Thread by @PiyuNair

The illam where Shri Shankaracharya Composed
Kanakadharasthavam as a prayer to Mahalakshmi.

Once Sankara, when he was a child, went to seek alms at a Brahmin’s house at Punnorcode, Kunnathunadu.  During those days, the Illam was in a poor financial situation.

There was only an antharjanam in the house.  The woman saw the child with a radiant face standing at the door of the Illam seeking alms, she became very sad.  The mana did not have a history of sending back people seeking alms.

This time, there was nothing to offer, neither rice grain nor money. The woman went inside & searched for something to give the child.  At last, she got a small gooseberry.  She reluctantly gave it to the child.  Sankara understood the situation of the woman.

Sankara while accepting her alm replied that however, in this life she gave him an Amla fruit with very great reverence inspite of not having any thing due to her extreme poverty and this act alone will justify to shower riches on her and purge her of all her previous sins

He immediately started singing twenty one slokas praising Goddess Mahalakshmi , praying her to bless the poor women by driving her poverty and grant her riches.
Mata Mahalakshmi got pleased with his beautiful composition.

Legendary story says Mahalakshmi was pleased with the compilation & rained golden gooseberries.  Sankara gave those golden gooseberries to the woman& that the poverty of the Illam was thus put to an end & became famous as Swarnathu Mana.