Vishalakshi Stotram
विशालाक्षी स्तोत्रम्
What is the Vishalakshi Stotram?
Vishalakshi The Vishalakshi Stotram is a nine verse Sanskrit hymn from the Saura Purana in which the sage Vyasa praises the goddess Vishalakshi of Kashi through her many names, calling her the mother of all beings and the source of will, action and knowledge.
Vishalakshi, the wide eyed goddess of Kashi, is praised in this nine verse Sanskrit stotram preserved in the Saura Purana. Spoken by the sage Vyasa, it moves through the Devi’s names, from Durga and Gauri to Saraswati and Lakshmi, presenting Vishalakshi as the source behind all her forms. Her temple stands near Mir Ghat in Varanasi, close to Kashi Vishwanath, and remains an active stop for pilgrims to this day.
Vishalakshi Stotram Lyrics
The verses below follow the Saura Purana text as spoken by Vyasa. Each name Vishalakshi carries opens a different side of the Mother; tap a verse to read what it means.
Vishalakshi namastubhyam parabrahmatmike shive
Tvameva mata sarveshaam brahmadinaam divaukasaam
विशालाक्षि नमस्तुभ्यं परब्रह्मात्मिके शिवे ।
त्वमेव माता सर्वेषां ब्रह्मादीनां दिवौकसाम् ॥ १ ॥
Meaning
Vyasa opens by bowing to Vishalakshi as the highest reality itself, calling her Shive, the auspicious one. He names her the mother of every being, including Brahma and the gods of heaven.
Ichchhashaktih kriyashaktir gyanashaktis tvameva hi
Rijvi kundalini sukshma yogasiddhipradayini
इच्छाशक्तिः क्रियाशक्तिर्ज्ञानशक्तिस्त्वमेव हि ।
ऋज्वी कुण्डलिनी सुक्ष्मा योगसिद्धिप्रदायिनी ॥ २ ॥
Meaning
She is named as the three powers that move the universe, will, action and knowledge. She is also the subtle kundalini energy, said to grant success on the path of yoga.
Svaha svadha mahavidya medha lakshmih sarasvati
Sati dakshayani vidya sarvashaktimayi shiva
स्वाहा स्वधा महाविद्या मेधा लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती ।
सती दाक्षायणी विद्या सर्वशक्तिमयी शिवा ॥ ३ ॥
Meaning
Vishalakshi is praised as Svaha and Svadha, the offerings made to gods and ancestors, and as Mahavidya, Medha, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Vyasa also calls her Sati and Dakshayani, the one whose nature holds every form of shakti.
Aparna chaikaparna cha tatha chaikaikapatala
Uma haimavati chapi kalyani chaiva matrika
अपर्णा चैकपर्णा च तथा चैकैकपाटला ।
उमा हैमवती चापि कल्याणी चैव मातृका ॥ ४ ॥
Meaning
Here she takes the austere names Aparna and Ekaparna, forms tied to Parvati's penance. She is also Uma, daughter of the Himalayas, and Kalyani, the one who brings good fortune.
Khyatih prajna mahabhaga loke gauriti vishruta
Ganambika mahadevi nandini jatavedasi
ख्यातिः प्रज्ञा महाभागा लोके गौरीति विश्रुता ।
गणाम्बिका महादेवी नन्दिनी जातवेदसी ॥ ५ ॥
Meaning
She is called Khyati and Prajna, and the Gauri known across the world. As Ganambika and Nandini she watches over the divine family, and as Jatavedasi she carries the nature of fire.
Savitri varada punya pavani lokavishruta
Ayati niyati raudri durga bhadra pramathini
सावित्री वरदा पुण्या पावनी लोकविश्रुता ।
आयती नियती रौद्री दुर्गा भद्रा प्रमाथिनी ॥ ६ ॥
Meaning
She is Savitri and Varada, the giver of boons, and Pavani, the one who purifies. Vyasa also calls her Durga and Bhadra, protector in her fierce and her kind forms alike.
Kalaratri mahamaya revati bhutanayika
Gautami kaushiki chaartha chandi katyayani sati
कालरात्री महामाया रेवती भूतनायिका ।
गौतमी कौशिकी चाऽऽर्था चण्डी कात्यायनी सती ॥ ७ ॥
Meaning
This verse names her Kalaratri, the dark night of dissolution, and Mahamaya, the power that veils the world. She is also Bhutanayika, ruler over all beings, and Chandi and Katyayani, the Devi's warrior forms.
Vrishadhvaja shuladhara parama brahmacharini
Mahendropendramata cha parvati simhavahana
वृषध्वजा शूलधरा परमा ब्रह्मचारिणी ।
महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रमाता च पार्वती सिंहवाहना ॥ ८ ॥
Meaning
Vishalakshi carries the bull banner and trident of Shiva and is named Parama Brahmacharini, devoted to the highest truth. As mother of Indra and of Vishnu's incarnations, she rides the lion as Parvati.
Phala Shruti
Evam stutva vishalakshim divyair etaih sunamabhih
Kritakrityo bhavad vyaso varanasyaam dvijottamah
एवं स्तुत्वा विशालाक्षीं दिव्यैरेतैः सुनामभिः ।
कृतकृत्योऽभवद्व्यासो वाराणस्यां द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ ९ ॥
Meaning
Having praised Vishalakshi with these divine names, Vyasa says his purpose in Varanasi was fulfilled. The closing line names the source of the hymn as chapter eight of the Saura Purana.
What Does Vishalakshi Mean
Vishalakshi means “the wide eyed one,” from vishala (wide) and akshi (eye), a name given to the Devi in her role as guardian of Kashi. She is counted among the Shakti Peethas, the places where, in the story of the Devi’s grief after Sati’s death, a part of her body is said to have fallen to earth; at Kashi, tradition points to the gem of her right earring.
Her temple sits near Mir Ghat, a short walk from both Kashi Vishwanath and the Annapurna Temple, and the closeness matters. Vishalakshi and Annapurna are both forms of Parvati bound up with food, protection and the life of the city, worshipped almost as one goddess in Kashi’s older layers of memory before their shrines grew distinct.
The stotram itself does not dwell on any single story. Vyasa instead moves through name after name, Gauri, Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kalaratri, letting the list itself say that Vishalakshi holds every form the Devi takes.
When to Chant the Vishalakshi Stotram
- – Bathe and sit facing east or north, with a lamp lit before an image or picture of the Devi.
- – Offer a red flower, a little kumkum, or a few grains of rice to invoke Vishalakshi.
- – Recite the stotram slowly, letting each name land rather than rushing through the list.
- – If you know it, chant "Om Vishalakshai Namah" a few times before or after the stotram.
- – Close with a moment of silence, then bow and share the offered rice or flowers as prasad.
- – A single sincere recitation is complete in itself, though nine repetitions during Navratri, or one each dawn, is a common practice.
Benefits of Chanting Vishalakshi Stotram
Devotees who chant this hymn describe it less as a wish list and more as a way of getting to know the goddess through her own names.
- : Sharpens focus, since holding so many names of the Devi in mind is itself a concentration practice.
- : Said to remove fear, an idea tied to Kashi tradition, which honors Vishalakshi as protector of the anxious and the lost.
- : Connects the chanter to the wider circle of Shakti Peethas and the idea of the goddess present across the land.
- : Draws on Kashi's link to knowledge, since Vyasa himself is the traditional speaker of the hymn.
- : Gathers many forms of the Devi, from Durga to Saraswati to Gauri, into a single short recitation.
- : Fits easily into daily practice, since nine verses take only a few minutes even on a busy morning.
Origin and Significance
The Vishalakshi Stotram is preserved in the Saura Purana, one of the eighteen major Puranas that centers its praise on Surya and Shiva while also describing Varanasi’s sacred geography. In the eighth chapter, the sage Vyasa is shown addressing Vishalakshi directly, opening with “Vishalakshi namastubhyam” and moving through eight verses of her names before a closing verse states that his purpose in Varanasi was fulfilled.
Vyasa’s bond with Vishalakshi appears again, separately, in the Skanda Purana, in the well known story of his curse on Kashi. When the city failed to offer him food, Vyasa cursed it in anger; the curse lifted only when Parvati, in the form of a humble housewife, fed him herself. Vishalakshi’s role in this story echoes that of Annapurna, and the two goddesses, both forms of Parvati tied to Kashi and to feeding the hungry, were once worshipped almost as one before their temples became the separate shrines that stand near Mir Ghat today.
Vishalakshi’s place in the Shakti Peetha tradition adds a further layer. She is counted among the sites where a part of Sati’s body is said to have fallen, most often identified as the gem of her right earring, and her temple today stands about 250 metres from Kashi Vishwanath, a walk many pilgrims make together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Vishalakshi temple?
The temple stands near Mir Ghat in Varanasi, about 250 metres northwest of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and close to the Annapurna Temple.
Which Purana does the Vishalakshi Stotram come from?
The hymn is preserved in chapter eight of the Saura Purana, where it is spoken by the sage Vyasa.
Why is Vishalakshi called wide eyed?
Her name comes from vishala, meaning wide, and akshi, meaning eye, describing the Devi's large, compassionate gaze over Kashi.
Is Vishalakshi a Shakti Peetha?
Yes, tradition counts Vishalakshi among the Shakti Peethas, the site where the gem of Sati's right earring is said to have fallen.
How many verses does the Vishalakshi Stotram have?
The stotram has nine verses in total, eight verses of praise through the Devi's names followed by a closing verse.
What is the relationship between Vishalakshi and Annapurna?
Both are forms of Parvati tied to Kashi and to feeding the hungry. Their temples stand close together near Mir Ghat, and the two goddesses were worshipped almost as one before their shrines grew distinct.
What language is the Vishalakshi Stotram in?
The stotram is in Sanskrit, and this page gives both the Devanagari text and a Roman transliteration.
Can anyone chant the Vishalakshi Stotram?
Yes, no special initiation is needed. Many devotees chant it at dawn, on Fridays, or during Navratri, facing an image of the Devi.
॥ ॐ श्री विशालाक्ष्यै नमः ॥