A small introduction to Mooka Panchashati

 A small introduction to Mooka Panchashati

Mooka Panchashati is a beautiful stotram composed by “Mooka Kavi”. There are 500 shlokas in this stotram. All the 500 shlokas sing the glories of nAma (Ambal’s divine names), rUpa (Her divine form) and guNas (Her divine qualities) of Kanchi Kamakshi.

‘Mooka’ means one who cannot speak. Mooka kavi did not have the ability to speak, but he was an ardent devotee of Kamakshi Ambal. He got the divine katAksham of Kamakshi and Her thamboola uchishtam and immediately these nectar like 500 shlokas poured out of his mouth.

Mooka Panchashati has 5 shatakams:

1. Arya Shatakam

2. pAdhAravindha Shatakam

3. Sthuthi Shatakam

4. katAksha Shatakam

5. Mandhasmita Shatakam

Arya Shatakam sings the glories of Ambal’s divine names and Her divine beauty. pAdhAravindha Shatalam describes the greatness of Her Holy Feet. Her divine guNas that are worthy of Sthuthi is sung in Sthuthi Shatakam. katAksha Shatakam celebrates Her katAksham and Mandhasmita Shatakam extoll the glories of Her beautiful smile. 

This Mooka Panchashati stothram is so dear to Mahaperiyava. He said this sthothram is the greatest of all the sthothrams that sing the glories of Ambal. Let us learn to chant this divine stothram and get the blessings of Mahaperiyava and Ambal.