Jānakī’s Stotra to Pārvatī

Jānakī’s Stotra to Pārvatī is a stotra in praise of Bhagavatī Pārvatī, composed by Jānakī (Sītā). The gopikās of Vṛndāvana sing it on the last day of the Gaurī Mārgaśīra Vrata. It is found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, chapter 27.

The stotra praises Pārvatī as the Śakti behind all creation, as Brahma-Vishṇu-Rudra-svarūpā, as the eternal Nārāyaṇī, as the giver of a husband to her devoted women, and as the wife and completion of Bhagavān Śaṅkara.

The setting

The gopikās keep the Gaurī Mārgaśīra Vrata for a month. On its last day, the day of completion, they take the completion bath in the river Yamunā. They recite the Sarvamaṅgalā Durgā Stotra, and then they recite this stotra.

The stotra is called “Jānakī-kṛta”, which means made by Jānakī. It was Sītā Devī (Jānakī) who first composed it in praise of Pārvatī. She was herself a devotee of Pārvatī through the Gaurī Mārgaśīra Vrata. Vedāvatī was the first to keep this vrata, and its power made her become Sītā and gain Bhagavān Śrī Rāma as her husband. For this reason the stotra became the right close of the vrata.

Nārāyaṇa Muni tells Nārada that all who keep the vrata are to recite this stotra on its last day. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, chapter 27)

What the stotra praises

Śakti of all beings. Pārvatī is the basic Śakti (śakti-svarūpiṇī) that gives life to every living being in the three worlds. Without her Śakti, Brahmā, Vishṇu and Rudra cannot do their work.

Brahma-Vishṇu-Rudra-svarūpā. She is the form of Brahmā’s power to create, Vishṇu’s power to protect and Rudra’s power to dissolve. These three are her three faces. She is the one Śakti who shows herself as the three.

The bīja of creation, upkeep and dissolution. She is the first bīja (seed) from which all creation (srishṭi), all upkeep (sthiti) and all dissolution (laya) come.

Sanātanī. She is eternal (sanātanī), with no beginning and no end, not made by anyone, and self-existent. She is nityarūpiṇī, of eternal form.

Nārāyaṇī. She is Nārāyaṇī. She always lives in and with Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, his own Śakti and his beloved.

Her aṃśas that rule the inner life of every jīva. The stotra lists her many aṃśa (part) forms:

  • Kshudhā (hunger) and Trishṇā (thirst)
  • Icchā (desire) and Karuṇā (compassion)
  • Śraddhā (faith) and Nidrā (sleep)
  • Ālasya (the wish to rest) and Smṛti (memory)
  • Kshamā (patience)

Her kalās. Her kalā (smaller forms in living beings) are:

  • Lajjā (modesty and holy restraint)
  • Medhā (power of mind and understanding of the śāstras)
  • Tushṭi (contentment)
  • Pushṭi (nourishment and well-being)
  • Śānti (peace)
  • Sampadā (wealth)
  • Abhivṛddhi (growth and progress)

Giver of a husband. For the women who keep this vrata, Pārvatī is praised above all as the giver of a husband (pati). By her grace she grants a devout woman’s wish for a righteous and loving husband.

Wife and completion of Śaṅkara. She is the beloved of Bhagavān Śaṅkara (Mahādeva). Bhagavān Śiva himself is not complete without her. Her Śakti gives Bhagavān Śiva the power for all action.

(Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, chapter 27)

The phalaśruti

The text gives these fruits for reciting the stotra on the day the vrata is completed.

  • Śrī Hari as husband. Women who recite this stotra on the last day of the Gaurī Mārgaśīra Vrata gain Bhagavān Śrī Hari as their husband. They enjoy a happy married life and the blessings of a righteous home in this life.
  • Goloka after death. When these devoted women leave the body at the end of life, they go up to Goloka, the supreme realm of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, in a divine chariot. They reach the presence of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa.
  • Pārvatī’s grace. Bhagavatī Pārvatī herself is pleased and gives her full grace to the one who keeps the vrata.

(Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, chapter 27)

Sources

  • Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, chapter 27