya-bhishta-haste

नमः शङ्खचक्राभयाभीष्टहस्ते नमः त्र्यम्बके गौरि पद्मासनस्थे। नमः स्वर्णवर्णे प्रसन्ने शरण्ये नमस्ते महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि॥८॥

namah shankha-chakrabhaya-bhishta-haste namah tryambake gauri padmasana-sthe | namah svarna-varne prasanne sharanye namaste mahalakshmi kolapureshi ||8||

MeaningSalutations to you who bear the conch, the discus, the gesture of fearlessness and the boon-giving gesture in your hands; salutations, O three-eyed Gauri seated on the lotus; salutations, O golden-hued, gracious refuge of all — salutations to you, Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura!

Verse 9#

idam stotra-ratnam kritam sarva-devair

इदं स्तोत्ररत्नं कृतं सर्वदेवै- र्हृदि त्वां समाधाय लक्ष्म्यष्टकं यः। पठेन्नित्यमेष व्रजत्याशु लक्ष्मीं विद्यां सत्यं भवेत्तत्प्रसादात्॥

idam stotra-ratnam kritam sarva-devair hridi tvam samadhaya lakshmy-ashtakam yah | pathen nityam esha vrajaty ashu lakshmim sa vidyam cha satyam bhavet tat-prasadat ||

MeaningThis jewel of a hymn, the Lakshmi-ashtakam, was composed by all the gods; whoever, fixing you in his heart, recites it daily swiftly attains prosperity (Lakshmi), and by your grace gains true knowledge and truth.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

नमस्ते
namaste
Salutations to you
जगद्धात्रि
jagad-dhatri
O sustainer and nourisher of the world
सद्ब्रह्मरूपे
sad-brahma-rupe
O one whose form is the true, eternal Brahman
हरोपेन्द्रधात्रादिवन्द्ये
haropendra-dhatradi-vandye
Worshipped by Hara (Shiva), Upendra (Vishnu), Dhatra (Brahma) and all the gods
प्रपन्नेष्टदानैकदक्षे
prapanneshta-danaika-dakshe
Sole expert in granting the wishes of those who take refuge in you
महालक्ष्मि कोलापुरेशि
mahalakshmi kolapureshi
O Mahalakshmi, Goddess of Kolapura (the refrain ending each verse)
विधिः
vidhih
Brahma (the creator)
कृत्तिवासा
krittivasa
Shiva (clad in the hide), the destroyer
शक्तिरूपे
shakti-rupe
O one who is the very power (Shakti) behind creation, sustenance and dissolution
त्वया मायया व्याप्तम्
tvaya mayaya vyaptam
All this is pervaded by your Maya (creative power)
कुक्षौ हि विश्वम्
kukshau hi vishvam
The whole universe (is held and dissolved) within your womb
बुद्धिरूपेण
buddhi-rupena
You abide in all beings as their very intelligence
कृपापूर्णदृष्ट्या
kripa-purna-drishtya
By your glance full of compassion
मूकाम्बिका
mukambika
O Mookambika — Mother who gives speech to the mute and grants every prayer
गौरीं कुमारीम्
gaurim kumarim
You are called Gauri and Kumari (forms of Parvati)
चक्रराजाख्यलिङ्गस्वरूपे
chakra-rajakhya-linga-svarupe
O one whose form is the radiant Linga known as the Sri Chakra-raja
शङ्खचक्राभयाभीष्टहस्ते
shankha-chakrabhaya-bhishta-haste
Holding the conch, discus, the gesture of fearlessness and the boon-giving gesture in your hands
त्र्यम्बके गौरि
tryambake gauri
O three-eyed Gauri
स्वर्णवर्णे प्रसन्ने शरण्ये
svarna-varne prasanne sharanye
O golden-hued, gracious refuge of all
स्तोत्ররत्नं
stotra-ratnam
This jewel of a hymn (composed by all the gods)
व्रजत्याशु लक्ष्मीम्
vrajaty ashu lakshmim
(The reciter) quickly attains prosperity (Lakshmi)

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Sanskrit hymn to Mookambika of Kollur

Author: Traditional (the hymn's colophon ascribes it to all the gods)

Period: Traditional

The Mookambika temple at Kollur, nestled in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, is one of the seven sacred Mukti-Sthalas of the region and is associated with Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have established the Goddess there. The deity is unique: a swayambhu Jyotirlinga divided by a golden line, the right side representing Shiva-Vishnu-Brahma and the left the united powers of Saraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali — so she grants both knowledge and prosperity. This ashtakam praises her under all these aspects, explaining each of her names verse by verse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Goddess Mookambika?
Mookambika is the presiding Goddess of the famous temple at Kollur in Udupi district, Karnataka. She is worshipped as the combined power of Mahalakshmi, Saraswati and Durga (Kali), embodied in a swayambhu Jyotirlinga in which Shiva and Shakti are united, with a golden image (panchaloha) before it.
Why is she called 'Mookambika'?
The name means 'Mother of the mute'. As the fifth verse explains, those who lack speech and eloquence pray to her and receive their desire; tradition also links the name to the demon Mookasura whom she slew. She is especially invoked for the gift of speech and learning.
Why does the hymn call her 'Goddess of Kolapura'?
Mookambika is venerated as a form of Mahalakshmi, and the refrain hails her as Mahalakshmi of Kolapura (Kolhapur). The seventh verse also connects 'Kola' to the great yogi-sage Kola in whose heart she dwells — Kollur being named after him.
Who is said to have composed this hymn?
The closing verse states that this 'jewel of a hymn', the Lakshmi-ashtakam, was composed by all the gods (sarva-devaih) together. It is recited as a complete and sacred octet to the Mother of Kollur.

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