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Friday, July 22, 2016

Milk

The father of Shankara was a regular worshiper of Devi Rajarajeshwari for many years. He used to offer milk everyday to the Goddess. One day when Sankara was barely 5 years old, the father had to visit a neighbouring village. Everyday after finishing Puja and offering milk to the Goddess, he used to distribute the remaining milk to his wife, son and others as Prasadam. He told the boy, "Son! Your mother cannot perform the worship which I do. You better do the worship today."

After the father left, the boy followed his fathers instructions. He filled a tumbler with milk, placed it before the image of the Goddess Rajarajeshwari and prayed: "Mother! Accept this offering of milk". He went on praying to the Goddess. When he found that the milk remained untouched, he became very sad. He cried: "Mother! What great crime I have committed? When my father offered the milk you used to take it, when I am offering, You are not taking". He was in a deep distress. He was thinking whether there was any lapse on his part, he became desperate. He declared in agony : "Mother! If You do not take the milk I shall end my life. I would have dishonored my father. I would also be guilty of failing to fulfill my mothers command. If I cannot please my parents, what is the use in my living?". He prayed intensely to the Goddess in great agony. Moved by the naive entreaties of the boy, Rajarajeshwari appeared before Him. She told him: "Child, Be happ. I am immensely pleased with your devotion. I shall drink the milk". So saying, She drank all the milk in the tumbler.

The boy was aghast to see that the whole tumbler empty. "O! Mother" He cried: "If You drink all the milk, what is left for distributing as Prasadam? My mother will think that I have drunk all the milk, I have to give the prasadam to her. My father used to give some milk as prasadam also. Therefore, please restore some of the milk in the tumbler." How can the milk once consmed be brought back?. Can the rivers that has joined the ocean return? Can the apple that has been digested be brought back?

The Goddess told the boy that it is impossible to bring back the milk that has been consumed. The boy was in deep distress again. He thought within himself: "I will get a bad name from my mother." He prayed, "Mother please give atleast a little quantity of milk." Responding to the prayes of the young boy the Goddess drew milk from her breast and gave it to the boy. It was the sacred power of the milk whcih enabled Sankara in later years to master all the scripturers and earn lasting fame as a great spiritual leader revered by all.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Achyutashtakam

I sing praise of Ramachandra, Who is known as Achyuta (infallible), Keshav, Raam, Narayan, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Shridhara (possessing Lakshmi), Madhava, Gopikavallabha (Dearest of Gopika), and Janakinayaka (Lord of Janaki or Sita).||1||

I offer a salute with my hands together to Achyuta, Who is known as Keshav, Who is the consort of Satyabhama (Krishna), Who is known as Madhav and Shridhar, Who is longed-for by Radhika, Who is like a temple of Lakshmi (Indira), Who is beautiful at heart, Who is the son of Devaki, and Who is the Dear-One of all.||2||

Salutations for Vishnu, Who conquers everyone, Who holds a conch-shell and a discus, Who is the affectionate of Rukmini (Krishna), Who is the consort of only Janaki (Raam), Who is the Dear-One of cowherdesses, Who is offered [in sacrifices], Who is the Atman, Who is the destroyer of Kansa, and Who plays the flute (Krishna).||3||

O Krishna! O Govinda! O Raam! O Narayan! O Shripati! O Vasudeva, Who attained the Lakshmi! O Achyuta, Who is immeasurable! O Madhav! O Adhokshaja! O Leader of Dvarika! O the protector of Draupadi!¹||4||

Raghav, Who upsetted the demons, Who adorned Sita, Who is the cause of purification of the forest called Dandaka, Who was accompanied by Lakshman, Who was served by monkeys, and Who was revered by Agastya, save me.||5||

Baby Gopal (Krishna), Who destroyed the disguised Dhenuka and Arishtak demons, Who slayed Keshi, Who killed Kansa, Who plays the flute, and Who got angry on Putana², save me always.||6||
I sing praise of the Lotus-Eyed Lord, Who is adorned by a shiny lightening like yellow robe, Whose body is resplending like a cloud of the rainy-season, Who is adorned by a forest-garland at His chest, and Who has two feet of copper-red color.||7||

I sing praise of that Shyam, Whose face is adorned by falling locks of curly tresses, Who has jewels are forehead, Who has shiny earrings on the cheeks, Who is adorned with a garland of the Keyur flower, Who has a shiny bracelet, and Who has a melodious anklet.||8||

http://www.greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/sri_krishna-achyutashtakam-acyutam_keshavam.php
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Achyutashtakam

Monday, April 11, 2016

Swarna

Swarna Mala Sthuthi

Swarna Mala Sthuthi
{Prayer of Golden Garland}
By Aadhi Shankara Bhagawat Pada
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

{The sanskrit original is available at: sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/suvarNamaalaa.pdf. There is also a translation posted by Sri Sai deo in the Kanchi forum.}

1. Isha, Girisha, naresha, paresha, Mahesha, bhileshaya bhooshana bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh God, Oh Lord of the mountain, Oh Lord of the men,
Oh greatest God, Oh God of the divine,
Oh God who wears serpents as ornaments.

2. Umaya divya sumangala vigraha valingitha vamanga vibho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh God who is hugged by the very auspicious divine Parvathi,
Who occupies the left side of your body.

3. Uri Kuru mama ajnam anadham, duri kuru, may duritham bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Accept the ignorance of this orphan, and drive away my sufferings.

4. Rishi vara manasa hamsa, chara chara janana sthithi, laya karana bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh God who is the swan of the minds of blessed sages,
And who is the cause of birth, upkeep and death of all beings.

4. Antha karana vishudhim bhakthim, cha thwayi sathim pradehi vibho
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Your consort Sathi will grant us purity of mind and devotion towards you.

5. Karuna varunalaya mayi dasa udhasasthavochitho na hi bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh ocean of mercy, to you it is not proper to be indifferent to me who is your slave.

6. Jaya Kailasa nivasa, pramatha ganadhisha bhoo sura architha bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Victory to one who lives on Kailasa, the Lord of Pramadhas,
And the one who is worshipped by Brahmins.

7. Janutha kaja kingkinu jhanuthat shabdhair natasi maha nata bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh Great dancer who dances making sounds like Janu, kaja, kinkini jhanu.

8. Dharma sthapana Daksha trayaksha guro Daksha yajna shikshaka bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh teacher who installs Dharma, who has three eyes,
And who punished Daksha during the fire sacrifice.

8. Balam aarogyam cha ayus twad ruchithaam chiram pradehi prabho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Please give me for a long time to come, strength, health and long life,
And mind attracted to your great qualities, Oh Lord.

9. Bhagawan, Bharga bhayapaha bhuta pathe, bhoothi bhooshithanga vibho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh God, Oh destroyer of sins, Oh remover of fear,
Oh God who coats all his body with sacred ash.

10. Sarva deva sarvothama, sarvada durvrutha harana prabho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh God who destroys, Oh the greatest among all,
Please destroy the pride of those with bad character.

11. Shad ripu, shadoorumi, shad vikara hara, San mukha Shanmukha janaka vibho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh destroyer of six enemies,* six anxieties** and six changes,***
Oh God with good face, Oh God who is father of Subrahmanya.
*Desire, anger, greed, lust, pride and jealousy
**Thirst, hunger, grief, infatuation, old age and death
***Existence, birth, growth, maturity, decay and death

12. Sathyam jnanam, anantham, brahme thyalla lakshana lakshitha bho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Oh God who is Brahman characterized by truth, consciousness and endlessness

13. Haha hoohoo mukha sura gayaka gitapadana padya vibho,
Samba Sadashiva Shambho Sankara sharanam may thava charanayugam,

Oh God with Parvathi, Oh ever peaceful one, Oh Source of happiness,
Oh God who is the refuge, I surrender to the pair of your feet,
Whose greatness is praised by celestial singers Haha and Hoohoo

Ithi Sri Shankaracharya krutha swarnamalya Sthuthi.
Thus ends the prayer of golden garland written by Aadhi Shankara.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Raghavashtakam

Raghavashtakam

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(There are many references that it is written by Adhi Sankara   but in the complete list of the works of   Adhi Sankara, this prayer does not find place. The addition of a prayer at the beginning and end  which is there in  this octet, is  very unusual to find in works of Sankara. )

1.Rama Rama  Namosthuthe , jaya  Ramabhadra Namosthuthe,
Ramachandra Namosthuthe  Jaya Raghavaya Namosthuthe  ,
Deva deva Namosthuthe  , jaya Deva raja   Namosthuthe,
Vasudeva Namosthuthe , Jaya Veera raja Namosthuthe

Oh Rama, Rama, salutations , Victory to Ramabhadra,  salutations,
Oh Ramachandra  salutations , Victory to Raghava salutations,
Oh God of Gods salutations, Victory to king of Gods Salutations,
Oh Vasudeva salutations , Victory to valorous king, salutations.

2.Raghavam, Karunakaram,  Munisevitham  , Sura vandhitham,
Janaki vadanaravinda  divakaram, guna Bhajanam,
Vali soonu Hrudheekshanam  , Hanumath priyam,Kamaleshanam,
Yathu Dhana Bhayangaram  ,Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava  ,  who is   of the Raghu clan,
Who is doer of mercy  , Who is served by sages , Who is saluted by devas,
Who is the sun which opens   the lotus like  face  of daughter of Janaka,
Who  is the vessel of good characters  who is saluted by   the son of Vali,
Who is  liked by Hanuman  , who has   lotus like eyes and  who is terrible looking to Rakshasas.

3.Maithili kucha bhooshanaa amala neelamoukthika   meeswaram,
Ravananuja   palanam,  Raghu pungavam  , mama daivatham,
Medhini  thanayaa mukhaambuja bodhakari Divakaram,
Surya vamsa vivardhanam, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava   , who is     the God who is ,
The  pure blue pearl which decorates   the breasts of Maithili,
Who looks after Vibheeshana the brother of Ravana , Who is the great one of Raghu clan,
Who is my God,  Who is sun who wakes up the lotus like  face of daughter of earth,
And who is the one who  furthers   the clan of the Sun God.

4.Hema kundala manditha amala ganda desamarindhamam,
Satha Kumbha  mayura nethra  vibhooshanena vibhooshitham,
Charu noopura hara  kouusthubha  karna bhooshana bhooshitham,
Bhanu vamsa vivardhanam,  Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava  , who wears the  golden ear globes,
Who has a pure neck    and  is the killer   of his enemies ,
Who  is ornamented    with  golden eye  similar to pea cock,
Who has pretty anklets  , Kausthubha necklace   and also ornaments in hands,
And who is the one who  furthers   the clan of the Sun God.

5.Dandakakhya vane  ratham, Sura sidha yogi ganasrayam,
Sishta palana  thathparam, druthi saali Vali krutha sthuthim,
Kumbhakarna  bujaa bujanga   vikarthena suvisaradham,
Lakshmananuja vathsalam, ,  Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava  ,Who is pleased   by the Dandaka forest,
Who is the support to devas   and hoards  of Yogis and Sidhas,
Who is interested in supporting people     with discipline 
Who was praised by Vali who   was speedy  by nature,
Who was an expert  in cutting the snake like hands of Kumbhakarna ,
And who was greatly affectionate towards his younger  brother Lakshmana.

6.Kethaki karaveera jathi  suganda malyaa shobhitham,
Sridharam, Mithilathmaja kucha kunkuma aruna vakshasam,
Deva devam  asesha bhootha manoharam , jagatham pathim,
Dasa bhootha  janaavanam  ,  Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava  , who shines wearing  scented garlands ,
Made of  Ketaki,Karaveera and Jathi flowers , Who caries Goddess Lakshmi,
Whose  chest  has a  red Kumkum mark from   the chest of  the daughter of Mithila,
Who is God a of Gods , Who is the most pretty among beings  , Who is lord of the world,
Who is the protector of all beings who serve   him.

7.Yaga dhana Samadhi yoga  Japadhi karma karair dwijai,
Veda paragathairaharnisa maadharena  supoojitham,
Thatakaa vadha dheera mangadha nadha vali nishoodhanam,
Paithrukoditha palakam  ,  Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava  , who is being worshipped day and night,
By  great Brahmin experts in Vedas   who   do Yaga, Charity , Samadhi, Yoga and other rituals,
Who is the valorous one who killed Thataka , Who killed Vali the  lord of Angadha,
And who takes care of all that  he inherited from his ancestors.

8.Leelayaa Khara Dhooshanadhi   nisachara suvinasanam,
Ravanathakam achyutham ,hari yoodha koti samavritham,
Neerajanana ambujangri  yugam harim  , Buvanasrayam  ,
Deva Karya Vichakshanam ,  Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava  , who like a play   completely  killed,
The Rakshasas called Khara and Dhooshana, Who is Lord Vishnu who killed Ravana ,
 Who  is surrounded by millions of monkeys  , who is Lord Vishnu ,
Who   is Lord Hari  who has two lotus like feet  ,who is the support of the world,
And who is clear sighted in looking after the affairs of devas.

9.Koushikena  su sikshithastra kalapamayatha lochanam,
Charu hasam anadha bandhu masesha  loka nivasinam,
Vasavadhi  surari  Ravana  sasanam cha gathim,
Neela Megha nibhakruthim  ,  Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram.

I salute the elephant like  Raghava  , who  uses the   arrows and quiver  ,
Given and taught    by sage Viswamithra  with a very keen eye,
Who has a pretty smile , who is friend of orphans ,
Who lives among  the entire people of earth,
Who  punished Ravana who was the enemy of Indra  and devas  and gave him salvation,
And who has the form of blue water  rich cloud.

10.Raghavashtaka sidhidham   achyuthalaya   sadhakam,
Bukthi muthi phala pradham  , Dhana dhanya   putha vivardhanam,
Ramachandra krupa kadaksha madarena sada padeth,
Ramachandra Padambuja   dwaya  santhatharpitha   Manasa.

This octet on Ravana would  make it possible to reach the land of Achyutha,
Would result in pleasures and salvation , increase of wealth  properties and sons,
If it is always read with   devotion under the merciful look of God  Ramachandra,
With the mind   completely surrendered to the   lotus like feet of Rama.

11.Nigama sarasi  rathnam, nithya masaktha rathnam  ,
Nikhila  sukruthi rathnam , Janaki roopa rathnam,
Bhuvana valaya rathnam  Bhoobruthameka rathnam,
Prakruthi  sulabha rathnam, Maithili prana rathnam

The gem from lake of Vedas , The gem we get for ever attached,
The gem of all virtues  , the gem of the form of Janaki,
The gem that encircles the world  , the only gem that carries the world,
The gem that is by nature easy   and the life like gem of  Maithili.

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