Purnabrahma Stotram - Hymn to Lord Jagannath
Purnabrahma Stotram - Sanskrit Text
पूर्णचन्द्रमुखं नीलेन्दुरूपम्
उद्भासितं देवं दिव्यं स्वरूपम् ।
पूर्णं त्वं स्वर्णं त्वं वर्णं त्वं देवम्
पिता माता बन्धु त्वमेव सर्वम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ १ ॥
कुञ्चितकेशं च सञ्चितवेशम्
वर्तुलस्थूलनयनं ममेशम् ।
पिनाकनीनाक नयनकोशम्
आकृष्ट ओष्ठं च उत्कृष्ट श्वासम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ २ ॥
नीलाचले चञ्चलया सहितम्
आदिदेव निश्चलानन्दे स्थितम् ।
आनन्दकन्दं विश्वविन्दुचन्द्रम्
नन्दनन्दनं त्वम् इन्द्रस्य इन्द्रम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ ३ ॥
सृष्टि स्थिति प्रलय सर्वमूलम्
सूक्ष्मातिसूक्ष्मं त्वं स्थूलातिस्थूलम् ।
कान्तिमयानन्तम् अन्तिमप्रान्तम्
प्रशान्तकुन्तलं ते मूर्तिमन्तम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ ४ ॥
यज्ञ तप वेद ज्ञानात् अतीतम्
भावप्रेमछन्दे सदावशित्वम् ।
शुद्धात् शुद्धं त्वं च पूर्णात् पूर्णम्
कृष्णमेघतुल्यम् अमूल्यवर्णम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ ५ ॥
विश्वप्रकाशं सर्वक्लेशनाशम्
मन बुद्धि प्राण श्वासप्रश्वासम् ।
मत्स्य कूर्म नृसिंह वामनः त्वम्
वराह राम अनन्त अस्तित्वम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ ६ ॥
ध्रुवस्य विष्णु त्वं भक्तस्य प्राणम्
राधापति देव हे आर्तत्राणम् ।
सर्व ज्ञान सारं लोक आधारम्
भावसञ्चारम् अभावसंहारम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ ७ ॥
बलदेव सुभद्रा पार्श्वे स्थितम्
सुदर्शन सङ्गे नित्य शोभितम् ।
नमामि नमामि सर्वाङ्गे देवम्
हे पूर्णब्रह्म हरि मम सर्वम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ ८ ॥
कृष्णदासहृदि भाव सञ्चारम्
सदा कुरु स्वामी तव किङ्करम् ।
तव कृपा विन्दु हि एक सारम्
अन्यथा हे नाथ सर्व असारम् ।
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम्
जगन्नाथ स्वामी भक्तभावप्रेमी नमाम्यहम् ॥ ९ ॥
॥ इति श्रीकृष्णदासः विरचितं पूर्णब्रह्म स्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
pūrṇacandramukhaṁ nīlenduRūpam,
udbhāsitaṁ devaṁ divyaṁ svarūpam |
pūrṇaṁ tvaṁ svarṇaṁ tvaṁ varṇaṁ tvaṁ devam,
pitā mātā bandhu tvameva sarvam |
jagannātha svāmī bhaktabhāvapremī namāmyaham ... || 1 ||
(Each of the nine verses closes with the refrain "jagannātha svāmī bhaktabhāvapremī namāmyaham", repeated twice.)
Meaning
The poet beholds Lord Jagannath with his full-moon face and dark, radiant divine form and declares: "You are the complete one, you are golden, you are the very colour of the divine; you alone are my father, mother, kinsman and all - O Lord Jagannath, master, lover of devotees' devotion, I bow to you." Verse by verse he praises Jagannath as the root of creation, preservation and dissolution; subtler than the subtle and grosser than the gross; beyond sacrifice, austerity, Veda and knowledge, yet bound by the love of his devotees; the source of all ten avataras (Matsya, Kurma, Narasimha, Vamana, Varaha, Rama and the infinite forms); standing on Nilachala with Lakshmi, flanked by Balabhadra and Subhadra and the Sudarshana. In the final verse Krishnadasa prays: "Ever fill the heart of this servant Krishnadasa with loving devotion; a single drop of your grace is the only essence - without it, O Lord, all else is hollow."
About this Stotra
This stotra, composed by the devotee Krishnadasa, glorifies Lord Jagannath of Puri - a form of Krishna/Vishnu worshipped on the Nilachala hill together with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Its title 'Purnabrahma' (the Complete Brahman) declares Jagannath to be the whole, perfect Absolute. The hymn is in a lyrical, refrain-based form well suited to congregational singing, especially during the Rath Yatra and in Jagannath temples.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Singing the Purnabrahma Stotram kindles intense bhakti (loving devotion) toward Jagannath as the all-in-all - father, mother, friend and supreme refuge. It is recited to destroy all afflictions (sarva-klesha-nasha), to surrender the mind, intellect and breath to the Lord, and to cultivate the humble servitude (kinkara-bhava) that the poet himself prays for. Devotees experience emotional upliftment, dissolution of pride, and the peace that comes from taking complete refuge in the Lord of the Universe.
Astrological Relevance
As a form of Vishnu/Krishna, Jagannath is connected with the Sun (the soul, kingship, the Lord as cosmic centre) and, through Krishna, with the Moon (the mind, devotion, emotional sweetness). Worship of Vishnu's forms is a universal remedy for overall planetary harmony and removal of doshas, strengthening the ninth house of dharma and divine grace. The Sudarshana Chakra at Jagannath's side is itself invoked for protection against malefic influences and negative energies. Singing this stotra is especially uplifting during emotionally difficult Moon periods and for nurturing the surrender that softens all karmic hardship.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Sit before an image of Jagannath (with Balabhadra and Subhadra) after bathing. Light a lamp and offer flowers and tulsi. Sing the verses with feeling, joining each verse to its refrain "Jagannatha Swami Bhaktabhavapremi Namamyaham" repeated twice, as the poet intended. The hymn is well suited to group singing. Conclude with the surrender of verse nine and a moment of silent devotion.
Best Day & Time
Any day is suitable; Thursday and Ekadashi are especially auspicious for Vishnu, and the Rath Yatra (in Ashadha) is the supreme occasion for Jagannath worship. Morning after bathing or evening lamp-time are ideal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Purnabrahma Stotram addressed to?
To Lord Jagannath of Puri - a form of Krishna/Vishnu - hailed as Purnabrahma, the Complete Brahman, alongside Balabhadra, Subhadra and the Sudarshana.
Who composed it?
It is signed by the devotee-poet Krishnadasa, who in the closing verse prays to remain ever the Lord's humble servant.
What is its refrain?
'Jagannatha Swami Bhaktabhavapremi Namamyaham' - 'O Lord Jagannath, lover of devotees' devotion, I bow to you' - repeated at the close of every verse.
Jagannath as Purnabrahma: the mystery of the complete Lord of Puri
Lord Jagannath of Puri is among the most philosophically enigmatic of all the great Vaishnava forms: his large, wide eyes that see all simultaneously, his abbreviated arms that yet embrace all, his dark complexion that contains all colours - every feature of his iconic form has been read by generations of theologians, poets, and simple pilgrims as a statement about the nature of the Absolute. The Purnabrahma Stotram, attributed to Krishnadasa, names him directly as Purnabrahma - the Complete Brahman - and the nine-verse structure reflects the nine forms of bhakti through which one can approach him. The refrain Jagannatha Swami Bhaktabhavapremi Namamyaham - I bow to Jagannatha Swami who loves the devotional feeling of his devotees - places the Lord's own love for bhakti at the centre of the hymn's theology. He is not a remote absolute but an intensely personal Lord who is moved by sincere feeling.
The Puri Kshetra, where Jagannath resides, is considered one of the four sacred dhamas and a place where moksha is peculiarly accessible; the Purnabrahma Stotram carries something of that kshetra's grace within its verses, making it a means of connecting with the Puri pilgrimage even for those who cannot travel there in body. Devotees recite it on Ekadashi, on the occasion of Rath Yatra, and on Jagannath's Snana Purnima, believing that nine sincere prostrations through the nine verses create a complete act of surrender to the Lord who is himself complete. In the Jyotish tradition, Jagannath as the universal form of Vishnu is associated with Jupiter, and his worship is considered deeply auspicious for the strengthening of dharma, devotion, and the spirit of selfless service in the devotee's life.