meenakshidevishankaracharyamadurai

𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀 𑌪𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌮𑍍

Meenakshi Pancharatnam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 5× repetitions·🕐 Morning or evening, especially on Fridays and during Navaratri·📜 Stotra composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai

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

Origin & Story

Stotra composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai · Adi Shankaracharya · 8th century CE (circa 788-820)

Adi Shankaracharya, in his travels across India re-establishing the Vedic path, visited the famous Meenakshi-Sundareshwara temple at Madurai in the Pandya country. Beholding the supreme Mother as Meenakshi — the fish-eyed Goddess who is also Shri Vidya enthroned in the Sri Chakra — he poured out this five-jewelled hymn (pancha-ratna). Each verse paints her form, her ornaments and her cosmic glory, always returning to the refrain of bowing to the 'ocean of compassion'. The hymn has since become a beloved part of daily Devi worship in South Indian temples and homes.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees of Madurai hold that sincere recitation of the Meenakshi Pancharatnam, like the prayers Shankaracharya offered, draws the direct grace of the Mother — bestowing fearlessness, clarity of knowledge and the fulfilment of righteous wishes, just as the verse promises her as the 'granter of every desired fruit'.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌉𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌸𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿𑌸𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑍇𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌠𑍀𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌮𑌹𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌂𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௧॥

udyadbhānusahasrakoṭisadṛśāṃ keyūrahārojjvalāṃ vimboṣṭhīṃ smitadantapaṅktirucirāṃ pītāmbarālaṅkṛtām | viṣṇubrahmasurendrasevitapadāṃ tattvasvarūpāṃ śivāṃ mīnākṣīṃ praṇato'smi santatamahaṃ kāruṇyavārāṃnidhim || 1||

Meaning:I bow forever to Meenakshi, the ocean of compassion — whose splendour equals a thousand crore rising suns, radiant with armlets and necklaces, with lips red as the bimba fruit and a lovely smile of glistening teeth, adorned in yellow silk; whose feet are worshipped by Vishnu, Brahma and Indra, who is auspicious Shiva's consort and the very embodiment of Truth.

Verse 2

𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌨𑍂𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌕𑌿𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌣𑍀𑌮𑌣𑌿𑌧𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌭𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍍 । 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌫𑌲𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌣𑍀𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌮𑌹𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌂𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௨॥

muktāhāralasatkirīṭarucirāṃ pūrṇenduvaktraprabhāṃ śiñjannūpurakiṅkiṇīmaṇidharāṃ padmaprabhābhāsurām | sarvābhīṣṭaphalapradāṃ girisutāṃ vāṇīramāsevitāṃ mīnākṣīṃ praṇato'smi santatamahaṃ kāruṇyavārāṃnidhim || 2||

Meaning:I bow forever to Meenakshi, the ocean of compassion — beautiful with a crown agleam with pearls, her face glowing like the full moon, wearing tinkling anklets set with jewelled bells, luminous as a lotus; the granter of every wish, daughter of the mountain, attended by Saraswati and Lakshmi.

Verse 3

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌵𑌾𑌮𑌭𑌾𑌗𑌨𑌿𑌲𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌹𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌂𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌤𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌸𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌭𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌮𑍍 । 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌷𑌣𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌵𑌿𑌘𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌿𑌨𑍀𑌂 𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌮𑌹𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌂𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௩॥

śrīvidyāṃ śivavāmabhāganilayāṃ hrīṃkāramantrojjvalāṃ śrīcakrāṅkitabindumadhyavasatiṃ śrīmatsabhānāyikām | śrīmatṣaṇmukhavighnarājajananīṃ śrīmajjaganmohinīṃ mīnākṣīṃ praṇato'smi santatamahaṃ kāruṇyavārāṃnidhim || 3||

Meaning:I bow forever to Meenakshi, the ocean of compassion — who is Shri Vidya herself, dwelling on Shiva's left side, radiant with the Hrim-kara mantra, seated in the central bindu marked within the Sri Chakra, the gracious queen of the divine assembly; mother of six-faced Skanda and of Ganesha the lord of obstacles, the enchantress of all the worlds.

Verse 4

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑌯𑌹𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌲𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌭𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌮𑌲𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌜𑌾𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑍀𑌣𑌾𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍁𑌮𑍃𑌦𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌰𑌸𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌮𑌹𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌂𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௪॥

śrīmatsundaranāyikāṃ bhayaharāṃ jñānapradāṃ nirmalāṃ śyāmābhāṃ kamalāsanārcitapadāṃ nārāyaṇasyānujām | vīṇāveṇumṛdaṅgavādyarasikāṃ nānāvidhāmambikāṃ mīnākṣīṃ praṇato'smi santatamahaṃ kāruṇyavārāṃnidhim || 4||

Meaning:I bow forever to Meenakshi, the ocean of compassion — the lovely sovereign lady who removes fear, bestows knowledge and is utterly pure; of dark-blue lustre, her feet worshipped by lotus-seated Brahma, the younger sister of Narayana; delighting in the music of vina, flute and mridanga, the Mother in her many forms.

Verse 5

𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌿𑌮𑍁𑌨𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍃𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌸𑌤𑍀𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌪𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍁𑌗𑌲𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌣𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨𑌾𑌦𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌮𑌯𑍀𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌤𑌰𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌮𑌹𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌂𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௫॥

nānāyogimunīndrahṛnnivasatīṃ nānārthasiddhipradāṃ nānāpuṣpavirājitāṃghriyugalāṃ nārāyaṇenārcitām | nādabrahmamayīṃ parātparatarāṃ nānārthatattvātmikāṃ mīnākṣīṃ praṇato'smi santatamahaṃ kāruṇyavārāṃnidhim || 5||

Meaning:I bow forever to Meenakshi, the ocean of compassion — who dwells in the hearts of countless yogis and great sages, granting every kind of attainment; her pair of feet resplendent with many flowers, worshipped by Narayana himself; who is the embodiment of Nada-Brahman, higher than the highest, the very essence of all meanings and truths.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌉𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌸𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿𑌸𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌾𑌂🔊udyad-bhānu-sahasra-koṭi-sadṛśāṃResembling (the radiance of) a thousand crores of rising suns

𑌕𑍇𑌯𑍂𑌰𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌲𑌾𑌂🔊keyūra-hāra-ujjvalāṃShining with armlets and necklaces

𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍋𑌷𑍍𑌠𑍀𑌂🔊vimba-oṣṭhīṃHaving lips (red) like the bimba fruit

𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌪𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌂🔊smita-danta-paṅkti-rucirāṃBeautiful with a smiling row of teeth

𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌙𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍🔊pīta-ambara-alaṅkṛtāmAdorned with yellow silk garments

𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌪𑌦𑌾𑌂🔊viṣṇu-brahma-surendra-sevita-padāṃWhose feet are served by Vishnu, Brahma and Indra (king of gods)

𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾𑌂🔊tattva-svarūpāṃWhose very form is the ultimate Truth (Reality)

𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌂🔊śivāṃThe auspicious one; the consort of Shiva

𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌂🔊mīnākṣīṃMeenakshi, the fish-eyed Goddess of Madurai

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌤𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌹𑌂🔊praṇato'smi santatam ahaṃI bow down (in salutation) for ever / always

𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌂𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌮𑍍🔊kāruṇya-vārāṃ-nidhimTo the ocean of compassion (the treasure-trove of mercy)

𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌂🔊muktā-hāra-lasat-kirīṭa-rucirāṃLovely with a crown gleaming with pearl-strings

𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌣𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌂🔊pūrṇa-indu-vaktra-prabhāṃWhose face shines like the full moon

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌭𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌫𑌲𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌂🔊sarva-abhīṣṭa-phala-pradāṃGranter of all desired fruits / wishes

𑌗𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾𑌂🔊giri-sutāṃDaughter of the mountain (Parvati)

𑌵𑌾𑌣𑍀𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌂🔊vāṇī-ramā-sevitāṃServed by Saraswati (Vani) and Lakshmi (Rama)

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂🔊śrīvidyāṃWho is Shri Vidya (the supreme esoteric wisdom)

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌤𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍁𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌸𑌤𑌿𑌂🔊śrīcakra-aṅkita-bindu-madhya-vasatiṃWho dwells in the central bindu of the Sri Chakra

𑌷𑌣𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌵𑌿𑌘𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀𑌂🔊ṣaṇmukha-vighnarāja-jananīṃMother of Shanmukha (Skanda) and Vighnaraja (Ganesha)

𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌿𑌨𑍀𑌂🔊jagat-mohinīṃEnchantress of the whole world

𑌨𑌾𑌦𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌮𑌯𑍀𑌂🔊nāda-brahma-mayīṃEmbodiment of Nada-Brahman (the primordial cosmic sound)

𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌤𑌰𑌾𑌂🔊parāt-para-tarāṃHigher than the highest; the supreme beyond the supreme

Benefits of Chanting Meenakshi Pancharatnam

✦

Invokes the grace, protection and motherly compassion of Goddess Meenakshi

✦

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya himself — a potent and authentic Shakta hymn

✦

Bestows wisdom (jnana), removes fear and fulfils sincere desires (sarva-abhishta-phala-prada)

✦

Aligns the devotee with Shri Vidya and the worship of the Sri Chakra

✦

Cultivates devotion, calms the mind and steadies the heart in the Mother's remembrance

✦

Short enough to memorise yet rich in meaning for daily recitation

✦

Especially auspicious on Fridays and during Navaratri for Devi upasana

How to Chant Meenakshi Pancharatnam

Repetitions5times

Best TimeMorning or evening, especially on Fridays and during Navaratri

Bathe and sit facing east or north before an image of Goddess Meenakshi or a Sri Chakra. Light a lamp and incense, and recite the five verses slowly and melodiously with devotion, dwelling on each 'Meenakshim pranato'smi' refrain as a heartfelt bow. It may be chanted once daily, or in cycles of 5 or 9 rounds during special worship. Conclude with a silent prayer to the Mother for grace, wisdom and protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Meenakshi Pancharatnam 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.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE), the great Advaita master, who composed many such Devi hymns including the Soundarya Lahari and Kanakadhara Stotram. He is said to have sung it at the Meenakshi temple in Madurai.

Meenakshi ('the fish-eyed one') is the supreme Divine Mother worshipped at the great Meenakshi-Sundareshwara temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She is a form of Parvati/Shakti and consort of Sundareshwara (Shiva), and is identified with Shri Vidya and the Sri Chakra.

Every verse closes with 'Meenakshim pranato'smi santatam aham karunya-varam-nidhim', meaning 'I bow down forever to Meenakshi, who is the ocean of compassion.' This repeated surrender is the heart of the hymn.

It can be recited any day with devotion, but is considered especially powerful on Fridays (sacred to the Goddess) and during the nine nights of Navaratri, as well as during Sri Chakra or Lalita worship.