Kamakshi Virutham Lyrics In English ✦ Verified
The hymn is believed to have been composed by a fervent devotee, often attributed to the traditions of the Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple.
The Kamakshi Virutham is a masterpiece of Tamil devotional literature. Its beauty lies not in portraying the devotee as perfect, but as perfectly human—filled with doubt, love, anger, and an unshakeable hope for motherly grace. Whether you are a scholar of Carnatic music, a spiritual seeker, or someone looking for strength in difficult times, immersing yourself in the Kamakshi Virutham Lyrics in English opens a direct line of communication with the compassionate Mother of Kanchipuram. By chanting these verses with understanding and devotion, one can truly experience the removal of inner darkness and the radiant arrival of divine peace.
Kamakshi, Kanchi nagara nilaye Kamakoti, kamakoti peetha sthite Sri chakra raja simhasane, sri maharajni Kamakshi, tava charanam, sharanam, sharanam kamakshi virutham lyrics in english
As I prepare to recite this sacred poetic hymn in praise of Goddess Kamakshi, who resides in the auspicious city of Kanchipuram, I seek the protection of the two feet of the elephant-faced Lord Ganesha, who is adorned with five arms and resides in the heart of Lord Shiva (the great God who wears the snake and the crescent moon).
Kamakshi Virutham is a deeply emotional Tamil devotional poem composed in praise of Goddess Kamakshi of Kanchipuram. It is traditionally structured as 11 verses (viruthams) that express a devotee's total surrender, often featuring an intimate "conversation" with the Divine Mother. The hymn is believed to have been composed
(Invoking the seed syllables) Kamakshi, the bestower of boons, the wish-yielding tree, Residing in Kanchi city, sporting compassion, Goddess, mother of the universe, treasure of mercy, Primal supreme energy, O mother, to you I surrender again and again.
You are the sister of Lord Vishnu! You are Maragathavalli (the emerald goddess), the embodiment of illusion, Maheshwari, and the daughter of the mountain. You are Meenakshi, the treasure of mercy, the divine queen of the universe, and the personification of the Pranava mantra (OM). Whether you are a scholar of Carnatic music,
A Virutham is typically sung as a prelude to a main song, intended to invoke a meditative atmosphere. In this composition, Dikshitar surrenders completely to Goddess Kamakshi of Kanchipuram. He sees her not just as a deity, but as the very soul of the universe, the protector of the downtrodden, and the embodiment of Shrividya (the supreme knowledge).
If you are interested in deepening your practice, I can provide a word-by-word translation, musical notations, or instructions for a Kamakshi Amman Pooja at home.
"Kamakshi Virutham" is a Sanskrit hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya, a renowned Indian philosopher and theologian. The hymn is a tribute to Goddess Kamakshi, a form of Goddess Parvati, worshipped in the Kamakshi Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.