Mūka Pancaśatī: An Understanding

The 20th head of Kanchipura Mutt was Mookendra Saraswati Swami. It is said that he is re-birth of Kalidasa. By birth he was dumb. With the blessings of Sri Kamakshi Devi of Kanchi, he got back his speech and also wrote the Stotra called Mooka Pancashati. Since it had 500 (Panca = 5, shati = 100) verses, it is called as Pancashati. It was authored by a person who was earlier dumb (Mooka). Hence it is called as Mooka Pancashati, in the name of the poet himself. Even after getting his speech, taking Sanyasa and becoming head of Kanchi Mutt, he was address as Mookacharyar.

He was very particular about Kamakshi Devi of Kanchipuram only. The entire Stotra was divided into 5 shatakams (100 verses) as below;

1. Āryā Śatakaṃ - Contemplating the Goddess
2. Pādāravinda Śatakaṃ - Worshiping the feet of Kamakshi
3. Stuti Śatakaṃ - Describing the beauty of the Sri Devi
4. Kaṭākṣa Śatakaṃ - Praising the Goddess for her benedictions
5. Mandasmita Śatakaṃ - bringing the smiling goddess in front of us

An attempt has been made in this book to dive deep into the verses alongwith comparisons of same message being conveyed in the other storas like Soundaryalahari, Sri Lalita Sahasranama, Sri Lalita Trishati, Abhirami Andadi, etc.

Let Sri Kamakshi Devi shower her blessings to all readers.