Brihaspati Stotra (Skanda Purana): Guru/Jupiter Hymn with Meaning
Brihaspati Stotra (Skanda Purana) - Sanskrit Text
॥ विनियोगः ॥
ॐ अस्य श्रीबृहस्पतिस्तोत्रस्य गृत्समद ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः,
बृहस्पतिर्देवता, बृहस्पतिप्रीत्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः॥
गुरुर्बृहस्पतिर्जीवः सुराचार्यो विदां वरः।
वागीशो धिषणो दीर्घश्मश्रुः पीताम्बरो युवा॥१॥
सुधादृष्टिर्ग्रहाधीशो ग्रहपीडापहारकः।
दयाकरः सौम्यमूर्तिः सुरार्च्यः कुड्मलद्युतिः॥२॥
लोकपूज्यो लोकगुरुर्नीतिज्ञो नीतिकारकः।
तारापतिश्चाङ्गिरसो वेदवेद्यः पितामहः॥३॥
भक्त्या बृहस्पतिं स्मृत्वा नामान्येतानि यः पठेत्।
अरोगी बलवान् श्रीमान् पुत्रवान् स भवेन्नरः॥४॥
जीवेद्वर्षशतं मर्त्यः पापं नश्यति।
यः पूजयेद् गुरुदिने पीतगन्धाक्षताम्बरैः॥५॥
पुष्पदीपोपहारैश्च पूजयित्वा बृहस्पतिम्।
ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा च पीडाशान्तिर्भवेद् गुरोः॥६॥
॥ इति श्रीस्कन्दपुराणे बृहस्पतिस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
gururbṛhaspatirjīvaḥ surācāryo vidāṃ varaḥ |
vāgīśo dhiṣaṇo dīrghaśmaśruḥ pītāmbaro yuvā ||1||
sudhādṛṣṭirgrahādhīśo grahapīḍāpahārakaḥ |
dayākaraḥ saumyamūrtiḥ surārcyaḥ kuḍmaladyutiḥ ||2||
lokapūjyo lokagururnītijño nītikārakaḥ |
tārāpatiścāṅgiraso vedavedyaḥ pitāmahaḥ ||3||
bhaktyā bṛhaspatiṃ smṛtvā nāmānyetāni yaḥ paṭhet |
arogī balavān śrīmān putravān sa bhavennaraḥ ||4||
jīvedvarṣaśataṃ martyaḥ pāpaṃ naśyati |
yaḥ pūjayed gurudine pītagandhākṣatāmbaraiḥ ||5||
puṣpadīpopahāraiśca pūjayitvā bṛhaspatim |
brāhmaṇān bhojayitvā ca pīḍāśāntirbhaved guroḥ ||6||
Meaning
The stotra first praises Brihaspati (Jupiter, Guru) through his names and qualities: he is the preceptor of the gods (Suracharya), the best among the wise, the lord of speech (Vagisha), the long-bearded one clad in yellow, ever youthful; his glance is like nectar, he is the chief among the planets and the remover of planetary afflictions (graha-pida-apaharaka), compassionate, gentle of form, worshipped by the gods, radiant; he is honoured by all the worlds, the world-teacher, the knower and giver of righteous conduct (niti), lord of the stars, son of Angiras, knowable through the Vedas, a grandsire of wisdom. The closing verses give the phala-shruti (fruit of recitation): one who remembers Brihaspati with devotion and reads these names becomes healthy, strong, prosperous and blessed with children; the mortal who worships him on Thursday with yellow sandal, akshata, garments, flowers, lamps and offerings, and feeds brahmanas, lives a hundred years, has his sins destroyed and obtains relief from the afflictions caused by Guru.
About this Stotra/Mantra
This Brihaspati Stotra is drawn from the Skanda Purana and is one of the classic Navagraha (nine-planet) hymns recited to propitiate Guru - the planet Jupiter. Attributed in its viniyoga to the sage Gritsamada and set in the Anushtup metre, it praises Brihaspati, the guru of the devas, in a garland of epithets and concludes with the rewards of its recitation. It is a short, complete and widely used hymn for strengthening Jupiter in one’s life.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Brihaspati governs wisdom, knowledge, righteousness, teachers, children, marriage (for women), wealth and devotion. Reciting this stotra is held to grant health, strength, prosperity, the blessing of progeny, longevity and the destruction of sins, as the phala-shruti promises. It is especially recited to remove the difficulties of a weak or afflicted Jupiter and to invite the grace of the divine preceptor into one’s studies, family and spiritual life.
Astrological Relevance
Brihaspati is Guru - the planet Jupiter - the greatest benefic in Jyotisha. He is the karaka (significator) of wisdom, higher learning, dharma, wealth, children, the husband in a woman’s chart, and of gurus and well-wishers. A strong Jupiter blesses the 2nd house (wealth and speech), 5th house (children, intelligence, purva-punya), 9th house (fortune, dharma, the guru) and 11th house (gains). This stotra is the prescribed remedy when Jupiter is debilitated, combust, retrograde under affliction, or placed in a difficult house, and during the Guru mahadasha or antardasha and adverse Jupiter transits. Worship on Thursday with yellow offerings - the colour and metal (gold) of Jupiter - directly strengthens the planet, as the hymn itself describes (pita-gandha, yellow sandal and garments). It is a core recitation in any Navagraha shanti for Brihaspati.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
On Thursday morning, bathe and wear clean (preferably yellow) clothes. Sit facing east or north before an image of Brihaspati or the Navagraha. Light a ghee lamp and offer yellow flowers, yellow sandal paste, akshata (rice), turmeric, chana dal or yellow sweets and a banana. Begin with the viniyoga, then recite the stotra’s verses with devotion, ideally as part of japa of the Guru beeja mantra (Om Gram Greem Graum Sah Gurave Namah). Feeding brahmanas or the needy and donating yellow items completes the worship, as the phala-shruti recommends. Recite daily, or at least every Thursday, for sustained benefit.
Best Day & Time
Thursday (Guruvar), the day of Brihaspati, is the prescribed day, as stated within the stotra itself. The morning hours after sunrise, and especially the Brahma Muhurta, are ideal. Recitation during the Jupiter hora, on Pushya nakshatra days, and throughout a Guru dasha or Jupiter transit over key houses is particularly effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which planet does the Brihaspati Stotra worship?
It worships Brihaspati, who is Guru - the planet Jupiter and the preceptor of the gods. It is one of the standard Navagraha stotras used to strengthen and propitiate Jupiter.
What benefits does the stotra promise?
Its phala-shruti states that the devout reciter becomes healthy, strong, prosperous and blessed with children, lives a long life, has sins destroyed, and obtains relief from afflictions caused by Jupiter - especially when worship is offered on Thursday with yellow offerings.
When should I recite it for astrological remedy?
Recite it on Thursdays, and particularly during a weak, debilitated or afflicted Jupiter, the Guru mahadasha/antardasha, or adverse Jupiter transits, alongside yellow-coloured offerings and charity to strengthen the planet.
Brihaspati as divine preceptor: the Jyotish and devotional dimensions of Guru
In the Vedic worldview, Brihaspati is far more than a planetary body; he is the devaguru, the preceptor of the gods, the embodiment of wisdom, righteous counsel, and the power of the spoken sacred word. The Brihaspati Stotra from the Skanda Purana honours this layered identity: its verses address him simultaneously as a luminous planetary deity and as a teacher whose blessing unlocks right understanding in the human mind. The inclusion of viniyoga (statement of intent) and phala-shruti (enumeration of fruits) in the text follows classical stotra structure, signalling that this is a complete devotional and ritual document rather than a loose hymn - each element has a traditional function in making the recitation efficacious.
Devotees who seek to strengthen the influence of Jupiter in their lives traditionally recite this stotra on Thursdays, ideally after an early bath and before sunrise or in the evening. Yellow offerings - flowers, cloth, turmeric, gram dal - and a ghee lamp placed before a Brihaspati yantra or image form the customary accompaniment. In the Jyotish tradition, a well-placed Jupiter is associated with wisdom, good teachers, auspicious timing, and spiritual growth, while its weakness or affliction is believed to affect education, children, and ethical clarity; this stotra is regarded as a primary Jupiter remedy that works through devotion rather than mechanical repetition. Devotees believe that regular practice invites Brihaspati's guidance into daily decisions, supporting both worldly affairs and the deepening of one's inner life.