gurupadukashankaracharyadevotion

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍

श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Guru Purnima, Thursdays (Guruvar), and at dawn before meditation or study·📜 Composed by Adi Shankaracharya; preserved in the Advaita and stotra tradition

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya; preserved in the Advaita and stotra tradition · Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) · 8th century CE

By tradition, the young Shankara journeyed to the banks of the Narmada in search of a master and found the cave of Govinda Bhagavatpada, disciple of Gaudapada. Beholding the padukas (sandals) of his Guru, his heart overflowed and he poured out this hymn in their praise. Through nine cascading verses he glorifies the Guru's sandals as the boat across the endless ocean of samsara, the sun that scatters the darkness of sin, the Garuda that destroys the serpents of desire, and the giver of discrimination, dispassion, awakening and swift liberation — making it the supreme hymn of Guru-bhakti in the Advaita tradition.

✦ As told in scripture

The third verse declares the power of the Guru's grace in vivid terms — that those who bow to the padukas, even the poorest, swiftly become lords of fortune, and the very mute attain the eloquence of Brihaspati. Devotees of the Shankara tradition relate that sincere surrender at the Guru's padukas has turned the dull-witted into illumined teachers, a living testimony to the hymn's promise that the Guru's sandals 'grant awakening and bestow liberation swiftly'.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌅𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌾𑌰-𑌨𑍗𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௧॥

Ananta-samsaara-samudra-taara-naukaayitaabhyaam Guru-bhakti-daabhyaam Vairaagya-saamraajyada-poojanaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (1)

Meaning:श्रीगुरु की पादुकाओं को बार-बार नमस्कार — जो अनन्त संसार-सागर को पार कराने के लिए नौका के समान हैं, जो गुरु-भक्ति प्रदान करती हैं, और जिनका पूजन वैराग्य के साम्राज्य को प्रदान करता है॥

Verse 2

𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑍗𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌦𑍂𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௨॥

Kavitva-vaaraashi-nishaakaraabhyaam Daurbhaagya-daavaambuda-maalikaabhyaam Dooreekrita-anamra-vipattitaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (2)

Meaning:गुरु की पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जो कवित्व के सागर में ज्वार उठाने वाले चन्द्रमा के समान हैं, जो दुर्भाग्य रूपी दावानल को बुझाने वाली मेघमाला हैं, और जो नमन करने वालों की विपत्तियों को दूर कर देती हैं॥

Verse 3

𑌨𑌤𑌾 𑌯𑌯𑍋𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍀𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌶𑍁 𑌦𑌰𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃। 𑌮𑍂𑌕𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌹𑌿 𑌤𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௩॥

Nataa Yayoh Shree-patitaam Sameeyuh Kadaachid-apy-aashu Daridra-varyaah Mookaash-cha Vaachaspatitaam Hi Taabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (3)

Meaning:पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जिन्हें प्रणाम करने से अति दरिद्र भी शीघ्र श्रीसम्पन्न (लक्ष्मीपति) हो जाते हैं, और मूक भी बृहस्पति-सी वाणी (वाक्पटुता) पा लेते हैं॥

Verse 4

𑌨𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌕𑌨𑍀𑌕𑌾𑌶𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌹𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌭𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌤𑌤𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௪॥

Naaleeka-neekaasha-pada-aahritaabhyaam Naanaa-vimoha-aadi-nivaarikaabhyaam Namaj-jana-abheeshta-tati-pradaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (4)

Meaning:पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जो कमल-सी मनोहर होकर हृदय को आकर्षित करती हैं, जो नाना मोह आदि का निवारण करती हैं, और जो नमन करने वालों की समस्त अभिलाषाओं को पूर्ण करती हैं॥

Verse 5

𑌨𑍃𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌮𑍗𑌲𑌿𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿-𑌸𑌰𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌜𑍍𑌝𑌷𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌨𑍃𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌤𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌃 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௫॥

Nripaali-mauli-vraja-ratna-kaanti-sarid-viraajaj-jhasha-kanyakaabhyaam Nripatva-daabhyaam Nata-loka-pankteh Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (5)

Meaning:पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जो नमन करते राजाओं के रत्नजटित मुकुटों की कान्ति से प्रकाशित नदी की मीनकन्या-सी शोभायमान हैं, और जो नतजनों की पंक्ति को राज्य प्रदान करती हैं॥

Verse 6

𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌕𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌖𑌗𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌜𑌾𑌡𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌸𑌂𑌶𑍋𑌷𑌣𑌵𑌾𑌡𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௬॥

Paapaandhakaara-arka-paramparaabhyaam Taapa-traya-aaheendra-khageshvaraabhyaam Jaadya-abdhi-samshoshana-vaadavaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (6)

Meaning:पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जो पाप के अन्धकार को मिटाने वाली सूर्य-परम्परा हैं, जो त्रिविध तापों रूपी सर्पराज के लिए गरुड़ के समान हैं, और जो जड़ता रूपी सागर को सुखाने वाली वडवाग्नि हैं॥

Verse 7

𑌶𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌵𑍈𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌦𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௭॥

Shamaadi-shatka-prada-vaibhavaabhyaam Samaadhi-daana-vrata-deekshitaabhyaam Ramaadhava-anghri-sthira-bhakti-daabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (7)

Meaning:पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जिनका वैभव शम आदि षट्क गुणों को प्रदान करता है, जो समाधि-दान के व्रत में दीक्षित हैं, और जो श्रीहरि के चरणों में दृढ़ भक्ति प्रदान करती हैं॥

Verse 8

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌮𑌖𑌿𑌲𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌹𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌧𑍁𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌰𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௮॥

Svaarchaa-paraanaam Akhila-ishta-daabhyaam Svaahaa-sahaaya-aksha-dhurandharaabhyaam Svaanta-achchha-bhaava-prada-poojanaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (8)

Meaning:पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जो अपने पूजन में रत भक्तों को समस्त इष्ट प्रदान करती हैं, जो (यज्ञादि के) सहारे विश्व का भार धारण करती हैं, और जिनका पूजन हृदय को निर्मल एवं शान्त भाव प्रदान करता है॥

Verse 9

𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌗𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌡𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌕𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍। 𑌬𑍋𑌧𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌤𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍॥௯॥

Kaamaadi-sarpa-vraja-gaarudaabhyaam Viveka-vairaagya-nidhi-pradaabhyaam Bodha-pradaabhyaam Drita-moksha-daabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (9)

Meaning:पादुकाओं को नमस्कार — जो काम आदि सर्पसमूह के लिए गरुड़ के समान हैं, जो विवेक और वैराग्य का निधि प्रदान करती हैं, जो बोध प्रदान करती हैं और शीघ्र मोक्ष देती हैं॥

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌅𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰🔊Ananta-samsaara-samudraThe boundless ocean of worldly existence (samsara)

𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌨𑍗𑌕𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Taara-naukaayitaabhyaamBy the two (sandals) that serve as a boat to ferry one across

𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Guru-bhakti-daabhyaamBy the two that bestow devotion to the Guru

𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌦🔊Vairaagya-saamraajyadaThat grant the empire (sovereignty) of dispassion

𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊PoojanaabhyaamBy worshipping the two (sandals)

𑌨𑌮𑍋 𑌨𑌮𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌦𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaamSalutations again and again to the holy sandals of the Guru (the refrain of every verse)

𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Kavitva-vaaraashi-nishaakaraabhyaamBy the two that are like the moon to the ocean of poetic genius (raising its tide)

𑌦𑍗𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Daurbhaagya-daava-ambuda-maalikaabhyaamBy the two that are like rain-clouds quenching the wildfire of misfortune

𑌨𑌤𑌾 𑌯𑌯𑍋𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍀𑌯𑍁𑌃🔊Nataa Yayoh Shree-patitaam SameeyuhBowing to which (sandals), people attain the state of being lords of fortune (Shri)

𑌮𑍂𑌕𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂🔊Mookaash-cha VaachaspatitaamAnd even the mute attain the eloquence of Brihaspati (mastery of speech)

𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Naanaa-vimoha-aadi-nivaarikaabhyaamBy the two that ward off the manifold delusions and the rest

𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌕𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Paapaandhakaara-arka-paramparaabhyaamBy the two that are like a series of suns dispelling the darkness of sin

𑌤𑌾𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌖𑌗𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Taapa-traya-aaheendra-khageshvaraabhyaamBy the two that are like Garuda (king of birds) to the serpent of the three afflictions

𑌜𑌾𑌡𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌸𑌂𑌶𑍋𑌷𑌣𑌵𑌾𑌡𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Jaadya-abdhi-samshoshana-vaadavaabhyaamBy the two that are like the submarine fire drying up the ocean of dullness/ignorance

𑌶𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌷𑌟𑍍𑌕𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌵𑍈𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Shamaadi-shatka-prada-vaibhavaabhyaamBy the two whose glory bestows the sixfold virtues beginning with inner calm (shama)

𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌦𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Samaadhi-daana-vrata-deekshitaabhyaamBy the two consecrated to the vow of bestowing samadhi (absorption)

𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌵𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Ramaadhava-anghri-sthira-bhakti-daabhyaamBy the two that grant steadfast devotion to the feet of Vishnu (the consort of Rama/Lakshmi)

𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌗𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌡𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Kaamaadi-sarpa-vraja-gaarudaabhyaamBy the two that are like Garuda to the swarm of serpents of desire and the rest

𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌕𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌾𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Viveka-vairaagya-nidhi-pradaabhyaamBy the two that grant the treasure of discrimination and dispassion

𑌬𑍋𑌧𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌤𑌮𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌦𑌾𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊Bodha-pradaabhyaam Drita-moksha-daabhyaamBy the two that bestow awakening (bodha) and grant liberation swiftly

Benefits of Chanting श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम्

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Deepens Guru-bhakti — devotion and surrender to the spiritual master

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Carries the devotee across the ocean of samsara toward liberation (moksha)

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Destroys misfortune, the three afflictions (tapa-traya) and the darkness of sin

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Bestows discrimination (viveka), dispassion (vairagya) and the sixfold virtues

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Said to grant eloquence to the mute and prosperity to the poor (as in verse 3)

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Kindles spiritual awakening (bodha) and steadfast devotion to the Lord

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Especially auspicious on Guru Purnima and Thursdays, the day of the Guru

How to Chant श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम्

Repetitions9times

Best TimeGuru Purnima, Thursdays (Guruvar), and at dawn before meditation or study

Sit facing east or before the image or padukas (sandals) of your Guru. After a bath, light a lamp and offer flowers at the Guru's feet or padukas. Recite the nine verses with heartfelt devotion, dwelling on the meaning of each, and sound the refrain 'Namo Namah Shri Guru Padukabhyam' at the close of every verse. Daily recitation, and especially on Guru Purnima and Thursdays, deepens the bond with the Guru and the flow of grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम् written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The Guru Paduka Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn of nine verses by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of the padukas (sandals) of the Guru. The padukas symbolise the Guru's feet and grace, and the hymn worships them as the means of crossing the ocean of worldly existence.

In the Indian tradition, the Guru's feet represent the seat of grace and knowledge, and the padukas stand for the Guru's presence and blessings. Worshipping the padukas is an expression of humility and total surrender to the teacher who leads the disciple from darkness to light.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century Advaita master. It is said he composed it in adoration when he beheld the padukas of his own Guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada.

It is most auspicious on Guru Purnima, the festival of the Guru, and on Thursdays (Guruvar). Many seekers also recite it daily at dawn before meditation, as a prayer for the Guru's guidance and grace.