Mālavatī’s Mahāpurusha Stotra
The Mahāpurusha Stotra is a hymn to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa as the Mahāpurusha, the cosmic Person who pervades all creation and in whose body the whole universe exists. It was composed and recited by Mālavatī, the devoted gandharva wife of Upabarhaṇa. It is found in Chapters 17–18 of the Brahma Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa.
The setting
Chapters 17–18 of the Brahma Khaṇḍa tell of an assembly of the chief devas at the place where Upabarhaṇa had died. Brahmā, Śiva, Vishṇu, Yama, Dharma, Sūrya, Sarasvatī and Lakshmī were all present. Each gave a part of the power that brought Upabarhaṇa back to life:
- Brahmā revived the body with water.
- Bhagavān Śiva gave jñāna (knowledge).
- Dharma gave dharma-jñāna (knowledge of dharma).
- The brahmin, who was Bhagavān Vishṇu, gave the prāṇas (life-breaths).
- Bhagavān Sūrya gave sight.
- Devī Sarasvatī gave speech.
- Devī Lakshmī gave kānti (radiance).
After this, Mālavatī recited the Mahāpurusha Stotra.
The stotra
The stotra praises Bhagavān Kṛshṇa as the Mahāpurusha, the cosmic Person who pervades all of creation. It was born from Mālavatī’s love and grief for her husband.
Her recitation was the last act. It completed the revival and brought Upabarhaṇa back to full consciousness and life. The Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa tells this at the end of the gifts of the devas.
Sources
- Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapters 17–18