Sri Venkateswara Stotram (Kamalakucha Choochuka)
श्री वेङ्कटेश्वर स्तोत्रम् (कमलाकुचचूचुक)
Also known as: venkateswara stotram · venkatesa stotram · kamalakucha choochuka kunkumato · kamalakucha choochuka · balaji stotram · srinivasa stotram
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✦ Meaning
Sri Venkateswara Stotram, beginning 'Kamalakucha choochuka kunkumato', is the beloved hymn of praise to Lord Venkateswara (Balaji / Srinivasa) of Tirumala-Tirupati. Forming part of the famous suite of the Venkatesha Suprabhatam, its eleven verses adore the Lord of the Seven Hills, identify him with Rama and Krishna, surrender wholly at his feet, and beg his grace and forgiveness. It is recited daily by millions of devotees as a prayer of refuge to the Lord of Tirumala.
Origin & Story
Venkatesha Suprabhatam suite (Sri Vaishnava tradition) · Prativadi Bhayankaram Annan (Annangaracharya) · 15th century CE
Lord Venkateswara — also called Srinivasa, Balaji and the Lord of the Seven Hills — is the presiding deity of Tirumala, the most visited temple in the world. The 15th-century acharya Prativadi Bhayankaram Annan composed a fourfold suite for the Lord: the Suprabhatam (awakening verses), this Stotram (praise), the Prapatti (surrender) and the Mangalasasanam (auspicious benediction). The Stotram, opening 'Kamalakucha choochuka kunkumato', has become one of the most cherished prayers in South Indian Vaishnavism, recited at the temple each dawn and in homes across the world.
✦ As told in scripture
It is held at Tirumala that the Lord, called Aapad-bandhava (friend in distress), never lets a sincere prayer go unanswered; countless devotees recount that surrendering through these very verses — 'without Venkatesha there is no refuge' — brought relief from seemingly impossible troubles and the fulfilment of long-cherished vows.
Complete Text with Meaning
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कमलाकुचचूचुक कुङ्कुमतो नियतारुणितातुल नीलतनो । कमलायतलोचन लोकपते विजयीभव वेङ्कटशैलपते ॥ १ ॥
Kamalakucha choochuka kunkumato Niyatarunitatula nilatano | Kamalayatalochana lokapate Vijayibhava venkatashailapate || 1 ||
Meaning:O Lord whose matchless dark-blue body is ever reddened by the kumkuma from the bosom of Goddess Lakshmi, whose eyes are wide as lotus petals, O Lord of all worlds — be victorious, O Lord of the Venkata Hill!
सचतुर्मुख षण्मुख पञ्चमुख प्रमुखाखिल दैवत मौलिमणे । शरणागतवत्सल सारनिधे परिपालय मां वृषशैलपते ॥ २ ॥
Sachaturmukha shanmukha panchamukha Pramukhakhila daivata maulimane | Sharanagatavatsala saranidhe Paripalaya mam vrishashailapate || 2 ||
Meaning:O crest-jewel upon the heads of all the gods led by the four-faced Brahma, six-faced Skanda and five-faced Shiva, O One tender to those who seek refuge, O ocean of all excellence — protect me, O Lord of Vrishachala!
अतिवेलतया तव दुर्विषहै- रनुवेलकृतैरपराधशतैः । भरितं त्वरितं वृषशैलपते परया कृपया परिपाहि हरे ॥ ३ ॥
Ativelataya tava durvishahai- ranuvelakritairaparadhashataih | Bharitam tvaritam vrishashailapate Paraya kripaya paripahi hare || 3 ||
Meaning:Beyond all measure am I filled with hundreds of offences committed against you moment after moment, unbearable as they are; quickly, with your supreme grace, save me, O Hari, Lord of Vrishachala!
अधिवेङ्कटशैलमुदारमते- र्जनताभिमताधिकदानरतात् । परदेवतया गदितान्निगमैः कमलादयितान्न परं कलये ॥ ४ ॥
Adhivenkatashailamudaramate- rjanatabhimatadhikadanaratat | Paradevataya gaditannigamaih Kamaladayitanna param kalaye || 4 ||
Meaning:From the Lord of Venkata Hill, generous of heart, ever delighting in granting more than his devotees desire — declared by the Vedas to be the Supreme Deity — I know nothing higher than this beloved of Kamala.
कलवेणुरवावशगोपवधू- शतकोटिवृतात्स्मरकोटिसमात् । प्रतिवल्लविकाभिमतात्सुखदात् वसुदेवसुतान्न परं कलये ॥ ५ ॥
Kalavenuravavashagopavadhu- shatakotivritatsmarakotisamat | Prativallavikabhimatatsukhadat Vasudevasutanna param kalaye || 5 ||
Meaning:From the son of Vasudeva, surrounded by countless cowherd women enchanted by the sweet notes of his flute, equal to a million Cupids, beloved and joy-giving to every gopi — I know nothing higher than him.
अभिरामगुणाकर दाशरथे जगदेकधनुर्धर धीरमते । रघुनायक राम रमेश विभो वरदो भव देव दयाजलधे ॥ ६ ॥
Abhiramagunakara dasharathe Jagadekadhanurdhara dhiramate | Raghunayaka rama ramesha vibho Varado bhava deva dayajaladhe || 6 ||
Meaning:O ocean of charming virtues, son of Dasharatha, sole supreme wielder of the bow in the world, of steadfast mind; O leader of the Raghus, O Rama, O Lord of Rama (Lakshmi), O all-pervading One — be the giver of boons, O God, ocean of mercy!
अवनीतनयाकमनीयकरं रजनीकरचारुमुखाम्बुरुहम् । रजनीचरराजतमोमिहिरं महनीयमहं रघुरामममुम् ॥ ७ ॥
Avanitanayakamaniyakaram Rajanikaracharumukhamburuham | Rajanichararajatamomihiram Mahaniyamaham raghuramamamum || 7 ||
Meaning:With hands lovely to Sita the daughter of the Earth, with a face charming as the moon, a sun that dispels the darkness of the night-roving demons — I worship that great and glorious Raghu-Rama.
सुमुखं सुहृदं सुलभं सुखदं स्वनुजं च सुकायममोघशरम् । अपहाय रघूद्वहमन्यमहं न कथञ्चन कञ्चन जातु भजे ॥ ८ ॥
Sumukham suhridam sulabham sukhadam Svanujam cha sukayamamoghasharam | Apahaya raghudvahamanyamaham Na kathanchana kanchana jatu bhaje || 8 ||
Meaning:Forsaking that scion of the Raghus — fair-faced, friendly, easy to approach, joy-bestowing, with a noble younger brother (Lakshmana), of beautiful form and unfailing arrows — I shall never, ever, worship anyone else at all.
विना वेङ्कटेशं न नाथो न नाथः सदा वेङ्कटेशं स्मरामि स्मरामि । हरे वेङ्कटेश प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रियं वेङ्कटेश प्रयच्छ प्रयच्छ ॥ ९ ॥
Vina venkatesham na natho na nathah Sada venkatesham smarami smarami | Hare venkatesha prasida prasida Priyam venkatesha prayachchha prayachchha || 9 ||
Meaning:Apart from Venkatesha there is no Lord, no refuge for me; ever do I remember Venkatesha, I remember him. O Hari Venkatesha, be gracious, be gracious; O dear Venkatesha, grant (me your grace), grant it.
अहं दूरतस्ते पदाम्भोजयुग्म- प्रणामेच्छयागत्य सेवां करोमि । सकृत्सेवया नित्यसेवाफलं त्वं प्रयच्छ प्रयच्छ प्रभो वेङ्कटेश ॥ १० ॥
Aham durataste padambhojayugma- pranamechchhayagatya sevam karomi | Sakritsevaya nityasevaphalam tvam Prayachchha prayachchha prabho venkatesha || 10 ||
Meaning:Though far away, longing to bow at your pair of lotus-feet I have come and offer service; for this single act of service grant me, O grant me, the fruit of perpetual service, O Lord Venkatesha.
अज्ञानिना मया दोषानशेषान्विहितान्हरे । क्षमस्व त्वं क्षमस्व त्वं शेषशैलशिखामणे ॥ ११ ॥
Ajnanina maya doshanasheshanvihitanhare | Kshamasva tvam kshamasva tvam sheshashailashikhamane || 11 ||
Meaning:Whatever endless faults I, in ignorance, have committed, O Hari — forgive me, forgive me, O crest-jewel of the Shesha Hill.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Sri Venkateswara Stotram (Kamalakucha Choochuka)
Invokes the direct grace and protection of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) of Tirumala
A complete prayer of self-surrender (sharanagati) at the feet of the Lord of the Seven Hills
Recited as the morning suite of the Venkatesha Suprabhatam at Tirumala, sanctifying the start of the day
Believed to remove sins and offences as the devotee begs forgiveness in the closing verses
Cultivates one-pointed devotion, identifying Venkatesha with Rama and Krishna
Traditionally chanted for fulfilment of cherished desires, prosperity and the Lord's protection
Brings peace of mind and the assurance of divine refuge when recited with faith
How to Chant Sri Venkateswara Stotram (Kamalakucha Choochuka)
Bathe and sit facing east or the deity. Light a lamp before an image of Lord Venkateswara / Balaji and recite the eleven verses slowly with devotion, ideally after the Venkatesha Suprabhatam. Saturday is considered especially dear to Lord Venkateswara. Conclude by bowing in surrender, dwelling on the closing verses that beg the Lord's grace and forgiveness.
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