JAGAD GURU-we all know him as adi guru.he's  is a unique person.he's birth has a great significance.he is lord shiva itself.he  who again brought  and raised the spiritual  significance  of  the  people  in  times.hes works are so fantastic.he had explained us  the simple way of praying  god.the way which we worship god is  more important  than any other thing.
vyasa the swarupa of vishnu had  written many epics  and  puranas ,other great works.shankara the swarupa of  shiva  had also written  many great compositions.sivananda lahari,soundarya lahari,explanations  of the great geetha and many more  great books,stotras,vedic mantras  etc.
both siva and vishnu  are equal ,same  and  are  united  and oneness itself.only differ by forms.
sankara had  been responsible for many temples  like  sringeri,puri jagannath,badrinath.he alone with his power had walked entire india  for 3 times.we all should follow the paths of great  people like shankara.he has done   a tremendous job.salutations to him.Biography of Sri Adi Sankara

Introduction

Chaos pervaded all through India in the matter of religion and philosophy. Sect after sect, such as Charvakas, Lokayathikas, Kapalikas, Shaktas, Sankhyas, Buddhas and Madhyamikas sprang up. The number of religions rose as high as seventy-two. There was fight amongst sects. There was no peace anywhere. Chaos and confusion reigned supreme. There was superstition and bigotry. Darkness prevailed over the once happy land of Rishis, sages and Yogins. The once glorious land of the Aryans was in a miserable state. Such was the state of the country at the time which just preceded the Avatara (incarnation) of Sankaracharya. 

The existence of Vedic Dharma in India today is due to Sankara. The forces opposed to Vedic religion were more numerous and powerful at the time of Sankara than they are today. Still, single-handed, within a very short time, Sankara overpowered them all and restored the Vedic Dharrna and Advaita Vedanta to its pristine purity in the land. The weapon he used was pure knowledge and spirituality. The previous Avataras, like Rama and Krishna, used physical forces because the obstacles to Dharma in those days arose from the physical obstructions and molestations of the Asuras (demons). The menace to Dharma in the Kali age (age of destruction) arose from obstacles that were more internal than external, more mental than physical. The seeds of Adharma (unrighteousness) were then working in the minds of almost everyone. Hence the evil had to be combated purely by the weapon of knowledge and self-purification. It was in order to forge this weapon and wield it with efficacy that Sankara took birth in the Brahmin Varna (caste) and entered the Sannyasa (renunciate) order early in life. The previous Avataras like Rama and Krishna took birth in the Kshatriya Varna (warrior caste), because in their days they had to wield military weapons in the restoration of Dharma. 

All are no doubt aware of the very important position assigned to Sankaracharya in the history of Indian philosophy. It can be affirmed, without any fear of contradiction, that Bharata Varsha would have ceased to be Bharata Varsha several centuries ago and would never have survived the murderous sword, the devastating fire and the religious intolerance of the successive invaders, if Sankara had not lived the life he lived and taught the lessons he taught. And those lessons are still pulsating in every cell and in every protoplasm of the true aspirant and the true Hindu. 

Birth

Sankara was born in a very poor family in the year 788 A.D. in a village named Kaladi, six miles to the east of Alwaye, Kerala. Kaladi is a railway station, on the Kochi-Shoranur rail link. Sankara was a Nambudiri Brahmin. Rajasekhara, a Zamindar (a rich landlord), built a Siva temple in Kaladi and formed an Agrahara for Brahmins who were in the service of the temple. Vidyadhiraja was doing Puja (worship) in the temple. He had only a son named Sivaguru. Sivaguru studied the Shastras and married at the proper age. He had no child. He and his wife Aryamba prayed to Lord Siva to bless them with a son. A son was born to them in the Vasanta Ritu or the spring season at noon, in the auspicious Abhijit Muhurta and under the constellation Ardhra. This son was Sankara. 

Sivaguru died when Sankara was seven years old. Sankara had none to look after his education. His mother was an extraordinary woman. She took special care to educate her son in all the Shastras. Sankara's Upanayana or thread ceremony was performed in his seventh year, after the death of his father. Sankara exhibited extraordinary intelligence in his boyhood. When he was only sixteen, he became a master of all the philosophies and theologies. He began to write commentaries on the Gita, the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras when he was only sixteen years old. What a great marvel! 

Sankara's mother was consulting astrologers about horoscopes of suitable girls for her son's marriage. But Sankara had a firm resolve to renounce the world and become a Sannyasin. Sankara's mother was very much grieved that there would be no one to perform her funeral rites after her death. Sankara gave full assurance to his mother that he would always be ready to serve her at the death-bed and perform the usual funeral rites. Even then his mother was not satisfied. 

One day, Sankara and his mother went to take bath in the river. Sankara plunged into the water and felt that a crocodile was dragging him by the foot. He shouted out to his mother at the top of his voice: "O dear mother! A crocodile is dragging me down. I am lost. Let me die peacefully as a Sannyasin. Let me have the satisfaction of dying as a Sannyasin. Give me your permission now. Let me take Apath-sannyasa”. 

The mother immediately allowed him to take Sannyasa. Sankara took Apath-sannyasa (the adoption of Sannyasa when death is near) at once. The crocodile let him go unharmed. Sankara came out of the water as a nominal Sannyasin. He again repeated his promise to his mother. He left her under the care of his relatives and gave away his little property to them. He then proceeded to find out a Guru with a view to get himself formally initiated into the sacred order of Sannyasa. 

In Search of a Guru 

Sankara met Swami Govindapada Acharya in a hermitage in Badrikashram (Badrinath) in the Himalayas and he prostrated at the teacher's feet. Govinda asked Sankara who he was. Sankara replied: "O revered Guru! I am neither fire nor air nor earth nor water-none of these, but the Immortal Atma (Self) that is hidden in all names and forms". He also said in the end: "I am the son of Sivaguru, a Brahmin of Kerala. My father died in my childhood. I was brought up by my mother. I have studied the Vedas and the Shastras under a teacher. I took Apath-sannyasa when a crocodile caught my foot while I was taking bath in the river. Kindly initiate me formally into the holy order of Sannyasa". 

Swami Govinda was very much pleased with the truthful narration given by Sankara. Having initiated him and invested him with the robe of a Sannyasin, Swami Govinda taught him the philosophy of Advaita which he himself had learnt from his Guru-Gaudapada Acharya. Sankara learnt all the philosophical tenets from his Guru Govindapada. Govinda asked Sankara to go to Kashi. Sankara proceeded to Kashi where he wrote all his famous commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, the Upanishads and the Gita and successfully met all the criticisms levelled against them. He then began to propagate his philosophy. Sankara had the greatest esteem for his Guru Govindapada and his Parama Guru or the teacher's teacher, Gaudapada. 

Sankara's Digvijaya 

Sankara's philosophical conquests are unique in the world. He had his triumphant tour all over India. He met the leaders of different schools of thought. He convinced them by arguments and established the supremacy and truth of the religion that he expounded in his commentaries. He went to all the celebrated seats of learning. He challenged the learned men to discussion, argued with them and converted them to his opinions and views. He defeated Bhatta Bhaskara and condemned his Bhashya (commentary) on the Vedanta Sutras. He then met Dandi and Mayura and taught them his philosophy. He then defeated in argument Harsha, author of Khandana Khanda Kadya, Abhinavagupta, Murari Misra, Udayanacharya, Dharmagupta, Kumarila and Prabhakara. 

Sankara then proceeded to Mahishmati. Mandana Misra was the chief Pundit of the court of Mahishmati. Mandana was brought up in the Karma Mimamsa faith and so he had intense hatred for the Sannyasins. He was performing a Sraaddha ceremony when Sankara somehow dropped down there. Immediately Mandana Misra became very furious. An ugly conversation was started when the Brahmins, who were present there for dinner, interposed and pacified Mandana Misra. Then Sankara challenged Mandana to a religious controversy. Mandana agreed. Bharati who was the wife of Mandana Misra and who possessed scholarly erudition was appointed as the umpire. It was agreed beforehand that Sankara, if defeated, would become a householder and marry; and that Mandana, if defeated, would become a Sannyasin and receive the robe of a Sannyasin from the hands of his own wife. The controversy began in right earnest and continued for days without any interruption. Bharati did not sit and listen to their controversy. She threw two garlands, one each over the shoulders of each of the disputants, and said: "He whose garland begins to fade first should consider himself defeated". She left the place and began attending to her household duties. The controversy went on for seventeen days. The garland of Mandana Misra began to fade first. Mandana Misra accepted his defeat and offered to become a Sannyasin and follow Sankara. 

Bharati was an Avatara of Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning. Once the sage Durvasa chanted the Vedas before Brahma and his wife in a big assembly. Durvasa committed a small mistake. Sarasvati laughed at it. Durvasa became enraged and gave a curse that she would take birth in the world. Hence Sarasvati had to take birth as Bharati. 

Bharati now interposed and said to Sankara: "I am the other half of Mandana. You have defeated only one half of Mandana. Let us have a controversy". Sankara objected to have controversy with a woman. Bharati quoted instances wherein there had been controversies with women. Sankara then agreed and this controversy also went on uninterruptedly for seventeen days. Bharati passed from one Shastra to another. At last she found out that she could not defeat Sankara. She decided to defeat him by means of the science of Kama Shastra. 

Sankara asked Bharati to give him an interval of one month for his preparation to hold controversy with her in the science of Kama Shastra. She agreed. Sankara went to Kashi. He separated his astral body from his physical body by means of his Yogic powers and left his physical body in the hole of a big tree and asked his disciples to take care of that physical body. He then entered into the dead body of Raja Amaruka which was about to be cremated. The Raja rose up and all the people rejoiced at the astounding incident. 

The ministers and queens soon found out that the revived Raja was a different person, with different qualities and thought. They realised that the soul of a great Mahatma had entered the body of their Raja. Therefore, messengers were sent out to search for a human body hidden somewhere in lonely forests and caves and to burn it when found. They thought that if they did so, the new Raja might remain with them for a long time. 

Sankara was acquiring all the experience of love with his queens. Maya is very powerful. In the midst, of those queens, Sankara entirely forgot all about his promises to his disciples about his going back to them. The disciples began to search for him. They heard about the miraculous resurrection of Raja Amaruka. They immediately proceeded to the city and had an interview with the Raja. They sang a few philosophical songs which at once revived the memory of Sankara. The disciples immediately repaired to the place where the physical body of Sankara was kept hidden. By that time the messengers of the queen had found out the physical body and had just begun to set fire to it. The soul of Sankara just then entered his own body. Sankara prayed to Lord Hari to help him. There was a shower of rain immediately and that extinguished the flames. 

Then Sankara returned to the residence of Mandana Misra. He resumed the old controversy and answered all the questions raised by Bharati satisfactorily. Mandana Misra gave all his property as a gift to Sri Sankara and Mandana was made to distribute it to the poor and the deserving. He then became a disciple of Sankara. Sankara initiated him into the holy order of Sannyasa and gave him the name of 'Sureswara Acharya'. Sureswara Acharya was the first Sannyasin who took charge of the Sringeri Mutt. Bharati also accompanied Sankara to Sringeri and there she is worshipped even today. 

Sankara ascended the seat of omniscience after inviting Vedic scholars from all parts of India and answering their numerous questions. Sankara, by vanquishing all the religious opponents of his day-and they belonged to no less than seventy-two different schools-and establishing the superiority of the Vedic Dharma, had become the Jagadguru of all. 

Sankara's success over the other religious sects was so complete that none of them have since been able to raise their head in the land. Most of them have disappeared altogether. After Sankara's time, although a few Acharyas have appeared, none of them have been able to vanquish those who differed from them as Sankara did and establish unquestioned supremacy. 

Mother’s Funeral Rites 

Sankara received news that his mother was seriously ailing. He left his disciples and proceeded to Kaladi alone. His mother was then bedridden. Sankara touched her feet in reverence. He praised Lord Hari. Hari’s messengers came. Sankara's mother gave up her physical body and went along with those messengers to the abode of Hari. 

Sankara encountered serious difficulties in performing the funeral rites of his mother. Usually, Sannyasins do not perform any of the rites or ceremonies which are enjoined on the householders. The Nambudiri Brahmins were all against Sankara. Sankara's relatives also did not help him. They did not come forward to assist him even in carrying the dead body to the place of cremation and refused to give fire for igniting the funeral pyre. At last Sankara determined to perform the funeral rites all alone. As he could not carry the entire dead body, he cut it into pieces and removed the pieces one by one to the backyard of the house. He then made a pyre there of stems of plantain trees and set fire to it by his Yogic power. Sankara wanted to teach the Nambudiris a lesson. He then made the local chief issue an edict that a corner should be set apart in each Illam or house of the Nambudiri Brahmins to burn the dead of the family and that they should cut the dead body into parts and then burn the same. This practice continues even today amongst Nambudiri Brahmins. 

Sankara then returned to Sringeri. From there he went out on a tour through the eastern coast with a large number of followers. He preached his Advaita philosphy wherever he went. He established the Govardhana Mutt at Puri. He went to Kancheepuram and attacked the Shaktas. He purified the temples. He won over to his side the rulers of the Chola and the Pandya kingdoms. He went to Ujjain and put down the atrocities of the Bhairavas who were shedding human blood. He then proceeded to Dwaraka and established a Mutt there. He then travelled along the course of the Ganges and held religious controversies with great personages. 

Sankara's End 

Sankara proceeded to Kamarup-the present Guwahati-in Assam and held a controversy with Abhinava Gupta, the Shakta commentator, and won victory over him. Abhinava felt his defeat very keenly. He made Sankara suffer from a severe form of piles through black magic. Padmapada removed the evil effects of the black magic. Sankara became quite alright. He went to the Himalayas, built a Mutt at Joshi and a temple at Badri. He then proceeded to Kedarnath higher up in the Himalayas. He became one with the Linga in 820 A.D. in his thirty-second year. 

Sringeri Mutt 

In the north-west of the State of Mysore, nestling in the beautiful foot-hills of the Western Ghats, surrounded by virgin forests, lies the village of Sringeri and here Sankara established his first Mutt. The river Tunga-a branch of the river Tungabhadra-runs through the valley closely touching the walls of the temple; and its pure and limpid waters are as famous for drinking purposes as the waters of the Ganges are for bath (Ganga Snanam, Tunga Panam). Sringeri is a place of great sanctity and its beauty has to be seen to be appreciated. The Mutt is 'still going strong' as the phrase goes. The homage paid to the Mutt by countless aspirants and devotees is as much due to the greatness of illustrious men like Vidyaranya who have been at its head ever since its foundation as to the renown of the founder himself. 

It may not be out of place to mention here that it took thirty years for the well-known Sanskrit professor Max Muller to translate the commentary on the Rig Veda, written by Vidyaranya, also known as Sayana. The learned professor, in his preface, says that not a single day passed in the thirty years without his devoting at least ten minutes on the translation. There is also a little interesting incident that when the manuscript was found to be illegible in some places, he got an authorised transcription from the first original still preserved in the Sringeri Mutt, through the influence of the then Maharaja of Mysore. 

The famous holy shrine of Sri Sarada is an equal source of attraction to the devotees. Many are the Mutts and monasteries in India where holy men or their successors sit, and where Hindus from all parts of India gather, but none so great or so famous as Sringeri, the original seat of Adi Sankaracharya. The Sringeri Peetha is one of the oldest monasteries of the world flourishing for over twelve centuries now. It is the first of the four seats of learning established by Sankaracharya, the other three being Puri, Dwaraka and Joshi Mutt, each one of them representing one of the four Vedas of the Hindus. 

Sankara placed his four eminent disciples (Sureswara Acharya, Padmapada, Hastamalaka and Trotakacharya) in charge of the Sringeri Mutt, Jagannath Mutt, Dwaraka Mutt and Joshi Mutt respectively. The most famous Sannyasin in the succession of Gurus of the Sringeri Mutt was, of course, Vidyaranya, the great commentator on the Vedas and the father of the dynasty of Vijayanagar. He was the Dewan of Vijayanagaram. He became a Sannyasin about 1331 A.D. The eleven Sannyasins before Vidyaranya were Sankaracharya, Viswarupa, Nityabodhaghana, Jnanaghana, Jnanottama, Jnana Giri, Simha Girisvara, Isvara Tirtha, Narasimha Tirtha, Vidya Sankara Tirtha and Bharati Krishna Tirtha. 

The historic and sacred pontifical throne of the Sringeri Mutt is known as Vyakhyana Simhasana or seat of learning. Tradition has it that this seat was given to the great Sankara by Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning, in appreciation of the philosopher's vast scholarly erudition. Thirty-five Acharyas had sat on the pontifical throne before his present holiness in regular and uninterrupted succession. 

Dasanami Sannyasins 

Sankara organized ten definite orders of Sannyasins under the name 'Dasanamis' who add, at the end of their names, any one of the following ten suffixes: Sarasvati, Bharati, Puri (Sringeri Mutt); Tirtha, Asrama (Dwaraka Mutt); Giri, Parvata and Sagar (Joshi Mutt); Vana and Aranya (Govardhana Mutt). 

The Paramahamsa represents the highest of these grades. It is possible to become a Paramahamsa by a long course of Vedantic study, meditation and Self- realisation. The Ativarnashramis are beyond caste and order of life. They dine with all classes of people. Sankara's Sannyasins are to be found all over India. 

Some Anecdotes 

Sankara was going along the street one day with his pupils to take bath in the Ganges when he met a Chandala who was also passing along the street with his dogs by his side. The disciples of Sankara shouted and asked the Chandala to clear off the road. The Chandala asked Sankara: "O, venerable Guru! You are a preacher of Advaita Vedanta and yet you make a great difference between man and man. How can this be consistent with your teaching of Advaitism? Is Advaita only a theory?". Sankara was very much struck by the intelligent query of the Chandala. He thought within himself, "Lord Siva has assumed this form just to teach me a lesson". He composed then and there five Slokas called the ‘Manisha Panchaka’. Every Sloka ends thus: “He who learnt to look on the phenomena in the light of Advaita is my true Guru, be he a Chandala or be he a Brahmin”. 


In Kashi, a student was cramming the Sutras in Sanskrit grammar. He was repeating again and again "Dukrin karane, Dukrin karane....". Sankara heard it and was struck by the perseverance of the boy. He immediately sang a small poem, the famous Bhaja Govindam song, in order to teach the uselessness of such studies in the matter of the liberation of the soul. The meaning of the song is: "Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O fool! When you are about to die, the repetition of these Sanskrit Sutras will not save you".


Once some mischief-mongers offered meat and liquor to Sankara. Sankara touched those items with his right hand. The meat turned into apples and the liquor into milk. 


A Kapalika came to Sankara and begged for his head as a gift. Sankara consented and asked the Kapalika to take his head when he was alone and absorbed in meditation. The Kapalika was just aiming with a big sword to sever the head of Sankara. Padmapada, the devoted disciple of Sankara came, caught hold of the arm of the Kapalika and killed him with his knife. Padmapada was a worshipper of Lord Narasimha. Lord Narasimha entered the body of Padmapada and killed the Kapalika. 

Sankara's Philosophy 

Sankara wrote Bhashyas or commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, the Upanishads and the Gita. The Bhashya on the Brahma Sutras is called Sareerik Bhasya. Sankara wrote commentaries on Sanat Sujatiya and Sahasranama Adhyaya. It is usually said, “For learning logic and metaphysics, go to Sankara's commentaries; for gaining practical knowledge, which unfolds and strengthens devotion, go to his works such as Viveka Chudamani, Atma Bodha, Aparoksha Anubhuti, Ananda Lahari, Atma-Anatma Viveka, Drik-Drishya Viveka and Upadesa Sahasri”. Sankara wrote innumerable original works in verses which are matchless in sweetness, melody and thought. 

Sankara’s supreme Brahman is Nirguna (without the Gunas), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without attributes) and Akarta (non-agent). He is above all needs and desires. Sankara says, "This Atman is self-evident. This Atman or Self is not established by proofs of the existence of the Self. It is not possible to deny this Atman, for it is the very essence of he who denies it. The Atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge. The Self is within, the Self is without, the Self is before and the Self is behind. The Self is on the right hand, the Self is on the left, the Self is above and the Self is below". 

Satyam-Jnanam-Anantam-Anandam are not separate attributes. They form the very essence of Brahman. Brahman cannot be described, because description implies distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than He. 

The objective world-the world of names and forms-has no independent existence. The Atman alone has real existence. The world is only Vyavaharika or phenomenal. 

Sankara was the exponent of the Kevala Advaita philosophy. His teachings can be summed up in the following words: 

Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya, Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Aparah 

Brahman alone is real, this world is unreal; the Jiva is identical with Brahman. 

Sankara preached Vivarta Vada. Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Supreme Self. If you get a knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if you get a knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish. 

Sankara is the foremost among the master-minds and the giant souls which Mother India has produced. He was the expounder of the Advaita philosophy. Sankara was a giant metaphysician, a practical philosopher, an infallible logician, a dynamic personality and a stupendous moral and spiritual force. His grasping and elucidating powers knew no bounds. He was a fully developed Yogi, Jnani and Bhakta. He was a Karma Yogin of no mean order. He was a powerful magnet. 

There is not one branch of knowledge which Sankara has left unexplored and which has not received the touch, polish and finish of his superhuman intellect. For Sankara and his works, we have a very high reverence. The loftiness, calmness and firmness of his mind, the impartiality with which he deals with various questions, his clearness of expression-all these make us revere the philosopher more and more. His teachings will continue to live as long as the sun shines. 

Sankara's scholarly erudition and his masterly way of exposition of intricate philosophical problems have won the admiration of all the philosophical schools of the world at the present moment. Sankara was an intellectual genius, a profound philosopher, an able propagandist, a matchless preacher, a gifted poet and a great religious reformer. Perhaps, never in the history of any literature, a stupendous writer like him has been found. Even the Western scholars of the present day pay their homage and respects to him. Of all the ancient systems, that of Sankaracharya will be found to be the most congenial and the most easy of acceptance to the modern mind. 

Shivananda Lahari

By Adi Sankaracharya,  Translated by P. R. Ramachander


[This is one of the greatest poetic prayer couched in an undercurrent of practical philosophy by Sri Adi Sankara Bhagawatpada. Unlike Soundrya Lahari, this stotra does not seem to have tantric implication. It is more simpler and enriched with several alankaras. Any one reading this and understanding it would get peace, steadfast mind and knowledge of God and Philosophy.]

Prayer to the teacher

Imkara hrimkara rahasya yuktha
Srimkara gudartha Maha vibhoothya
Om kara marma prathi paadinibhyam,
Namo nama Sri Guru Padukabyam

I bow before the holy footwear of my teacher,
Who taught me the meaning of “OM”,
Which is the inner meaning of the sound “Srim”,
Being a holy combination of the sounds “Im” and “Hrim”.

Shivananda Lahari

1
Kalabhyam choodalankrutha sasi kalabhyam nija thapa
Phalabhyam bhaktheshu prakatitha phalabhyam bhavathu me
Shivabham sthoka thri bhuvana shivabhyam hridhi punar
Bhavaabhyam ananda sphura dhanubhavabhyam natheeriyam


Let my salutations be dedicated ,
To those who are dedicated to art,,
To them who wear the moon in their head,
To them who are the personification of mutual penance,
To them who teach devotees about the results of penance,
To them who grant only good to the three worlds,
To them whose every memory becomes newer and newer,
To them who are supremely happy due to their great knowledge,
And to the result of mystic union of Shiva and Shakthi.

2
Galanthi shambho twacharitha saritha khilbhisharajo
Dganthi dho kulya saranishu pathanthi vijayatham
Dhisanthi samsara bhramana parthapopa samanam,
Vasanthi machedho hrid bhavathi Shivananda Lahari.


Oh Lord Shambu who grants us happiness,
Let these waves of ecstasy Of Lord Shiva,
Flowing from the holy history of yours,
Calming the dusts of sin for ever,
Rushing from the canals of wisdom,
Falling in to the whirl pool of life,
Dousing the fires of sorrow,
Living in my hearts as senses,
Be always victorious.

3
Vrayi vedhyam tripura hara madhyam thrinayanam,
Jata bharodharam chala dhoora gaharam mriga dharma
Mahadevam devam mayi sadhata bhavam pasu pathim,
Chidalambam sambham shiva mathi vidambam hridhi bhaje


I pray with all my heart,
Him who is known by the three Vedas,
Him who is pleasant to the mind,
Him who destroyed the three cities,
Him who is first among every thing,
Him who has all seeing three eyes,
Him who carries the weight of matted lock,
With eminence great,
Him who wears the moving snake as necklace,
Him who holds the jumping deer in his hand,
Him who is greatest among devas,
Him who shines with glitter,
Him who has mercy on me,
Him who is the lord of all beings,
Him who is the only support to holy wisdom,
Him who is always with my Goddess,
And Him who is a great entertainer.

4
Sahasram varthanthe jagathi vibhutha kshudra phalada
Na manye swapne vaa thadanusaranam that krutha phalam
Hari brahmadeenamapi nikata bhaja masulabham
Chiram yache shambho shiva thava padombhoja bhajanam


Thousands of Gods abound,
Offering trifling gifts to them who pray,
And never even in my dreams would I pray.
Or request gifts from them.
To Shiva who is close to Vishnu, Brahma and other Gods,
But who is difficult for them to near,
I would beseech and beg always,
For his lotus like feet.

5
Smruthou shasthre vaidhye shakuna kavitha gana phanithou
Puranee manthre vaa sthuthi natana hasyeshwa chatura
Kadham ragman preethirbhavathi mayi koo aham pasu pathe
Pasum maam sarvagna pradhitha kripaya palaya vibho


Ignoramus I am in the science of law,
In the science of life,
In the art of medicine,
In interpretation of events,
In the art of poems and song,
In the difficult tomes of arty grammer,
In the holy books of yore,
In the psalms of Vedas.
In singing about your great deeds,
In the art of dance and in art of comedy,
And so how can I get favour of Kings?
Oh Lord of all beings,
Oh all knowing one,
Of most famous one,
And Oh , all pervading one,
Tell me who am I?
And be pleased to protect me ,
Showering on me your sea of mercy.

6
Ghato vaa mrithir pando apyaraunubhi cha dhoomogni rachala
Pato vaa thanthurva pariharathi kim ghorasamanam
Vridha kantakshebham vahasi tharasa tharka vachasa
Padhambhojam shmbhor bhaja parama soukhyam vrijasudhi.


This is the pot, no, this is only mud,
This is the earth, no , it is only atom,
This is the smoke, no, it is only fire,
This is the cloth, no , it is only the thread,
Can all this debate ever cure the cruel God of death?
Vainly you give pain to your throat,
By these torrent of words,
Instead worship the lotus like feet of Shambu,
Oh , intelligent one, and attain supreme happiness.

7
Manasthe padhabjhe nivasathu vacha sthothra phanithou
Karou chabhyarchyam sruthirapi kadha karnana vidhou
Thava dhyane budhir nayana yugalam moorthi vibhave
Para grandhan kairvaa paramashiva janee para matha


Let the mind dwell on your two lotus like feet,
Let my words dwell on your praise,
Let my two hands dwell on your worship,
Let my ears dwell on hearing your holy stories,
Let my mind dwell meditating on you,
Let my two eyes dwell on your beauty,
And after this I do not find any use,
Of other great books to me, Oh supreme God?

8
Yadha bhuddhi ssakthou rajatha mithi kachasamani mani
Rjale paishte ksheeram bhavathi mrigthrishnasu sallam
Thadha deva branthya bhajathi bhavadanyam jada jano
Maha devesam twam manasi cha na mathwa pasupathe.


Similar to the intellect calling,
The shell as silver,
The stones of glass as precious gems,
Water mixed with flour as milk,
The mirage as water,
Oh God of all beings,
The foolish ones worship,
Other gods than you,
Without thinking of you,
Who is the greatest God of all.

9
Gabheeram kaasare vimsathi vijane ghora vapine,
Vishale shaile cha brahmathi kusumartha jada mathi
Samarpaikam chetha sarasijamumanatha bhavathe,
Sukhenawasthathum jana iha na janathi kimaho.


Searches and hunts the dim witted one,
In the deep dark lake,
In the lonely dangerous forest,
And in the broad high mountains
For a flower to worship thee.
It is a wonder,
That these people do not know,
To offer to you the single lotus,
From the lake of ones own mind,
Oh God who is the consort of Uma,
And be happy at ones own place.

10
Narathwam devasthvam naga vana mrugathwam masakhatha,
Pasuthwam keetathwam bhavathu vihagathwadi janananam
Sada twadpadabja smarana paramananda lahari.
Vihaarasaktham che dhugdhaya miha kim thena vapusha.


Be it in a human form,
Be it in the form of Gods,
Be it in the form of animal,
That wanders the forests and hills,
Be it in the form of mosquito,
Be it in the form of a domestic animal,
Be it in the form of a worm,
Be it in the form of flying birds,
Or be it in any form whatsoever,
If always the mind is engaged in play,
Of meditation in thine lotus like feet,
Which are the waves of supreme bliss,
Then what does it matter,
Whatever body we have.

11
Vaturva gehee va yathirapi jati va thadinari,
Naro vaa ya kaschid bhavathu bhava kim thena bhavathi
Yadeeyam hrith padmam bhavad adeenam pasu pathe,
Thadeeya stwam shambho bhavasi bhava bhaaram cha vahasi


Be it a celibate seeker of truth,
Be it a man of the family,
Be it a shaven headed seeker of truth,
Be it the matted haired householder in the forest,
Or be it one who is none of these,
Hey, Lord of all beings,
If his lotus heart is in your custody, Shambho,
You would wholly become his,
And help him to lift,
This heavy burden of life.

12
Guhayam gehe va bahiapi vane va adri shikaram,.
Jale va vahni va vasathu vasathe kim vada phalam,
Sada yasyai va antha karana mapi sambho thava pade
Sthitham chedyogosau sa cha parama yogi sa cha sukhi.


Be it in a cave, Be it in house,
Be it outside, Be it in a forest,
Be it in the top of a mountain,
Be it in water, Be it in fire,
Please tell, What does it matter,
Where he lives?
Always, if his inner mind,
Rests on the feet of Shambhu,
It is Yoga and He is the greatest Yogi
And he will be happy forever..

13
Asare samsare nija bhajana dhoore jada dhiya.
Bramantham mamandham parama kripaya pathu muchitham
Madanya ko dheena sthava kripana rakshaathi nipuna,
Sthvadanya ko va me trijagathi saranya pasu pathe.


In this useless worldly life,
Which is unfit for real meditation,
I the blind and foolish one am always on the move,
And it is only right for you to protect me.
Hey Lord of all beings,
Who in this world is poorer,
Than me to show your mercy?
And which protector is there for me,
In all these three worlds,
Than you, who is an ace in protection of the poor?

14
Prabhu sthvam dheenanam khalu parama bhandhu pasu pathe,
Pramukhyoham thesha mapi kimutha bhanduthva manoyo
Twayaiwa kshanthawyo sisava mdhaparadascha sakala
Prayathnath karthavyam madavana miyam bhandhu sarani.


Lord and the only close relation, of the poor,
You are, Oh Lord of all beings,
And what more needs there to tell about the relation between us
When I am the poorest among the poor.
You have to pardon all my sins,
And my protection is to be done by your effort,
For it is the only way between those who are related..

15
Upeksha no cheth kinna harasi bhavadh dhyana vimukham
Dhurasa booyishtam vidhi lipi masaktho yadi bhavath,
Shira sthadvai dhathram na nakhalu savrutham pasu pathe,
Kadam vaa niryathnam kara nakha mukhe naiva lulitham.

Indifferent you are my Lord,
For no effort did you put to wipe out,
The letters of fate written on my head,
Which makes me,
Incapable of meditation on you,
And filled with evil desires to the rim,
Oh Lord, If you claim you cannot change these letters,
How come you crushed the head of the creator,
Which is very stable and can never be plucked,
By the mere tip of your nails?

16
Virinchi dheergayushur bhavathu bhavatha that para sira
Schathushkam samrakshyam sa khalu bhuvi dhainyam likhitavan,
Vichara ko vaa maam vishdha kripaya paathi shivaa me,
Kataksha vyaapara swayamapi na dheenavaan para.


Long live Brahma the creator.
Let his four remaining heads,
Be under your charge for protection.
For was he not the one,
Who wrote poverty on my head?
Is there any need to worry about this?..
Oh , Lord who is crystal clear,
And Lord who is all that is good,
Your act of glancing which thirsts,
At protecting the poor,
Also tenderly protects me.

17
Phaladha punyanam mayi karunaya vaa twayi vibho,
Prasannepi swamin bhava damala padabja yugalam,
Kadham pasyeyam maam sthagayathi namarasambrama jusham
Nirlepanam sreni nija kanaka manikya makutai.


He who is omnipresent,
As of result of deeds which are good,
Or as a result of your mercy on me,
Oh Lord, You have appeared before me,
But how can I see your pure holy feet,
For they are not visible to me,
Because of the rubies studded crowns,
Of the crowds of Devas,
Who are intent on bowing and worshipping thine feet?

18
Twameko lokanam parama phalado divya padavim,
Vahantha stwanmulam punarapi bajanthe hari mukha,
Kiyadwa dhakshinyai twa shiva madhasaa cha kiyathi,
Kadha vaa mad raksham vahasi karunaa pooritha drisha.


You alone grant great blessings and holy status,
To the common people of the world,
But carrying the holy position,
Granted by thy kindness great,
Vishnu and others pray you always,
For getting more and more such positions great .
Your grace my Lord is immeasurable
And my desire too is immeasurable,
And so when are you taking up the job,
Of protecting me by your merciful glance?

19
Dhurasaa bhooyishte dhuradhipa gruhadwara ghatake,
Dhooranthe samsare dhuritha nilaye dhukka janake,
Madayasam kim na vyapanayathi kasyopa krithaye,
Vadeyam preethischeth tawa krithartha khalu vayam.


I am caught in the whirlpool of life,
Filled with desires that are evil,
Taking one to the door of evil masters,
That which always end in evil,
That which is store house of sins,
And that which always leads to sorrow.
Are you not giving solace from my mire of sorrow,
So that the letters written by Brahma are true,
Ne pleased to tell, my Lord.
If this is your grace and affection, Oh Lord,
We indeed are more than fulfilled.

20
Sadaa mohatavyam charathi yuvatheenam kucha girou,
Nata thyasha sakhasvatathi jhatithi swairamabhitha
Kapaalin bhiksho me hridaya kapi matyantha chapalam,
Dridam bhakthya bhaddha shiva bhavad dheenam kuru vibho.


Oh Lord Shiva, who is every where,
Wanders my mind always in the forest of evil desires,
It dances ,always on the mountain of breasts of young maids,
And it wanders at its will on all four directions,
From the branches to branches of desires,
Oh Lord who bears the skull for begging,
Be pleased to take under your control,
My mind that like a monkey,
Wanders without control in all directions,
And tie it with the rope of your affection.

21
Dhruthui sthambha daram drida guna nibhaddham sagamanam,
Vichitram padmadyam prathi divasa sanmarga gaditham,
Smarare macchetha sphuta patas kutim prapya vishuddham,
Jaya swamin shakthya saha shiva ganai samsevitha vibho.


Oh killer of the god of love,
With courage as central pillars,
Tied by the ropes of determination,
This pretty ,lotus shaped,
Mobile crystal clean white tent house of my mind,
Which is built daily anew,
In the good spotless path,
May please be occupied by you with Shakthi,
Oh All pervading one who is served by your Ganas,
And oh , Lord, may you be victorious.

22
Pralobhadyai rarthaharana para thanthro dhani gruhe,
Pravesadhya kthassan bramathi bahudha thaskarapathe,
Imam chetaschoram katha miha sahe sankara vibho,
Thavadeenam kruthva mayi niraparadhe kuru krupam.


Filled with avarice and jealousy,
Intent on stealing other’s wealth,
Trying to enter the houses of the rich,
This my mind in many ways is wandering,
Oh lord of all thieves.
How will I ever tolerate,
This mind which is a thief,
Sankara .who is every where?
So take it under your control,
And show mercy on this innocent one.

23
Karomi twapoojam sapadhi sukhadho me bhava vibho,
Vidhitwam Vishnutwam dhisasi khalu tasya phalamithi,
Punascha twam dhivi bhuvi vahan pakshi mrugatha
Madrushtwa tat khedam kada miha sahe Sankara Vibho.


Perform of I your worship,
And you appear before me soon,
And you become granter all pleasures to me ,
Oh Lord who is everywhere.
But if you grant the position of creator,
Or the position of Lord Vishnu instead,
As a reward for my worship,
Then I would have to become a bird and fly in the sky,
Or Become an animal and dig deep in the earth,
To see you again my Lord.
How can I bear this sorrow of not seeing you,
Oh Lord Sankara who is everywhere.

24
Kadha vaa kailase kanaka mani soudhe saha ganai,
Rvasan Shamboragre sphuta ghatitha moordhajali phuta
Vibho sambha swamin paramashiva paheethi nigadhana
Vidhaathrunam kalpan kshanamiva vineshyami sukhada,


When would I live in Mount Kailas,
Along with your attendants,
In the stone studded golden mansion of yours,
Oh God who is the giver of happiness
With hands raised and clasped,
In deference to you,
Oh Lord, who is every where,
Oh Lord Who is with Goddess,
Oh God who is the master,
Oh God who is above all,
Oh God who is good,
And chant with pleasure.
“Oh God save me”,
And spend the time,
As if the creators Kalpa[1] is a second.

25
Sthavai rbrahmadeenam jaya jaya vachobhi niryaminam,
Gananam kelibhir mada kala maksobhya kakudhi,
Sthitham neelagreevam trinayana mumamslishta vapusham,
Kadha twam pasyeyam kara drutha kkhanda prasum.


When will I see Him,
Who is praised by Brhama and other Gods,
Who is surrounded by ascetics chanting “Victory, Victory”,
Who is crowded by the jesting and playing attendants,
Who Sits on the hump of the fat rutting bull,
Who has blue neck and three eyes,
Who is embraced by his consort Uma,
And who has the deer and hatchet in his hand.

26
Kadha vaa drushtva gireesha thava bhavayangri yugalam,
Griheethva hasthabhyam shirasi nayane vakshasi vahan,
Samaslishya graya sphuta jalaja gandhan parimala,
Nalabhyam brhmadourmudha manu bavishyami hrudhaye.


When will I see thine holy pair of feet,
Oh king of the mountains,
And be able to hold it ,carry it on the head, eyes and chest,
Embrace it, smell the scent of lotus flowers from it,
And attain rapturous ecstacy,
Which even Brahma and others do not get.

27
Karasthe hemadrou Gireesha nikatasthe dhana pathou,
Gruhasthe sarvabujamara surabhi chinthamanir gane,
Shirasthe sheetamsau charana yugalsthe akhila shubha,
Kamartha dasyoham bhavathu bhavadarthe mama mana.


In your hands is the Golden mountain,
Near you is the Lord of Riches,
In your house is the wish giving tree,
The Cow which grants everything,
The precious stone fulfilling ,
Any wish that enters your mind,
And such many others,
On your head is the moon with cool rays,
And all the good in the world is always on your feet,
And so what can slave offer you my Lord,
Except my mind which can be given as the offering.

28
Saaroopyam thava poojana shiva maha devethi samkeerthane,
Saameepyam shiva bhakthi dhurya janatha sangathya sambhashane,
Saalokyam cha characharathmaka thanu dyane bhavani pathe,
Sayujyam mama siddha mathra bhavathi swamin kridharthosysmaham.


The Mukthi of my becoming you is in thine worship,
The Mukthi of my coming near you is in singing,
About you and calling you “Hey , Shiva” and “Hey Madhava”
The Mukthi of living with you is in sweet conversation,
With thine devotees , who in their mind live with you,
The Mukthi of forever mixing with you is in thinking,
For ever of your moving and stable form which is the universe,
And so I get all these in this birth itself,
Oh God who is the consort of Bhavani,
I am thankful to you for all these.

29
Twat padambuja marchayami paramam twam chintayamyaham
Twameesam saranam vrijami vachasa twameva yache Vibho,
Veeksham me disa chakshusheem sakarunam divyai schiram prarthitham
Shambho loka guro maddeya manasa soukyopadesam kuru.


I offer devotions to thine lotus like feet,
I meditate on thee who is the greatest,
I seek thy refuge, Oh my Lord,
And by my words I beg from you, Oh Vibhu,
To bless me with the merciful divine sight,
Which is always sought by the Gods,
Oh teacher of the universe,
Teach me the way of the lesson happy living.

30
VasthroDhutrutha Vidhou sahasrakaratha pushparchane Vishnutha,
Gandhe gandha vahatmathaanna pachane bahirmukadyakshatha,
Pathre kanchagarbhatasthi mayi Chedbalendu chudamane,
Sushrusham kara vani the pasupathe swamin triloki guro


Like Sun I do not have,
Thousand rayed hands to dress your holy icon,
Like Vishnu I do not have ability ,
To worship thee who is every where,
Like God of Wind ,I don’t have ability,
To spread incense of sandal and the like,
And serve you in the most better way,
Like Indra who presides over Fire, I don’t have the ability,
To cook and offer you food,
I don’t have the ability of Hiranya Grabha,
To offer you vessels of Gold,
Oh God, who wears the young crescent,
Oh God of all beings,
Oh God who is the Lord of us all,
And Oh God who is teacher of all the three worlds,
If only I had all these,
I would have ability to serve you in a better way.

31
Nalam va paramopakaraka midham tvevam pasoonam pathe,
Pasyan kukshigathan charachara ganan bahyastithan rakshithum,
Sarvamarthya palayanoushadha mathijwalakaram bheekaram,
Nikshiptham garalam na gilitham nodgeerna meva tvaya.


Oh lord of all beings,
Is not your one and only one great help sufficient?
For with a view to give protection,
To those beings which are movable and immovable,
And which are placed inside thine belly,
And also to those who are placed outside,
The ultra fire producing and fearful herbal poison,
Which makes all the devas flee in fright,
Has been stopped by you in your neck itself.
It is neither swallowed nor spit out!

32
Jwalogra ssakalamaraathi bhayada kshvela kadam vaa twaya,
Drushta kincha kare dhrutha karathale kim pakwa jambu phalam,
Jihwayam nihitascha siddha gutika vaa kanta dese bhrutha,
Kim the neela mani vibooshana mayam shambho mahatman vada.


How was the fierce flame like poison
Which made, all the courageous devas fear,
Seen by you , my Lord?
Was that fire carried in your hand,
Did it appear like the fully ripe plum fruit to you?
Was it not kept on your tongue,
Did it appear as pills from the Siddha doctor?
Was it not worn in your neck,
Did it appear like a blue gem ornament to you?
Oh , Shmabhu the great one , be pleased to tell.

33
Naalam vaa sakrudeva bhavatha sseva nathirva nuthi,
Pooja vaa smaranam kathasravana mapyaalokanam maadrusam,
Swaminnasthira devathanusranaayasena kim labhyathe,
Kaa vaa mukthi ritha kutho bhavathi chetha kim prarthaneeyam thada


Is it not sufficient oh, God of Gods,
For attaining liberation for people like me-,
To do either service to you, Salutations to you,
Singing about you, Worshipping you,
Meditating on you, hearing your stories,
Or seeing you once .
What other liberation is there at all?
If I can attain liberation by these,
What else should I wish for?
What would I get by getting tired,
By following other unstable gods?

34
Kim broomasthwa sahasam pasupathe kasyasthi Shanbho bhava-
Dairye chedasa –mathmana stithi –riyam chanyai kadaham labhyathe
Brasyaddeva ganam trasan muni ganam nasyat prapancham layam
Pasyan nirbhaya eka eva viharathyananda sandhro bhavan.


Who can ever estimate thine valour, Pasupathe?
Who has the courage that you have, Oh Shambhu?
How can any one else attain thine state of mind?
While all devas loose their stability,
While all the crowd of sages tremble,
When the world is destroyed.
At the end of all-the great deluge,
You in solitude , fearlessly carry on thine play,
In intense rapture and pleasure.

35
Yoga Kshema durandarasya sakalaashraya –pradodhyogini,
Drushta adrushta mathopadesha kruthino bayanthra vyapina,
Sarvagnasya dhatakarasya bhavatha kim vedhitavyam maya
Shmbho twam paramantharanga ithi me chitta smaramyanvaham.


Engaged in gathering and preservation,
And giving of all the good things in life,
Teacher great of the known and the unknown,
Who has spread within and without,
Knower of all that is to be known,
And doer of all possible mercies,
What is there for me to tell you?
I daily think in my mind,
That you are very close to my mind,
And you are doer of god to me. Oh Lord Shambhu.

36
Bhaktho bhakthi guna avruthai mudhamrutha purne prasanne mana,
Kumbhe Sambha twamgri pallava yugam samsdhapya sawith phalam
Sathvam manthra mudheeraya nnija sareeragara shuddhim vahan,
Punyaham prakati karomi ruchiram kalyanas mapaa dhayan.


Oh Lord , who is with your consort,
I who am the devotee,
Having tied the thread of devotion,
Filled with water of happiness,
In the pot of my mind which is golden clear,
Have kept the mango leaves of your feet,
And the coconut of real knowledge,
And chant the holy peaceful five lettered Manthra
And am purifying this body which carries my soul,
And am searching good things which are pleasant to the mind,
And thus performing this ceremony of purification..

37
Amnayambudhi madarena sumana ssangha ssamyan mano,
Mandhanaam druda bakthi rajju sahitham kruthva madithva thatha,
Somam kalpatharum suparva surabhim chintamanim dheematham,
Nithyananda sudham niranthara rama sowbhagya mathanvathe.


The crowd of good minded people,
Are churning the ocean of Vedas with dedication,
Using the rope of stable devotion ,
And the churning stick of the attentive mind,
And get from it , the Lord with Uma , his consort,
Who is like the wish giving tree,
Who is like the wish yielding Kamadhenu,
Who is like the wish yielding gem , Chintamani,
Who for the knowledgeable is like the stable nectar of happiness,
And permanent granter of all luck given by Rema.

38
Prak punya chala marga darshitha sudha murthy prasanna shiva,
Soma sad guna sevitho mruga dhara poorna sthamo mochaka,
Chetha pushkara lakshitho bhavathi chedananda pado nidhi,
Pragalbhyena vijrimbhitha sumanasam vrithistada jaayathe.


THIS SLOKA HAS TWO MEANINGS AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MEAN LORD SHIVA OR THE MOON IN THE SKY. BOTH ARE GIVEN BELOW

Obtained through the path of mountain like good deeds,
Personification of happiness and nectar divine
Doer of good, who holds deer in his hand,
Who is complete and who removes the darkness of ignorance,
Who is seen clearly by the mind and who is with his consort Uma,
If he is then,
Sea of happiness would raise royally within ourselves,
And Good people like us will know how to live.

Or

Seen through the holy mountain in the east,
Personification of clarity and white nectar,,
Doer of good who is served by the stars,
Who is full and who removes darkness of night,
Who is Soma the moon and who is seen in the sky
If he is then,
The sea would be raised by him royally,
And he would help the flowers to open.

39
Dharmo me chaduramdriga succharitha papam vinasam gatham,
Kama krodha madadhayo vigalitha kalaa suswawishkritha,
Gnananda mahoushadi suphalitha kaivalyanadhe sada,
Maanye manasa pundaeeka nagare raja vatamse sthithe.


Since the only emperor who is Lord Shiva,
Who is respected and royal,
Sits in the city of the lotus of mind,
The four legged Dharma[2] is well observed,
The Sins attain their last,
Passion anger and arrogance have gone away,
The seasons do only good,
And the royal curative crop of happiness and knowledge gives good yield.

40
Dhee yantrena vacho gatena, kavitha kuyo upa kulya kramai,
Raneethascha sadashivasya charitambhorasi divya amruthai.
Hrit kedara yuthascha bhakthi kalama saphalya mathanvathe,
Durbikshan mama sevakasya bhagavan viswesha bheethi krutha.


Irrigated using the machinery of wisdom,
Using the pot of words,
Brought through the canals and sub canal of poems,
The nectar like water of the story of Sadashiva,
Would make the crop of devotion growing in the field of heart,
Bloom.and give heavy yield.
And so god of gods who is the god of universe,
How can this servant of yours fear famine ever.

41
Papothpatha –vimochanaya ruchir aiswaryaya mrutyunjaya,
Stotra, dhyana nathi pradkshina, saparya alokana akarnane,
Jihwa, chittha, sirongri hastha nayana srothrairaham,
Mam agnapaya thannirupaya muhur mameva maa me avacha

To get released from the tragedy of sin,
And to taste the immortal wealth,
Oh Lord who has won over death,
The Tongue, mind, head, legs , hands, eyes and ears of mine,
Each request me respectively ,
To do thine praise, to meditate on you,
To bow before thy great self,
To go round and round you,
To see you soulfully and clearly,
And to hear thine praise and stories,
So please be kind to order me to do the above, Oh Lord,
And also again and again remind me to do these,
And please do not be mute with me for any reason.

42
Gambeerye pariswapadam dhanadruthi praakara uddhadguna,
Sthomaschaaptha balam dhanedriya chayo dwarani dehe stitha,
Vidhya vasthu samruddhi rithyakila samagri samethe sada,
Durgadhi priya deva mamaka mano durge nivasam kuru.


Oh Lord, who likes to live in an unapproachable fort[3],
With fathomless mind as its moat,
With strong determined courage as its walls,
With outstanding good qualities as its friendly army,
With the inlets of strong senses as its gates,
With immeasurable knowledge as its wealth,
And thus blessed with all that is needed,
Is the fort of my mind,
And so be pleased to live here forever.

43
Maa gacha twa mithasthatho Gireesa bho mayyeva vasam kuru,
Swamin adhikaratha mama kamana kanthara seemanthare,
Varthanthe bahuso mruga madha jusho matsarya mohadaya,
Sthan hathva mrugaya vinodha ruchita labham cha samprapsyasi.


Don’t go here and there, Oh God of mountains,
And please my lord always live in me,
For Oh primeval hunter, within the limits
Of the dreary forest of my mind,
Live many wild rutted animals like envy , delusion and others,
And you can kill and play thine sport of hunting,
And enjoy there yourself.

44
Kara Lagna Mruga Kareendra Bhango,
Gana Shardula vikkhandaosthu Janthu,
Giriso visadhakruthischa chetha Kuhare,
Pancha mukhosthi me kutho bhi


THIS SLOKA HAS TWO MEANINGS AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MEAN LORD SHIVA OR THE LION IN THE CAVE. BOTH ARE GIVEN BELOW

He who has the deer in his hand,
He who killed Gajasura,
He who cut cruel Vyagrasura in to pieces,
He who makes all beings to merge in Him,
He who is the lord of the mountains,
He who has a white body,
And he who has five faces,
Lives in the cave of my mind,
And how will fear ever come to me?

OR

The being that holds the deer in its hand,
The being that kills wild elephants,
The being that can kill the ferocious tiger,
The being that can kill all other beings,
The being that is the Lord of the mountains,
The being that has a bright body,
The being that is called Lion,
Lives in the cave of my mind,
And how will fear ever come to me?

45
Chandha shaki sikhanvidai dwija varai samsevithe saswathe,
Sowkhya padini kkheda bedhini sudha sarai phalai dhherpithe
Chtha pakshi sikha manr tyaja vridha sanchara manyai ralam
Nithyam sankara pada padma pugali neede viharam kuru


Hey mind , which is the greatest bird,
In the tree with parts of Vedas as branches,
With Upanishads as its crown,
Being served by learned Brahmins as birds,
Which is indestructible,
Which gives pleasure giving joy,
Which destroys sorrow,
Whose fruits give out nectar as its juice,
And that which shines for ever,
Exists the two lotus feet of Sankara as cage.
Live in there iand daily play,
And stop your wanderings forever.
Suffice this wanderings of yours.


46
Aakeerne nakha raji kaanthi vibhavai rudhyat sudha vaibhavai,
Radhouthepi cha padmaragha lalithe hamsa vrijairasrithe,
Nithyam bhakthi vadhoo ganaischa rahasi swecha viharam kuru
Sthithva manasa raja hamsa girija nathamgri soudhantharai.


Oh mind , the king of swans,
Live secretly along with damsels of devotion to God,
In the house of lotus feet of the Lord of Girija
Filled with the luster of rows of nails of the lord,
Glistening with glorious tides of nectar ,
Made pretty red by bright red rubies,
Surrounded by ascetics who are like swans,
And live as you like with peace.

47
Shambhu Dyana vasantha sangini hridayarame agajeernaschada,
Strastha bakthi lalataschchataa vilasitha pushpa pravalasritha,
Deepyanthe guna koraka japavacha pushpani sadvasana,
Gnananda sudha marantha lahari samvit phalabyunnathi.


In the season of spring of meditation on Shambhu,
In the garden of the heart,
The dried leaves of sin fall off,
The throng of creepers of devotion glow,
The leaf buds of good action appear,
The flower bud of good character,
The flowers of prayer,
The heavenly scent of good deeds,
The flow of honey like ambrosia of joy of knowledge,
And the fruit of knowledgeable experience glow.

48
Nithyananda rasalayam suramuni swanthambhu jathasrayam,
Swacham sad dwija sevitham kalupahrith sadvasana vishkrutham,
Shambhu dyana sarovaram vruja mano hamsaavathamsa sthiram,
Kim kshudralaya phalvala bramana sanjatha sramam prapsyasi.


Filled with water of perennial happiness,
Seat of the lotus like heart of sages and devas,
Clear and approached by the birds of good people,
That which removes the dirt of sins,
Which emits the smell of goodness,
And which is the lake of meditation of Shiva,
May be reached permanently by you,
Of mind which is the best of swans,
Why instead go and reach,
This small puddle of common world which is the resort of the mean,,
And suffer the strains of aimless travel.

49
Anandamrutha pooritha harapadambhoja lavalodhyatha,
Sthaiiryopagna mupethya bakthalathika sakhoupasakhonvitha,
Uchaiirmanasa kayamana patali makramya nishkalmasha,
Nithyabeeshta phalpradha bavathu me satkarma samvardhitha.


Irrigated by the water of joy which is like nectar,
And sprouted from the devotion to the lotus feet of Shiva,
This creeper of devotion would catch on the branches of the firm character,
And climb and spread on the high frame of mind
Which has branches and sub branches,
And grow luxuriantly with sinless actions and deeds of devotion,
And give me daily for ever the sweet fruit of salvation,
Which is sweet to the mind.

50
Sandharambha vijrumbitham shruthi shirasthananda raaadishtitham,
Saprema bramarabhirama masakruth sadvasana shobitham,
Bhogindrabharanam samastha sumana poojyam gunavshkrutham ,
Seve srigiri mallikarjuna mahalingam shivalingitham.


THIS SLOKA HAS TWO MEANINGS AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MEAN LORD SHIVA OR SWEET FLOWER OF JASMINE.BOTH ARE GIVEN BELOW

He who enjoys dancing in the evening.
He who lives in the Upanishads ,
Which are in the end of Vedas,
He who is very handsome,
Because he is deeply in love with Bramarambika,[4]
He who always has the scent of devotion of sages,
He who wears king of snakes as ornament,
He who is worshipped by all with good mind,
He who is known for his good qualities,
He who is in the embrace of Parvathy,
And He , the Mallikarjuna[5] who lives atop the Srigiri[6],
Would be served by me.

OR

That whose flower opens in the evenings,
That which is worn on the head over the ears,
That which is followed by sweet pretty bees,
That which for ever has sweet scent,
That which decorates the pleasure loving,
That which is rated the best among flowers,
That which glistens because of beauty and scent,
That which is liked by Goddess Parvathy,
And that which decorates the God Mallikarjuna,
Who lives atop Srigiri ,
Would be approached by me

51
Bhringischa natanothkata kari madha grahi sphuran madhava,
Hladho nadayutho mahasitha vapu pancheshuna chaddhadha,
Satpaksha sumano vaneshu sa puna sakshan madheeye mano,
Rajeeve bramaradhipo viharatham srishailavasi vibhu.


THIS SLOKA HAS TWO MEANINGS AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MEAN LORD SHIVA OR THE BEE. BOTH ARE GIVEN BELOW

May he who likes to dance,
As per the wish of sage Bhringi,
May he who tamed Gajasura,
May he whose joy increased,
On seeing Vishnu in Mohini form,
May he who is the holy sound,
May he whose mien is crystal white,
May he who was slaved by the arrow,
Of the God of love,
May he who is interested in saving good people,
May he who lives in the Sri Shaila mountain,
May he who is everywhere,
And may he who is the consort of Goddess Bramarambika,
Appear before me and play in the lotus of my mind.

OR

May that which likes to dance ,
As per the wish of the female bee,
May that which drinks the oozing rut from the elephant,
May that that whose joy increased,
On seeing the season of spring,
May that which makes sound,
May that with a jet black body,
May that which is like by the God of love,
May that which likes a flowering garden,
May that which likes to live in pretty mountain,
May that which can travel everywhere,
And may that holy male bee,
Appear and dance on seeing the lotus of my mind.

52
Karunyamritha varshinam ghanavishad greeshmachidha karmatam,
Vidhya sasya phalodayaya sumana samsevya miccha krithim,
Nrithyadbhaktha maadrinilayam chanchajjata mandalam,
Shambho vanchathi neelakandhara sada twam me manaschataka.


THIS SLOKA HAS TWO MEANINGS AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MEAN LORD SHIVA OR THE CLOUD. BOTH ARE GIVEN BELOW

Hey Shambho , Hey God who has blue neck,
Who showers the nectar like mercy,
Who wants to cure painful aches of the mind,
Which are like the trouble caused by heat in summer,
Who is served by the good,
Wishing for a heavy harvest of the plant of knowledge,
Who can take any form,
Who has devotees who dance like the peacock,
Who lives on mountains,
And who has the waving tuft of hair,
My mind which is the Chataka bird,
Desires for you always,

OR
Hey blue cloud , Hey harbinger of good,
Who showers the nectar like rain laced with mercy,
Who likes to cure the aches of hot summer,
Who is loved by the farmers,
Wishing for a heavy crop,
Who can assume any form,
Who has several peacocks dancing,
Who is stopped by the mountains,
And who has several waves of lightning,
My mind which is the Chataka bird,
Always desires for you.

53
Aakasena shikhi samastha phaninam nethra kalapi nathaa
Anugraahi pranavopadesa ninadai kekeethi yo geeyathe,
Syamam shaila samudbhavam ganaruchim drushtwa natantham mudha,
Vedanthopavane vihara rasikam tham neelakantam bhaje.


I serve and worship that Lord,
Who has the blue sky as the plume,
Who has thousands of eyes,
Like Adisesha who is the lord of snakes,
Who teaches Pranava to those who bow,
With blessings and wishes,
Who is sung about like the peacock,
Which sings “Ke” –“Ki”,
Who dances with joy,
On seeing cloud coloured Goddess Parvathy,
Who likes to play in the garden of Vedantha,
And who has a blue neck like the peacock.

54
Sandhya dharma dinatyayo harikara gatha prabhoo thanka,
Dhyano varidha garjitham divipadam drishticchatas chancnala,
Bhakthanam parithosha bhashpa vithathir vrishtir mayuri shiva,
Yasminnujwala thandavam vijayathe tham neelakantam bhaje


I pray the blue necked God who is like a peacock.
Whose glittering dance excels,
Done in the dusk in the end of summer,
With drum beats from the hands of Vishnu,
Like the thunder of the clouds,
With the shifting sights of Devas,
Like the bright changing lightning,
With the happy tears from eyes of devotees,
Like the rainfall from the sky,
And in front of Goddess Parvathy who is like the pea hen.

55
Aadhyayamithi tejase sruthipade vedhyaya sadhyaya the,
Vidhyananthamayathmane trijagatha ssamrakskshanod yogine,
Dhyeyakhila yogibhi ssuraganai mayavine,
Samyak thandava sambramaya jatine seyam nathissabhave.


To whom who is the first,
To whom who has great luster,
To whom who is known by the Vedas,
To whom who is possible to be known,
To whom who is of the form of knowledge and happiness,
To whom who is interested in saving the three worlds,
To whom who is meditated on by all Yogis,
To whom who is sung about by Devas,
To whom who keeps illusion with him,
To whom who is interested in vigorous dance,
To whom who has a matted lock,
And to whom who is personification of good,
Are my prostrations.

56
Nithyaya trigunatmane purajithe kathyayani sreyase
Sathyaadhi kudumbhine munimana pratyaksha chinmuthaye
Mayasrushta jagantrayaya sakalamnayantha sancharine
Sayam thandava sambramaya jatine seyam nathissambhave.


To whom who is forever,
To whom who is the soul of the holy trinity,
To whom who won over the three cities,
To whom who is the fame of Kathyayani,
To whom who is personification of truth,
To whom who was the first to have family,
To whom who appears before mind of sages,
To whom who created the three worlds by illusion,
To whom who is at the end of all Vedas,
To whom who enjoys dancing in the evening,
To whom who wears the matted lock,
To whom who is lord Shambhu.,
Are my prostrations.

57
Nithyam swodhara poshanaya sakalan uddhishya vithasaya,
Vyartham paryatanam karomi bavath sevam na jane Vibho,
Majjanmanthara pushyapaka balatha sthvam ssarva sarvanthara
Sththshtisyeva hi thena vaa pasupathe the rakshaniyoaasyaham.


Always For filling my stomach,
And desirous of becoming rich.
Many I have contacted,
And have traveled without aim,
But knew not service to you,
Oh all pervading one.
Oh, Lord of all beings,
Oh . Lord who wipes away sin of his devotees,
Because of the good that I did in my previous birth,
Knew I, that you are within all beings,
And so I become fit to be saved by you.

58
Eko varija bandhawa kshithi nabho vyaptham thamo mandalam,
Bithwa lochana gocharabhi bhavathi twam koti surya prabha,
Vedhya kinna bhavasyaho ghanatharam kee drug bhaven mathama,
Sthatsarva vyapaneeya me paupathe sakshat prasanno bhava.


The sun , the friend of the lotus,
Tearing the darkness pervading in sky and earth.
Becomes visible to the eye,
But you having the luster of billions of suns,
Are not known to me.
Alas! the darkness of ignorance,
Surrounding me must be very dense!
Oh , Lord of all beings,
Remove all that darkness,
And become really visible to me.

59
Hamsa padmavanam samichchathi yadha neelambhudham chataka,
Koka kokanadha priyam prathi dinam chandram chakorasthadha,
Chetho vanchathi mamakam pasupathe chinmarga mrugyam vibho,
Gowrinadha bhavath padabjha yugalam kaivalya soukhya pradam.


Oh Lord of all beings, Oh Consort of Goddess Gowri[7],
Oh all pervading one,
Just like the swan desires the cluster of lotus flowers,
Just like the Chataka[8] bird intensely longs for the blue dark cloud,
Just like the Chakravaka[9] bird longs for Sun, the Lord of lotus flowers,
And just like the Chakora[10] bird longs for the moon every day,
My mind longs for thine pair of lotus like feet,
Which can be searched only by path of knowledge,
And which bestows the bliss of emancipation.

60
Rodha sthoya hrutha sramena padhika sschaya, tharor vrishtitha,
Bheetha swastha gruham gruhasthamathithi deena prabhum dharmikam,
Dheepam santhamasaakulasscha shikhinam shheetha vruthastham thadha,
Chethassarva bhayapaham vruja sukham Shambho padambhoruham.


Just like the man dragged by flood longs for the bank,
Just like the tired traveler longs for the tree shade,
Just like the one who is afraid of rain longs for a pleasant home,
Just like the traveling guest longs for the sight of hospitable householder,
Just like the poor longs for the charitable rich,
Just like the one terrified by darkness longs for the light,
And just like one suffering from biting cold longs for the open fire,
Oh my mind, you long for the lotus feet of Shambhu.
Which removes all fears and phobias and gives pleasure.

61
Ankolam nija beeja santhathi rayaskkantho soochika,
Sadhvi naija vibhum latha kshithiruham sindhussaridvallabham,
Prapnothiha yadha thadha pasupathe padara sindhu dwaiyam,
Chetho vruthi roopethya thishtathi sada saa bhakthirithyuchyathe.


Like the real seed progeny reaches for the mother ankola tree,
Like the iron needle reaches for the load stone.
Like the chaste woman reaches for her lord,
Like the tender creeper reaches for near by trees,
Like the river reaches for the sea,
If the spirit of the mind,
Reaches for the lotus feet of Pasupathi,
And stays there always,
Then that state is called devotion.

62
Anandashrubhi ratha nethi pulakam nairmalyadha schadanam,
Vacha sankha mukhe sthidaischa jatara poorthi charithramruthai,
Rudrakshai rbhasithena deva vapusho raksham bavad bhavanaa paryankhe,
Vinivesya bakthi janani bhakthar bhakam rakshathi.


Oh Lord, the mother called devotion,
Bathes with tears of joy and feels enthralled,
Dresses she using the clean and pure mind,
Feeds and fills up the belly she with the nectar of your stories,
Found in words at the tip of the conch like vessel,
Protects she the body with Rudraksha and ash as amulets,
And takes care of the devotee child,
Placed in the cradle of Your memory.

63
Marga varthitha paduka pasupathe rangasya koorchayuthe,
Gandoo shampoo nishechanam pura ripo divyabhishekaa yathe,
Kinchid bhakshitha maams sesha kabalam navyopaharayathe,
Bhakthi kim karoth yaho vana charo bhaktha vatam sayathe.


The way faring sandals become the kusa crown of Pasupathi,
The gargled mouthful of water become the holy water of bath ,
To him who destroyed the three cities,
The just tasted pieces of the remaining meat ,
Become the holy offering to the Lord,
And wonder of wonders,the hunter who lives in the forest
Becomes the king of devotees.
What is there in this world that devotion to the Lord cannot do?

(
This sloka refers to the devotion shown by Kannappa a hunter devotee of Lord Shiva.In the forest he used to remove his sandals and place it on the top of the idol, bring water in his mouth to bathe the idol and offer to the lord the meat pieces which he found were tasty.)

64
Vakshasthadanamathanthakasya katinapasmara sammardhanam,
Bhoobrith paryatanam namasthsura shira koteera samgarshanam,
Karbhedam mrudalasya thavaka pada dwandasya gowripathe,
Machchetho mani paduka viharanam Shambho sadaam angikuru.


Hey , Consort of Gowri,
Your tiny tender pair of feet is engaged,
In kicking at the chest of God of Death,
In trampling over hard hearted Apasmara,
In traveling on the mountains,
And in being beside the crowns on the heads of Devas,
Who prostrate before you.
Oh, Lord Shambhu,
Always recognize and be pleased to wear,
The gem studded shoes of my mind and travel.

65
Vakshasthadana sankhaya vichalitho vaiwaswatho nirjara,
Kotirojjwala rathna deepa kalika neeranjanam kurvathe.
Drushtwa mukthi vadhu sthanothi nibhruthaslesham bavani pathe,
Yacchedasthava pada padma bhajanam thasyeha kim durlabham.


Nothing impossible is there to attain,
For him who sings about your holy feet,
Oh consort of Bhavani,
For the god of death runs away,
Afraid of the kick from the Lord’s feet,
The lights shining in those jeweled tiara,
Of all the devas shows the offering of the camphor light,
And the pretty bride called liberation,
Folds him in tight embrace,
As soon as she sees him.

66
Kreedartham srujami prapancha makhilam krredamruga sthe jana,
Yat karmacharitham maya cha bhavatha prethyai bhavatyeva that,
Shambho swasya kuthuhalasya karanam macheshtitham nischitham,
Tasmat mamaka rakshanam pasupathe karthavya meva twaya.


Oh bestower of happiness,
You create the world for your sport,
All the people there are but animal toys to you,
All that I do is for your pleasure,
And it is true that all my actions are instrument fine.
For the pleasure of your devotees,
So, Lord of All beings,
My protection should indeed be done by you.

67
Bahuvidha parithosha bashpa poora,
Sphuta pulakamkitha charu bhoga bhumim,
Chirapada phalakamkshi sevyamanam,
Parama sada shiva bhavanam prapadye.


I seek refuge in meditation on the eternal Sadashiva
Which is the pretty land that can grow,
Vivid types of joy, pleasure full copious tears,
And real innate thrills in life,
Which is also the eternal stable state,
And which is sought by people searching for fruits,

68
Amitha mudha amrutham muhoordhahanthim,
Vimala bhavadpada goshta mavasanthim,
Sadaya pasupathe supunya pakaam,
Mama paripalay bhakthi dhenu mkaam.


Oh, store house of mercy, Oh, Lord of all beings,
Please be kind enough to look after,
The cow of my devotion to you,
Which constantly yields the ambrosia of happiness,
Which lives in the stable of your feet,
And which is the result of great and good deeds.

69
Jadatha pasutha kalankitha,.
Kutila charathwam cha naasthi mayi deva,
Asthi yadi Raja moule,
Bavathabharanasya naasmi kim pathram.

Idiocy , irrationality , blemishes,
And crooked gait , I do not have., Oh Lord,
And if I had , Lord with moon as a crown,
Perhaps I would be suitable as an ornament to you

Or in more detail

Inanimate skin of the tiger,
The deer which is not rational,
The moon which is blemished,
The serpent which has a crooked gait,
Are all worn by you as ornament,
Oh Lord who wears the crown with moon,
And by misfortune, I do not posses,
Any quality such as this.
If but I had, I may perhaps be,
Suitable as your ornament.

70
Aarahasi rahasi swathanthra budhya,
Varivasithum sulabha prasannamurthim,
Aganitha phaladhayaka prabhur me,
Jagat adhiko hridhi raja sekaarosthi.


In public and in secret,
And with independent intellect,
You are suitable to be worshipped.
Oh Lord ,who is pinnacle of graciousness,
And oh my Lord ,who can grant countless blessings,
So more than the impermanent world,
You ,the lord with the moon,
Is always in my heart.

71
Aarooda bakthi guna kunchitha bhava chapaa,
Yukthai ssivasmarana bana ganai ramoghai,
Nirjithya kilbisha ripoon vijayi sudeendra,
Saananda mavahathi susthira rajalakshmim.

With the bow string of peak devotion,
With the bow of meditation,
With memory of Shiva as the collection of arrows,
Which never gets depleted,
The best among the intellects,
Becomes victorious after winning,
Over the enemies called sin,
And attains the stable kingdom of heaven.

72
Dhyananjanena samavekshya thama pradesham,
Bithwa maha balibhi reeswara nama manthrai,
Divyasritham bujaga bhooshana mudhvahanthi,
Ye padapadma miha thee shiva thee krithartha.


Having located with the magic collyrium of meditation,
Having thrown light and destroyed darkness,
Using the chanting of the name of the Lord,
If any one can bring to the top,
Your lotus feet with serpentine ornaments,
Which is worshipped by devas by the great sacrifice,
Of repetition of your great story,
They attain the meaning of life.

73
Bhootharatha mudha vahad apekshaya sri,
Bhoodara eva kimatha sumathe labhasva,
Kedara makalitha mukthi mahoushadeenam,
Padaravinda bhajanam parameshwarasya.


Oh good mind of mine,
Do the chanting of the names,
Of the lotus feet of the God of universe,
In search of which even lord Vishnu,
Who has Lakshmi and Goddess Earth as consorts,
Took the form of a wild boar,
And which is the fertile land,
In which the panacea giving salvation from life grows.
What else great can you attain in this world?

74
Aasa pasa klesa dur vasanaadhi,
Bhedho dyukthi divya gandhai ramandhai.
Aasa saatikasya paadara vindam,
Chetha petim vaasitham me tanothu.

Engaged in removing by the ceaseless divine smell,
The desire, bondage, suffering and bad conduct within us,
Is the lotus feet of Him who wears the ether as garment,
And so let the box of my mind may be bestowed with divine fragrance.

75
Kalyaninam sarasa chithra gathim savegam,
Sarveingithagna managam dhruva lakashanadyam,
Chethosthuraga madhi roodya chara smarare,
Natha samastha jagatham vrushabahdhi rooda..


Oh enemy of the cupid,
Oh leader of the universe,
Oh God who travels on a bull,
Please mount and travel,
My mind which is a horse,
Which is auspicious,
Which has varied charming gaits,
Which moves with speed,
Which is skilled in knowing gestures of others,
Which does not have blemishes,
And which has auspicious looks.

76
Bhakthir mahesa pada pushkara mavasanthi,
Kadambiniva kuruthe parithosha varsham,
Sampooritho bavathi sasya manas thataka,
Sthajjanma sasya makhilam saphalam cha nanyam.

The devotion to the great lord,
Lives in the sky of the Lord’s feet,
And like clusters of clouds gives out the sweet rain,
And those whose lake of the mind,
Gets filled up by this rain,
The crop of his whole life,
Becomes greatly profitable.
How else could it be?

77
Buddhi sthira bhavithu meeswarapada padma,
Sakthaa vadur virahaneeya sada smaranthi,
Sadbhavana smarana darshana keerthanadi,
Sammohitheva shiva mantra japena vinthe.

My mind to get fixed on the lotus feet of the Lord,
Resembles the sweetheart separated from her lover,
And always remembers, has sweet dreams,
Recollects of early meetings and sings about it,
And in similar fashion chants the names of Lord Shiva,
In a trance and gets worried.

78
Sadupachara vidish vanubodhitham,
Savinayam suhrudham sadupashritham,
Mama samuddhara buddhi mimama prabho,
Varagunena navoda vadhoomiva.


Teach me the etiquette of serving the great,
With devotion, with clean mind and with attachment to the good,
And exalt my intellect, Oh, my Lord,
Like the noble groom leads his new bride.

79
Nithyam yogi mana ssaroja dhala samchara kshama stvath krama,
Ssambho thena kadhe katora yamarang vaksha kavata kshathi.
Atyantham mrudulam twadamgriyugalam haa me manaschintaya,
Tyethllochana gocharam kuru vibho hasthena samvahaye.


Daily used to move in soft lotus petalled mind of Yogis,
Oh Lord who is bestower of happiness,
How did it wound, the hard doors of the chest of God of death,
My mind is worried about your pair of feet that are tender and soft,
Oh God who is everywhere,
Make them visible to my eye,
And I will gently massage it with my hands.

80
Eshyathyesha janim mano asya katinam tasmin nata neethi ma,
Drakshayai giri somni komalapada nyasa purabhyasitha,
Noched divya gruhanthareshu sumana sthaleshu vedyadishu,
Prayassathsu shila thaleshu natanam sambho kimartham Thava.


This one will be born, his mind is hard,
And I have to dance on it.
So thinking my lord ,
To save me ,you walked with your tender soft feet,
On hard surfaced mountains,
During yore and practiced and learnt.
If it is not so instead of walking,
In divine homes, beds of flowers,
And well laid out paths.,
You danced on rocky surfaces.
Is it the meaning of that, Oh Shambhu?

81
Kanchit kala muma mahesa bhavatha padaravindarchanai,
Kanchi dyana samadhibischa nathibni kanchit kadha karnanai,
Kanchit kanchit vekshanaischa nuthibhi kanchid dasa meedrisim,
Ya prapnodhi mudha twasarpitha manaa jivan sa muktha khalu.


Hey , Lord who is with his consort Uma,
He who can spend some time
For worshipping your lotus feet,
For doing meditation and mixing with you,
For saluting you,
For hearing your holy stories,
For being in your prescence,
For singing your fame,
And being happy with his mind offered to you,
Attains salvation even when he is alive.

82
Banasthwam , vrishabhastwam Ardha vapusha baryatwam,
Gonithwam sakkhitha mridhangavahatha chetyadhiroopam dhadhow,
Twat pade nayanarpanam cha kruthavan twad deha bhago hari,
Poojyat poojyatharasya eva hi na chet ko vaa tadanyo adhika.


Oh Lord of Arya[11],
The lord Vishnu became your arrow[12] and bull[13],
Occupied half your body,
Became transformed to be your wife,
Occupying half your body
Became a boar to search for you,
Became your lady friend to serve the nectar,
Became the player of drum while you danced,
And offered his eye in worship at your feet,
He also took half the share of your body as Harihara,
And so he becomes eminently suitable for worship,
For who else is there greater than him.

83
Janana mruthi yuthanaam devathanaam,
Na bhavathi sukha lesa samsayo nasthi.
Ajani mamrutha roopam sambhameesam bhajanthe,
Ya eha paramasoukhyam the hi dhanya labhanthe.


There is no doubt that worship of mortal gods
Subject to birth and death will ever give even little happiness,
Worship of birthless Lord with Amba, who has deathless body,
Leads to supreme pleasure and those who do are blessed.

84
Shiva thava paricharyaa sannidhanaaya gowrya,
Bhava mama guna dhurya budhi kanyam pradhaasthe,
Saka;a bhuvana bhandho sachidanana sindho,
Sadya hrudaya gehe sarvada samvasa twam.


Oh , Lord Shiva who rules all the world,
And who is the friend of all the world,
Oh Lord who is ocean of bliss,
Oh store house of mercy,
To serve you besides your consort Gowri,
I am presenting you the maid of my intellect,
Who has all good qualities,
With a request to you.
To live in the house of my mind.

85
Jaladhi madhna daksho naiva patala bhedi.
Na cha mrigayayam naïve lubdha praveena,
Asana kusuma bhoosha vastra mukhyam saparya,
Kadhaya Kadamaham Kalpaya mindu moule.


Ignorant I am , as to how to churn the ocean,
Incapable I am of digging and going to Patala[14] ,
Nor am I a skilled hunter of wild animals,
So how will I ever arrange your worship,Lord who wears the moon,
With food[15] , ornament[16] and cloths[17] that you like.

86
Pooja dravya samruddhayo virachitha poojam kadam kurmahe,
Pakshitwam na cha vaa kitithwa mapi na praptham maya dhurlabham,
Jane masthaka mangri pallavam mumajane na theham vibho,
Na gnatham pithamahena harina tatwena that roopina.


Oh Consort of Uma,
Oh Lord who is everywhere,
Heaps of material for thine worship is ready,
But how will I ever worship thee?
Neither I can become a swan nor a boar,
And how will I ever find your crown and your tender feet,
When even Brahma and Vishnu who took those forms ,
Could not ever know about them.

87
Asanam garalam phani kalapo,
Vasanam charma cha vahanam Mahoksha,
Mama dasyami kim kimasthi shambho,
Thava padambhuja bhakthimeva dehi.


Oh Lord Shambhu, Your food is poison[18],
Your ornaments are the snakes,
Your clothes are thick hides,
And your vehicle is the big , majestic bull.
What are you ever going to offer me,
That I need out of these?
What else have you got?
Please give me only devotion,
To your lotus like feet.

88
Yadha krithambhonidhi sethu bandhana,
Karasthaladha drutha parvatha adhipa,
Bhavani the langitha padma sambhava,
Thada shivarcha sthava bhavanaa kshama.


How will I ever worship thee lord.
For I have not built the bridge across the sea[19],
I have not subdued the king of the mountain[20],
By palm of my hands,
And I am nor born out of lotus from the belly of Lord Vishn[21]u,
If I ever do or attain these,
Then I would become capable,
Of offering flowers, singing your praise and meditating on you.

89
Nathibhir nuthibhir stva meesa pooja,
Vidhibhir dhyana samadhibhir na thushta,
Dhanusha musalena chasmabhir vaa,
Vada they preethikaram thadha karomi.


Hey, Lord, who rules over the universe,
You seem to become more pleased,
With bow or with pestle or with stones[22].
Than with prostrations or singing of your praise or worship,
Or meditation or Samadhi[23]
Please tell me which you like most,
And I will do the same.

90
Vachasa charitham vadami Shambho,
Raha mudyoga vidhasu thee aprasaktha,
Manasa ruthi meeswarasya seve,
Shirasa chaiva sadashivam namammi.


By words I would sing your story, Oh, Lord Shambhu.
Because I am unsuited for the hard methods of Yoga,
And I would worship thee with my mind, oh , Easwara,
And also I would bow before you with my head, Oh Sadashiva..

91
Adhya avidhya hridgatha nirgathasid,
Vidhya hrudhya hrudgatha twat prasadath,
Seve nithyam srikaram twatpadambujam,
Bhave mukther bhajanam raja moule.


He who shines with the moon in his crown,
The primeval ignorance that used to live in my heart ,
From the beginning of time has disappeared by your grace.
And that knowledge which solves problems is living there.
And so I meditate on your lotus feet,
Which gives only good and grants salvation.

92
Dhoorikruthani durithani dhuraksharani,
Daurbhagya dhukka dhurahamkruthi durvachamsi,
Saaram twadeeya charitham nidharaam pibantham,
Gowrisha mamiha samuddhara satkadaksha.


Bad events, bad fate, bad luck, sorrow,
Bad egotism and bad words,
Have been driven away from me.
And uplift me ,who has been constantly drinking,
The tasty stories of yours,
Oh Lord of Uma with your looks of blessing.

93
Soma kaladhara moulou,
Komala Ghana khandhara maha mahasi,
Swamini girijanathe,
Mamaka hrudhayam nirantharam ramatham.

Oh Lord who wears the crescent of the moon,
Oh Lord, who has a neck with the colour of black cloud,
Oh Lord , who is the brightest light,
Oh Lord, who owns every thing,
Oh Lord, who is the consort of Girija,
Let my heart be delighted without break.

94
Saa rasana , thee nayane, thaveva karou ,sa eva kritha kruthya,
Ysa ye you yoo bharge vadathikshethe sadarchitha smarathi..


That which speaks of Lord Shiva , is the tongue,
That which see Him, are the eyes,
That which worship Him , are the hands,
And he who always remembers him, is the fulfilled man.

95
Athi mrudulou mama charana vathi katinam thee mano Bhavaneesa,
Ithi vichikitsam santhyaja katha masseed girou thadha pravesa.


Leave off such doubts Oh Lord of Bhavani, like,
“My feet are tender and your mind is hard”
For if that were so, how did you enter and live in the mountains hard ?

96
Dhairyankusena nibhrutham,
Rabhasa thakkrushya bhakthi srungalam,
Purahara charanalaane,
Hrudhya madhebham bhadhana chid yanthrai.


Oh Lord who destroyed the three cities,
Control the rutting elephant of my mind,
With the goad of courage,
Pull it strongly with the chain of devotion,
And tie it with the fetter of intellect ,
To the post of your holy feet.

97
Pracharathyabhitha pragalbha vruthya,
Madhavanesha mana karee gariyaan,
Parigruhya nayeena bhakthi rajjwa,
Parama sthanupadam drudam nayamum.


This big rutted elephant of my mind,
Wanders uncontrollably everywhere,
Oh Lord tie it with tact with the rope of devotion,
Hold it well and lead it to the ultimate stable state

98
Sarvalankara yuktham saralapadayutham sadhu vruttam suvarnam,
Sadbhi samasthuyamanam sarasa gunayutham lakshitham lakshanadyam,
Udyad bhoosha visesha mupa gatha vinayam dyotha manarth rekham,
Kalyanim deva gowri –priya mama kavitha kanyakam twam gruhana.


THIS SLOKA HAS TWO MEANINGS AND COULD BE TAKEN TO MEAN QUALITIES OF A GIRL ATTRIBUTED TO THE POEM OR QUALITIES OF A POEM ATTRIBUTED TO THE GIRL.

Qualities of a girl

Oh Lord, darling of Goddess Gowri,
Please accept and marry my poem, which is like a girl,
Who is well made up and ornamented,
Who has a pretty lovable gait,
Who is of very good character,
Who is or pretty attractive colour,
Who is being praised by all good people,
Who has sweet pleasant behavior,
Who is model among girls,
Who possess all ideals,
Who wears glittering ornaments,
Who behaves with decorum,
Who has the line of wealth in her palms,
And who is store house of all that is good.

Qualities of a poem

Oh Lord, darling of Goddess Gowri,
Please accept and marry my poem maid,
Which has good figures of speech,
Which is made up of simple lovable words,
Which has musical meter,
Which shines in well chosen letters,
Which is being praised by intellectuals,
Which has all good qualities,
Which aims at propagating devotion,
Which is a model poem,
Which has attractive phrases,
Which sounds soft and sweet,
Which has glittering and attractive import,
And which grants good to all

99
Idam the yuktham parama shiva karunya jaladhe,
Gathou thiryak roopam thava pada-shiro darshana dhiya,
Haribrahmanou thou divi bhuvi charanthou sramayuthou,
Kadam shambho sawamin kadhaya mama vedhyosi puratha.


Is it proper for you my Lord who is the ocean of mercy?
That while Lord Vishnu and Brahma took the forms of boar and bird,
With intention of seeing your head and feet,
Searched in vain the earth and sky,
Toiled and got tired but did not succeed.
You appeared and made yourself known before me easily,
Oh granter of all that is good, Oh my Lord.

100
Stothrenala maham pravachmi na mrusha deva virinchadaya,
Sthutyanam gananaprasanga samaye twam agra ganyam vidhoo.
Mahatmyagra vichaarana prakarane dhanathushasthomavath,
Dhoothaas twam vidhuruthhamotham phalam shambho bavat sevaka.

Oh Shambhu, all this praise I feel is enough,
Though I never wrote anything that is false.
When Lord Brahma and other Gods,
List all the great Gods,
They always put you as first.
And when your devotees search for the greatest God,
The other gods are moved away like the chaff from the grain,
And you are reckoned as the best among best of all grains.

Ithi Sree Paramahamsa pari vrujacharya Srimat Sankaracharya virachitha
Shivananda lahari Samaptham.


Thus ends Shivananda Lahari written by Sri Sankaracharya the Paramahamsa and Parvrijacharya.


[1] 432 Million years
[2] Dharma-righteousness
Its four legs are penance, cleanliness, mercy and truth.
[3] Can also be translated as “Oh Lord , who is very much loved by Goddess Durga”
[4] Paravathi whose scented hair is followed by bees.
[5] Name of Shiva meaning white Jasmine God
[6] A holy mountain temple in Andhra Pradesh
[7] another name of Parvathi
[8] Bird which only drinks rain water directly
[9] The bird of paradise
[10] The bird which only eats moon light
[11] Lady indicates consort of Shiva
[12] Became an arrow to destroy the three cities
[13] He is Nandi the bull on whom Shiva rides
[14] The world underneath.
[15] Poison obtained by churning of ocean,
[16]Serpants from Patala
[17] Tiger and elephant hides.
[18] See foot note to sloka no. 85
[19] Like Lord Rama
[20] Like sage Agasthya
[21] Like God Brahma
[22] Like Arjuna who sent arrows and pestle at him or Sakhya who used to throw stones at him.
[23] A deep meditation state when you forget yourself completely and become only him.

Soundarya Lahari

By Adi Sankaracharya, Translated bY P. R. Ramachander


Introduction

Soundarya Lahari meaning waves of beauty consists of two parts viz. Ananda Lahari meaning waves of happiness (first 41 stanzas) and Soundarya Lahari (the next 59 stanzas). It is believed that Lord Ganesha himself has etched the Ananda Lahari on Mount Meru (Some people believe that Sage Pushpa Dhantha did the etching). It was read from there by Sage Goudapada who taught it to Adi Sankara. Adi Sankara himself added the rest of the 59 stanzas and completed it.

These 100 stanzas are supposed to be the foremost among Mantra literature. It is also believed that by Making suitable Yantras and reciting particular stanzas and worshipping the yantras almost anything can be obtained in the world .There are more thn 36 commentaries to Soundarya Lahari written in Sanskrit itself. Of them the most famous is that written by Lakshmi Dhara alias Lalla, His commentary is used to understand the meaning of the different verses. Though there are large number of translations and commentaries of Soundarya Lahari available this is perhaps the first time an attempt is made by a mere novice to translate them in to English verse. The aim is to bring to the notice of the devotes who know English better than other languages , the majesty of the medium of worship called Soundarya Lahari. A transliteration in roman script is also given. May all those who read this be drenched forever by this “Wave of happiness”

Part I - Ananda Lahari (The waves of happiness)*


1
Shivah shakthya yukto yadi bhavati shaktah prabhavitum
Na chedevam devo na khalu kusalah spanditumapi;
Atas tvam aradhyam Hari-Hara-Virinchadibhir api
Pranantum stotum vaa katham akrta-punyah prabhavati


Lord Shiva, only becomes able.
To do creation in this world along with Shakthi
Without her, Even an inch he cannot move,
And so how can, one who does not do good deeds,
Or one who does not sing your praise,
Become adequate to worship you
Oh , goddess mine, Who is worshipped by the trinity.

2
(Attracting all the world)&
Taniyamsam pamsum tava carana-pankeruha-bhavam
Virincih sanchinvan virachayati lokan avikalam;
Vahaty evam Shaurih katham api sahasrena shirasaam
Harah samksudy'ainam bhajati bhajati bhasito'ddhalama-vidhim.

Lord Brahma ,the creator of yore,
Selects a dust from your feet,
And creates he this world,
The great Adisesha* with his thousand heads,
Some how carries a dust of your feet,
With effort great,
And the great Lord Rudra,
Takes it and powders it nice,
And uses it as the holy ash.

3
(Attainment of all knowledge)
Avidyanam antas-timira-mihira-dweeppa-nagari
Jadanam chaitanya-stabaka-makaranda-sruti jhari
Daridranam cinta-mani-gunanika janma-jaladhau
Nimadhanam damshtra mura-ripu-varahasya bhavati.


The dust under your feet, Oh Goddess great,
Is like the city of the rising sun,
That removes all darkness , unfortunate,
From the mind of the poor ignorant one,
Is like the honey that flows ,
From the flower bunch of vital action,
To the slow witted one,
Is like the heap of wish giving gems,
To the poorest of men,
And is like the teeth of Lord Vishnu
In the form of Varaha,
Who brought to surface,
The mother earth,
To those drowned in this sea of birth.

4
(Removal of all fears, Curing of diseases)
Tvad anyah paanibhyam abhaya-varado daivataganah
Tvam eka n'aivasi prakatita-var'abhityabhinaya;
Bhayat tratum datum phalam api cha vancha samadhikam
Saranye lokanam tava hi charanaveva nipunav..


Oh, She who is refuge to all this world,
All gods except you mother,
Give refuge and grants wishes,
Only by their hand.
But only you mother
Never show the world in detail,
The boons and refuge that you can give,
For even your holy feet will suffice,
To remove fear for ever,
And grant boons much more than asked.

5
(Mutual attraction between male and female)
Haris tvam aradhya pranata-jana-saubhagya-jananim
Pura nari bhutva Pura-ripum api ksobham anayat;
Smaro'pi tvam natva rati-nayana-lehyena vapusha
Muninam apyantah prabhavati hi mohaya mahatam.


You who grant all the good things,
To those who bow at your feet,
Was worshipped by the Lord Vishnu,
Who took the pretty lovable feminine form,
And could move the mind of he who burnt the cities,
And make him fall in love with him.
And the God of love , Manmatha,
Took the form which is like nectar,
Drunk by the eyes by Rathi his wife,
After venerating you,
Was able to create passion ,
Even in the mind of Sages the great.

6
(Getting sons as progeny)
Dhanun paushpam maurvi madhu-kara-mayi pancha visikha
Vasantaha samanto Malaya-marud ayodhana-rathah;
Tatha'py ekah sarvam Himagiri-suthe kam api kripaam
Apangat te labdhva jagadidam Anango vijayate


Oh ,daughter of the mountain of ice,
With a bow made of flowers,
Bow string made of honey bees,
Five arrows made of only tender flowers,
With spring as his minister,
And riding on the chariot of breeze from Malaya mountains
The god of love who does not have a body,
Gets the sideways glance of your holy eyes,
And is able to win all the world alone.

7
(Seeing the Goddess in person, Winning over enemies)
Kvanat-kanchi-dama kari-kalabha-kumbha-stana-nata
Pariksheena madhye parinata-sarachandra-vadana;
Dhanur banan pasam srinim api dadhana karatalaii
Purastad astam noh Pura-mathitur aho-purushika.


With a golden belt,
Adorned by tiny tingling bells,
Slightly bent by breasts like the two frontal globes
Of an elephant fine,
With a thin pretty form,
And with a face like the autumn moon,
Holding in her hands,
A bow of sugar cane , arrows made of flowers,
And the noose and goad,
She who has the wonderful form,
Of the ego of the God who burnt the three cities,
Should please come and appear before us.

8
(Avoiding of birth and death)
Sudha-sindhor madhye sura-vitapi-vati parivrte
Mani-dweepe nipo'pavana-vathi chintamani-grhe;
Shivaakare manche Parama-Shiva-paryanka-nilayam
Bhajanti tvam dhanyah katichana chid-ananda-laharim.


In the middle of the sea of nectar,
In the isle of precious gems,
Which is surrounded by wish giving Kalpaga trees,
In the garden Kadamba trees,
In the house of the gem of thought,
On the all holy seat of the lap of the great God Shiva,
Sits she who is like a tide
In the sea of happiness of ultimate truth,
And is worshipped by only by few select holy men.

9
(For return of people who have gone on journey,
For getting eight types of wealth)
Mahim muladhare kamapi manipure huthavaham
Sthitham svadhistane hridi marutamakasam upari;
Mano'pi bhruu-madhye sakalamapi bhittva kula-patham
Sahasrare padme saha rahasi patyaa viharase.


Oh Goddess mine,
You live in seclusion with your consort,
In the lotus with thousand petals,
Reached after breaking through the micro ways,
Of the power of earth in Mooladhara,
Of the power of water of Mani poora,
Of the power of fire of Swadhishtana,
Of the fire of air in the heart,
And of the power of ether in between the eyelids*

· 
The Devotees who use Raja yoga believe that right below the back bone there exists a very micro nerve called Sushmna. Below this is the mooladhara chakra(The wheel which is the ultimate basis),and two inches above is the Swadishtana (ego wishes wheel) chakra and above that and opposite to the belly button is mani pooraka(the complete gem wheel) chakra and above that opposite to the heart is Anahatha chakra(deathless wheel) and above that opposite to the throat is the Vishuddhi chaka(wheel of ultimate cleanliness) and above that in between the eyelids is the Agna chakra(Wheel of order ) and in the bottom of the brain is the Sahasrara chakra(the wheel of thousand lotus),They belive that the malefic bad thoughts of men sleeps in the mooladhara chakra in the form of a snake called Kundalini..If the devotee can wake up this snake and lead it through each of the above wheels, step by step and make it reach the Sahasrara, he attains ultimate redemption and sees the ultimate truth behind everything.

10
(Getting a strong body, virility)
Sudha-dhara-sarais carana-yugalanta vigalitaih
Prapancham sinchanti punarapi ras'amnaya-mahasah;
Avapya svam bhumim bhujaga-nibham adhyusta-valayam
Svam atmanam krtva svapishi kulakunde kuharini


Using the nectar that flows in between your feet,
To drench all the nerves of the body,
And descending from the moon with nectar like rays,
Reaching back to your place,
And coiling your body in to a ring like serpant,
You sleep in the Kula Kunda* with a hole in the middle.

11
(Good progeny, Getting a meaning for life)
Chaturbhih shri-kantaih shiva-yuvatibhih panchabhir api
Prabhinnabhih sambhor navabhir api mula-prakrthibhih;
Chatus-chatvarimsad vasu-dala-kalasra-trivalaya-
Tri-rekhabhih sardham tava sarana-konah parinatah


With four wheels of our Lord Shiva,
And with five different wheels of you, my mother,
Which are the real basis of this world,
Your house of the holy wheel,
Has four different parts,
Of eight and sixteen petals,
Three different circles,
And three different lines,
Making a total of forty four angles*.

12
(To attain Lord Shiva, To make a dumb man speak)
Tvadiyam saundaryam Tuhina-giri-kanye tulayitum
Kavindrah kalpante katham api Virinchi-prabhrutayah;
Yadaloka'utsukyad amara-lalana yanti manasa
Tapobhir dus-prapam api girisa-sayujya-padavim.


Oh, daughter of ice mountain,
Even the creator who leads ,
An array of great poets,
Fails to describe your sublime beauty.
The heavenly maidens pretty,
With a wish to see your pristine loveliness,
Try to see you through the eyes your Lord , the great Shiva,
And do penance to him and reach him through their mind.

13
(Victory in the matters of love)
Naram varshiyamsam nayana virasam narmasu jadam,
Thava panga loke pathitha manudhavanthi sathasa
Gala dweni bhandha kuch kalasa visthrutha sichaya
Hatath thrudyath kanchyho vigalidha dhukoola yuva thaya.


With disheveled hair,
With upper cloths slipping from their busts,
With the lock of the golden belt getting open due to the haste,
And with saris slipping away from their shoulders,
Hundreds of young lasses,
Run after the men,
Who get your sidelong glance,
Even though they are very old,
Bad looking and not interested in love sports.

14
(Avoiding famine, dacoity and epidemic)
Ksitau sat-panchasad dvi-samadhika-panchasadudake
Hutase dva-sastis chatur-adhika-panchasad anile;
Divi dvih-shatrimsan manasi cha chatuh-sashtir iti ye
Mayukhastesham athyupari tava padambuja yugam.


Your two holy feet are far above,
The fifty six rays of the essence of earth of Mooladhara,
The fifty two rays of the essence of water of Mani pooraka,
The sixty two rays of the essence of fire of Swadhishtana,
The fifty four rays of the essence of air of Anahatha,
The seventy two rays of the essence of ether of Visuddhi,
And the sixty four rays of the essence of mind of Agna chakra.

15
(Ability to write poems and ability to become scholar)
Saraj-jyotsna-shuddham sasi-yuta-jata-juta-makutam
Vara-traasa-traana-sphatika-ghutika-pustaka karaam;
Sakrn na thva nathva katham iva sathaam sannidadhate
Madhu-kshira-drakhsa-madhurima-dhurinah phanitayah.


Sweetest words rivaling the honey, milk and grapes,
Can only Come to the thoughts of the devotee,
Who once meditates on your face,
Which is like the white autumn moon,
On your head with a crown with the crescent moon and flowing hair,
And hands that shower boons and give protection,
Which hold the crystal chain of beads and books.

16
(Mastery of Vedas)
Kavindranam chetah-kamala-vana-baal'atapa-ruchim
Bhajante ye santah katichid arunameva bhavatim;
Virinchi-preyasyas tarunatara sringara-lahari-
Gabhirabhi vagbhir vidadhati satam ranjanamami.


She who is the purple luster of the dawn,
To the lotus forest like mind,
Of the kings of poets of the world,
And thus called Aruna-the purple coloured one,
Creates happiness in the mind of the holy,
With tender passionate wave of words ,
(Of Sarswathi the darling of Brahma,)
Which are royal and youthful.

17
(mastery over words, Knowledge of science)
Savitribhir vacham Chasi-mani-sila-bhanga-rucibhir
Vasiny'adyabhis tvam saha janani samchintayati yah;
Sa karta kavyanam bhavati mahatam bhangi-rucibhih
Vacobhi vagdevi-vadana-kamal'amoda madhuraii..


Oh, mother holy,
He who worships you,
Along with the goddess like Vasini,
Who are the prime source of words,
And you who are having the great luster,
Got by breaking the moon stone,
Becomes the author of great epics,
Which shine like those written by great ones,
And which have the sweet scent
Of the face of the goddess of knowledge

18
(Victory in love)
Thanuschayabhi sthe tharuna-tharuni –srisarinibhi
Divam sarva-murvi-marunimani magnam smaranthi ya
Bhavanthasya thrasya-dhwana-harina shaleena nayana
Sahervasya vasya kathikathi na geervana Ganika


He who meditates on,
The luster of your beautiful body,
Which is blessed by the rising sun,
And which dissolves the sky and the world,
In light purple hue,
Makes celestial damsels like Uravasi and others,
Who have eyes like the wild startled deer,
Follow him like slaves.

19
(Victory in love)
Mukham bindun kruthva kucha yuga mada sthasya thadha dho
Harardha dhyayedhyo haramamahishi the manmathakalam
Sa sadhya samkshebham nayathi vanitha inyathiladhu
Thrilokimapyasu bramayathi ravindu sthana yugam.


Hey, Mother who is Goddess of all universe,
He who meditates on you ,
As the crescent of love of our lord great,,
On the dot of the holy wheel,
Your two busts just below,
And you as the half of Shiva our lord,
Not only Creates waves of emotion in ladies,
But charms the world, which has moon and sun as busts.

20
(Curing of all poisons and curing of all fevers)
Kirantim angebhyah kirana-nikurumba'mrta-rasam
Hrdi tvam adhatte hima-kara-sila murthimiva yah;
Sa sarpanam darpam samayati sakuntadhipa iva
Jvara-plustan drshtya sukhayati sudhadhara-siraya.

He who meditates in his mind,
On you who showers nectar from all your limbs,
And in the form which resembles,
The statue carved out of moonstone,
Can with a single stare,
Put an end to the pride of snakes,
And with his nectar like vision,
Cure those afflicted by fever.

21
(Attracting every one, Making everyone happy)
Tatil-lekha-thanvim thapana-sasi-vaisvanara-mayim
Nishannam shannam apy upari kamalanam tava kalaam;
Maha-padma tavyam mrdita-mala-mayena manasa
Mahantah pasyanto dadhati parama'hlada-laharim.


Those souls great,
Who have removed all the dirt from the mind,
And meditate on you within their mind,
Who is of the form of sun and moon,
And living in the forest of lotus,
And also above the six wheels of lotus,
Enjoy waves after waves,
Of happiness supreme.

22
(Getting of all powers)
Bhavani tvam daase mayi vitara drishtim sakarunam
Iti sthotum vanchan kadhayati Bhavani tvam iti yah;
Tadaiva tvam tasmai disasi nija-sayujya-padavim
Mukunda-brahmendra-sphuta-makuta-nirajita-padam.


If any one has wish in his mind to pray.
“You , Bhavani , my mother,
Please shower on me, a part of your merciful look”,
Even before he says, “You Bhavani”,
You my goddess,
Would give to him the water,
Falling from the crowns ,
Of Vishnu, Rudra and Brahma,
At your feet,
And grant him, the eternal life in your world.

23
(getting of all riches)
Tvaya hrithva vamam vapur aparitripthena manasa
Sarir'ardham sambhor aparam api sankhe hritham abhut;
Yad ethat tvadrupam sakalam arunabham trinayanam
Kuchabhyam anamram kutila-sadi-chuudala-makutam.


Your form in my mind,
Is the colour of red of the rising sun,
Is adorned with three eyes,
Has two heavy busts,
Is slightly bent,
And wears a crown with the crescent moon,
And hence arises a doubt in me,
That you were not satisfied ,
By half the body of Shambu that he gave,
And occupied all his body.

24
(Management of fear of Bhoothas, Prethas and Pishachas)
Jagat suthe dhata harir avati rudrah kshapayate
Tiraskurvan etat svam api vapurisastirayati;
Sada-purvah sarvam tad idamanugrhnati cha Shiva-
Stavajnam aalambya kshana-chalitayor bhru-latikayoh.


Brahma creates the world,
Vishnu looks after it,
Shiva destroys it,
Easwara makes them disappear,
And also disappears himself,
And Sadshiva blesses them all,
By your order given to him,
By a momentary move of your eyebrows.

25
(Getting higher posts and power)
Trayanam devanam thri-guna-janitanam tava Sive
Bhavet puja puja tava charanayor ya virachita;
Tatha hi tvat-pado'dvahana-mani-pithasya nikate
Sthita hy'ete sasvan mukulita-karottamsa-makuta


Consort of Shiva,
The worship done at the base of your feet,
Is the worship done to the holy Trinity,
Born based on your trine properties .
This is so true, oh mother,
Because don’t the trinity,
Always stand with folded hands,
Kept on their crown
Near the jeweled plank,
Which carries thine feet.

26
(Destruction of enemies)
Virincih panchatvam vrajati harir apnoti virathim
Vinasam kinaso bhajati dhanado yati nighanam;
Vitandri mahendri vithathir api sammeelita-drsa
Maha-samhare smin viharati sati tvat-patirasau.


The creator reaches the dissolution,
The Vishnu attains death,
The god of death even dies,
Kubera the lord of wealth expires,
The Indras close their eyes one after one,
And attain the wake less sleep,
During the final deluge,
But you my chaste mother,
Play with your consort the Sadashiva

27
(Realisation of self and ultimate truth)
Japo jalpah shilpam sakalam api mudra-virachana
Gatih pradaksinya-kramanam asanady'ahuti-vidhih;
Pranamah samvesah sukham akilam atmarpana-drsa
Saparya-paryayas tava bhavatu yan me vilasitam.


Let the mutterings that I do,
With the sacrifice in my soul.
Become chanting of your name,
Let all my movements become thine Mudhras,
Let my travel become perambulations around thee,
Let the act of eating and drinking become fire sacrifice to thee,
Let my act of sleeping becomes salutations to you ,
And let all actions of pleasure of mine,
Become parts of thine worship.

28
(Fear of poison, Untimely death)
Sudham apy asvadya pratibhaya-jaraa-mrtyu-harinim
Vipadyante visve Vidhi-Satamakhadya divishadah;
Karalam yat ksvelam kabalitavatah kaala-kalana
Na Sambhos tan-mulam tava janani tadanka-mahima.


Oh, mother mine,
Gods like Indra and brahma,
Who have drunk deep the nectar divine,
Which removes the cruel aging and death,
Do die and disappear.
But Shambu thy consort,
Who swallowed poison that is potent,
Does never die,
Because of the greatness ,
Of thine ear studs.

29
(Avoiding of abortions, Taming bad people)
Kiritam vairincham parihara purah kaitabha bhidah
Katore kotire skalasi jahi jambhari-makutam;
Pranamreshwateshu prasabha mupayatasya bhavanam
Bhavasy'abhyutthane tava parijanoktir vijayate.

Yours escorts divine,
Shout with concern at thee.
“Avoid the crown of Brahma,
You may hit your feet,
At the hard crown of Vishnu,
Who killed the ogre Kaidaba,
Avoid the crown of Indra”,
When you get up and rush in a hurry,
To receive thine lord who comes to your place.

30
(Entering to another body)
Sva-deh'odbhutabhir ghrnibhir animadyabhir abhito
Nishevye nitye tvamahamiti sada bhavayati yah;
Kim-ascharyam tasya tri-nayana-samrddhim trinayato
Maha-samvartagnir virchayati nirajana-vidhim.


It is not surprising to know, Oh mother,
Who does not have birth and death,
And who is most suitable to be served,
That the destroying fire of the deluge,
Shows prayerful harathi to the one.
Who considers you,
(Who is of the form of rays,
And is surrounded on all four sides,
By the angels of power called Anima,)
As his soul always,
And who considers the wealth of the three eyed God,
As worthless and as equal to dried grass.

31
(Attraction of everything)
Cautuh-shashtya tantraih sakalam atisamdhaya bhuvanam
Sthitas tat-tat-siddhi-prasava-para-tantraih pasupatih;
Punas tvan-nirbandhad akhila-purusarth'aika ghatana-
Svatantram te tantram khsiti-talam avatitaradidam.


The Lord of all souls, Pasupathi*,
Did create the sixty four thanthras,
Each leading to only one desired power,
And started he his relaxation..
But you goaded him mother,
To create in this mortal world.
Your thanthra called Sri vidya.
Which grants the devotee,
All powers that give powers,
Over all the states in life.

32
(long life, Attracting of everything)
Sivah saktih kamah kshitir atha ravih sithakiranah
Smaro hamsah sakrastadanu cha para-mara-harayah;
Amee hrllekhabhis tisrbhir avasanesu ghatitha
Bhajante varnaste tava janani nam'avayavatham.

She who is mother of us all,
The seed letter “ka” of my lord Shiva,
The seed letter “a” of goddess Shakthi,
The seed letter “ee” of the god of love,
The seed letter “la” of earth,
The seed letter “ha” of the sun god,
The seed letter “sa” of the moon with cool rays,
The seed letter “ka” of again the god of love,
The seed letter ”ha” of the sky,
The seed letter “la” of Indra , the king of devas,
The seed letter “sa” of Para,
The seed letter “ka” of the God of love,
The seed letter “la” of the Lord Vishnu,
Along with your seed letters “Hrim”,
Which joins at the end of each of the three holy wheels,
Become the holy word to worship you.

This stanza gives indirectly the most holy Pancha dasakshari manthra which consists of three parts viz., ka-aa-ee-la-hrim at the end of Vagbhava koota, ha-sa-ka-ha-la-hrin at the end of kama raja koota and sa-ka-la-hrim at the end of Shakthi koota.These parts are respectively called Vahni kundalini, Surya Kundalini and Soma kundalini.

33
(All benefits)
Smaram yonim lakshmim trithayam idam adau tava manor
Nidhay'aike nitye niravadhi-maha-bhoga-rasikah;
Bhajanti tvam chintamani-guna-nibaddh'aksha-valayah
Sivagnau juhvantah surabhi-ghrta-dhara'huti-sataih.

Oh, mother who is ever present,
Those who realize the essence ,
Of the limitless pleasure of the soul you give,
And who add the seed letter “Iim” of the god of love,
The seed letter “Hrim” of the goddess Bhuavaneswaree,
And the seed letter “Srim” of the goddess Lakhmi,
Which are the three letter triad,
Wear the garland of the gem of thoughts,
And offer oblations to the fire in triangle of Shiva,
With the pure scented ghee of the holy cow, Kamadhenu,
Several times and worship you.

34
(Development of mutual liking)
Sariram twam sambhoh sasi-mihira-vakshoruha-yugam
Tav'atmanam manye bhagavati nav' atmanam anagham;
Atah seshah seshityayam ubhaya-saadharana taya
Sthitah sambandho vaam samarasa-parananda-parayoh.


Oh goddess supreme,
I always see in my minds eye,
That your body with sun and moon,
As busts is the body of Shiva,
And his peerless body with nine surrounding motes,
Is your body, my goddess.
And so the relation of,” that which has”,
And” he who has”,
Becomes the one perfect relation of happiness,
And becomes equal in each of you.

35
(Curing of Tuberculosis)
Manas tvam vyoma tvam marud asi marut saarathir asi
Tvam aastvam bhoomis tvayi parinathayam na hi param;
Tvam eva svatmanam parinamayithum visva-vapusha
Chidanand'aakaram Shiva-yuvati-bhaavena bibhrushe.


Mind you are, Ether you are,
Air you are, Fire you are,
Water you are, Earth you are,
And you are the universe, mother,
There is nothing except you in the world,
But to make believe your form as the universe,
You take the role of wife of Shiva,
And appear before us in the form of ethereal happiness.

36
(Curing of all diseases)
Tavaagna chakrastham thapana shakthi koti dhyudhidharam,
Param shambhum vande parimilitha –paarswa parachitha
Yamaradhyan bhakthya ravi sasi suchinama vishaye
Niraalokeloke nivasathi hi bhalokha bhuvane


The one who worships Parameshwara,
Who has the luster of billions of moon and sun
And who lives in thine Agna chakra- the holy wheel of order,
And is surrounded by thine two forms,
On both sides,
Would forever live,
In that world where rays of sun and moon do not enter,
But which has its own luster,
And which is beyond the sight of the eye,
But is different from the world we see.

37
(Removal of Bhootha , Pretha Pisacha and Brahma Rakshasa)
Vishuddhou the shuddha sphatika visadham vyoma janakam
Shivam seve devimapi siva samana vyavasitham
Yayo kaanthya sasi kirana saaroopya sarane
Vidhoo thantha dwarvantha vilamathi chakoriva jagathi


I bow before the Shiva ,
Who is of the pure crystal form,
In thine supremely pure wheel
And who creates the principle of ether,
And to you my mother,
Who has same stream of thought as Him.
I bow before you both,
Whose moon like light,
Forever removes the darkness of ignorance,
Forever from the mind,
And which shines like the Chakora* bird ,
Playing in the full moon light.

38
(Curing of sickness during childhood)
Samunmeelath samvithkamala makarandhaika rasikam
Bhaje hamsadwandham kimapi mahatham maanasacharam
Yadhalapaa dhashtadasa gunitha vidhyaparinathi
Yadadhathe doshad gunamakhila madhbhaya paya eva


I pray before the swan couple,
Who only enjoy the honey ,
From the fully open,
Lotus flowers of knowledge,
And who swim in the lake ,
Which is the mind of great ones,
And also who can never be described.
From them come the eighteen arts,
And they differentiate the good from the bad,
Like the milk from water.

39
(To see in the dream what we think about)
Thava swadhishtane huthavahamadhishtaya niratham
Thameede sarvatha janani mahathim tham cha samayam
Yadhaloke lokan dhahathi mahasi krodha kalithe
Dhayardhra ya drushti sishiramupacharam rachayathi


Mother ,think and worship I ,of the fire,
In your holy wheel of Swadishtana,
And the Rudra who shines in that fire,
Like the destroying fire of deluge,
And you who shine there as Samaya.
When that angry fire of look of Rudhra,
Burns the world ,
Then your look drenches it in mercy,
Which treats and cools it down.

40
(Blessings from Lakshmi, realization of good dreams, Not seeing bad dreams)
Thatithwantham shakthya thimira paree pandhi sphuranaya
Sphuranna na rathnabharana pareenedwendra dhanusham
Thava syamam megham kamapi manipooraika sharanam
Nisheve varshantham haramihira thaptham thribhuvanam.

I bow before that principle,
Which is in your wheel of Manipooraka,
Which as Parashakthi shines like the enemy of darkness,
Which is with the streak of lightning,
Which is with the shining jewels of precious stones of lightning,
Which is also black as night,
Which is burnt by Rudhra like the sun of the deluge,
And which cools down the three worlds like a strange cloud.

41
(Seeing of the Goddess in person, curing of sexual diseases)
Thavadhare mole saha samayaya lasyaparaya
Navathmanam manye navarasa maha thandava natam
Ubhabhya Methabhyamudaya vidhi muddhisya dhayaya
Sanadhabyam jagne janaka jananimatha jagathidam.


I pray in your holy wheel of Mooladhara,
You who likes to dance,
And calls yourself as Samaya,
And that Lord who performs the great vigorous dance,
Which has all the shades of nine emotions.
This world has you both as parents,
Because you in your mercy, wed one another,
To recreate the world,
As the world was destroyed in the grand deluge.



*Part II Soundarya Lahari (The waves of beauty)*

This stanza till the end describes the great mother Shakthi from head to foot.These are supposed to be composed by the Adhi Sankara himself.

42
(attracting everything, Curing diseases caused by water)
Gathair manikyatvam gagana-manibhih-sandraghatitham.
Kiritam te haimam himagiri-suthe kirthayathi yah;
Sa nideyascchaya-cchurana-sabalam chandra-sakalam
Dhanuh saunasiram kim iti na nibadhnati dhishanam.


Hey daughter of the ice mountain,
He who chooses to describe,
Your crown ,bedecked with shining jewels,
Which are but the transformed form,
And arranged very close to one another,
Of the twelve holy suns,
Will see the crescent in your crown,
In the dazzling light of those jewels,
And think them as a rainbow,
Which is but the bow of Indra.

43
(Victory over all)
Dhunotu dhvaantam nas tulita-dalit'endivara-vanam
Ghana-snigdha-slakshnam chikura-nikurumbham thava sive;
Yadhiyam saurabhyam sahajamupalabdhum sumanaso
Vasanthyasmin manye vala-madhana-vaati-vitapinam.


Oh, Goddess , who is the consort of Shiva,
Let the darkness of our mind be destroyed,
By the crowning glory on your head,
Which is of like the forest of opened blue lotus flowers,
And which is soft , dense and shines with luster.
I believe my mother,
That the pretty flowers of Indra’s Garden,
Are all forever there,
To get the natural scent of thine hair.

44
(curing of all diseases)
Tanothu kshemam nas tava vadhana-saundarya lahari
Parivaha-sthrotah-saraniriva seemantha-saranih
Vahanti sinduram prabala-kabari-bhara-thimira-
Dvisham brindair bandi-krtham iva navin'arka kiranam;


Oh mother, let the line parting thine hairs,
Which looks like a canal,
Through which the rushing waves of your beauty ebbs,
And which on both sides imprisons,
Your Vermillion , which is like a rising sun
By using your hair which is dark like,
The platoon of soldiers of the enemy,
Protect us and give us peace.

45
(Blessing of Goddess of wealth, Your word becoming a fact)
Aralaih swabhavyadalikalabha-sasribhiralakaih
Paritham the vakhtram parihasati pankheruha-ruchim;
Dara-smere yasmin dasana-ruchi-kinjalka-ruchire
Sugandhau madhyanti Smara-dahana-chaksur-madhu-lihah.


By nature slightly curled,
And shining like the young honey bees
Your golden thread like hairs,
Surround your golden face.
Your face makes fun of the beauty of the lotus.
And adorned with slightly parted smile,
Showing the tiers of your teeth,
Which are like the white tendrils,
And which are sweetly scented.
Bewitches the eyes of God,
Who burnt the god of love.

46
(Getting blessed with a son)
Lalatam lavanya-dyuthi-vimalamaabhati tava yath
Dvithiyam tan manye makuta-ghatitham chandra-sakalam;
Viparyasa-nyasad ubhayam api sambhuya cha mithah
Sudhalepa-syutih pareenamati raka-himakarah.


I suspect oh, mother,
That your forehead,
Which shines with the beauty of the moon,
Is but an imprisoned half moon,
By your glorious crown,
For If joined opposite
To the inverted half moon in your crown,
It would give out the nectar like luster,
Of the moon on a full moon day.

47
(Victory in all efforts)
Bhruvau bhugne kinchit bhuvana-bhaya-bhanga-vyasanini
Tvadhiye nethrabhyam madhukara-ruchibhyam dhrita-gunam;
Dhanur manye savye'tara-kara-grhitam rathipateh
Prakoshte mushtau ca sthagayati nigudha'ntharam ume


Oh Goddess Uma,
She who removes fear from the world,
The slightly bent eye brows of yours,
Tied by a hoard of honey bees forming the string,
I feel Resembles the bow of the god of love
Held by his left hand .
And having hidden middle part*,
Hid by the wrist, and folded fingers.

48
(Removal of problems created by nine planets)
Ahah sute savyam tava nayanam ark'athmakathaya
Triyamam vamam the srujati rajani-nayakataya;
Trithiya the drishtir dhara-dhalita-hemambuja-ruchih
Samadhatte sandhyam divasa-nisayor antara-charim


Right eye of yours is like the sun,
And makes the day,
Left eye of yours is like the moon,
And creates the night,
Thine middle eye,
Which is like the golden lotus bud,
Slightly opened in to a flower,
Makes the dawn and the dusk.

49
(Victory in everything, Locating of treasures)
Vishala kalyani sphuta-ruchir ayodhya kuvalayaih
Kripa-dhara-dhara kimapi madhur'a bhogavatika;
Avanthi drishtis the bahu-nagara-vistara-vijaya
Dhruvam tattan-nama-vyavaharana-yogya vijayate


The look from your eyes, Oh goddess
Is all pervasive,
Does good to every one,
Sparkles everywhere,
Is a beauty that can never be challenged,
Even by blue lily flowers,
Is the source of rain of mercy,
Is sweetness personified,
Is long and pretty,
Is capable of saving devotees,
Is in the several cities as its victory..
And can be called by several names,
According to which aspect one sees.

50
(Seeing afar, Curing of small pox)
Kavinam sandharbha-sthabaka-makarandh'aika-rasikam
Kataksha-vyakshepa-bhramara-kalabhau-karna-yugalam;
Amunchantau drshtva tava nava-ras'asvada tharalau-
Asuya-samsargadhalika-nayanam kinchid arunam.


Thine two long eyes , Oh goddess,
Are like the two little bees which want to drink the honey,
And extend to the ends ,
With a pretense of side glances,
To thine two ears,
Which are bent upon drinking the honey,
From the flower bunch of poems.
Presented by your devotees,
And make thine third eye light purple,
With jealousy and envy,

51
(Attracting all people)
Shive sringarardhra tad-ithara-jane kutsana-paraa
Sarosha Gangayam Girisa-charite'vismayavathi;
Har'ahibhyo bhita sarasi-ruha-saubhagya-janani
Sakhishu smera the mayi janani dristih sakaruna


Mother of all universe,
The look from your eyes,
Is kind and filled with love, when looking at your Lord,
Is filled with hatred at all other men,
Is filled with anger when looking at Ganga,
The other wife of your Lord,
Is filled with wonder , When hearing the stories of your Lord,
Is filled with fear , when seeing the snakes worn by your Lord,
Is filled with red colour of valour of the pretty lotus fine,
Is filled with jollity, when seeing your friends,
And filled with mercy, when seeing me.

52
(Victory in love, Curing of diseases of ears and eye)
Gathe karnabhyarnam garutha iva pakshmani dhadhati.
Puraam bhetthus chitta-prasama-rasa-vidhravana-phale;
Ime nethre gothra-dhara-pathi-kulottamsa-kalike
Tav'akarn'akrishta-smara-sara-vilasam kalayathah.


Oh , flower bud,
Who is the head gear ,
Of the king of mountains,
Wearing black eye brows above,
Resembling the feathers of eagle,
And determined to destroy peace,
From the mind of he who destroyed the three cities,
Your two eyes elongated up to thine ears,
Enact the arrows of the God of love.

53
(Attracting all the world, Seeing the Goddess in person)
Vibhaktha-traivarnyam vyatikaritha-lila'njanathaya
Vibhati tvan-netra-trithayam idam Isana-dayite;
Punah strashtum devan Druhina-Hari-Rudran uparatan
Rajah sattvam vibhrat thama ithi gunanam trayam iva


Oh, Darling of God Shiva,
Those three eyes of thine,
Coloured in three shades,
By the eye shades you wear,
To enhance thine beauty,
Wear the three qualities,
Of satvam, rajas and thamas,
As if to recreate the holy trinity,
Of Vishnu, Brahma and Rudra,
After they become one with you,
During the final deluge.

54
(Destruction of all sins., Curing of eye diseases)
Pavithrikarthum nah pasupathi-paradheena-hridhaye
Daya-mithrair nethrair aruna-dhavala-syama ruchibhih;
Nadah sono ganga tapana-tanay'eti dhruvamamum
Trayanam tirthanam upanayasi sambhedam anagham.


She who has a heart owned by Pasupathi,
Your eyes which are the companions of mercy,
Coloured red, white and black,
Resemble the holy rivers ,
Sonabhadra , which is red,
Ganga which is white,
Yamuna , the daughter of Sun, which is black,
And is the confluence of these holy rivers,
Which remove all sins of the world.
We are certain and sure,
That you made this meet and join,
To make us , who see you , as holy.

55
(Power to protect, Curing of diseases of kidney)
Nimesh'onmeshabhyam pralayam udayam yaati jagati
Tave'ty ahuh santho Dharani-dhara-raajanya-thanaye;
Tvad-unmeshaj jatham jagad idham asesham pralyatah
Pari-trathum sankhe parihruta-nimeshas tava drusah.


The learned sages tell,
Oh , daughter of the king of mountain,
That this world of us,
Is created and destroyed,
When you open and shut,
Your soulful eyes.
I believe my mother,
That you never shut your eyes,
So that this world created by you,
Never , ever faces deluge.

56
(To get freed from imprisonment, Curing of eye diseases)
Tav'aparne karne-japa-nayana-paisunya-chakita
Niliyante thoye niyatham animeshah sapharikah;
Iyam cha srir baddhasc-chada-puta-kavaiam kuvalayam
Jahati pratyupe nisi cha vighatayya pravisathi.


Oh, She who is begotten to none,
It is for sure,
That the black female fish in the stream,
Are afraid to close their eyes.
Fearing that thine long eyes,
Resembling them all,
Would murmur bad about them,
In your ears to which they are close by.
It is also for sure,
That the Goddess Lakshmi,
Enters the blooming blue Lilly flowers,
Before your eyes close at night,
And reenter in the morn when they open.

57
(All round luck)
Drisa draghiyasya dhara-dhalita-nilotpala-rucha
Dhaviyamsam dhinam snapaya kripaya mam api Sive;
Anenayam dhanyo bhavathi na cha the hanir iyata
Vane va harmye va sama-kara-nipaatho himakarah


She who is the consort of Lord Shiva,
Please bathe me with your merciful look,
From your eyes which are very long,
And have the glitter of slightly opened,
Blue lotus flower divine.
By this look I will become rich with all that is known,
And you do not loose anything whatsoever,
For does not the moon shine alike,
In the forest and palaces great.

58
(Cure from all diseases, Victory in love)
Araalam the paali-yugalam aga-rajanya-thanaye
Na kesham adhatte kusuma-shara-kodhanda kuthukam;
Tiraschino yathra sravana-patham ullanghya vilasann-
Apaanga-vyasango disati sara-sandhana-dhisanam


Oh goddess, who is the daughter of king of mountains,
Who will not but believe,
That the two arched ridges between your eyes and ears,
Are the flower bow of the God of Love,?
Side glances of your eyes,
Piercing through these spaces,
Makes one wonder as if the arrows have been ,
Sent through thine ears.


59
(Attracting every one)
Sphurad-ganddabhoga-prathiphalitha-thatanka yugalam
Chatus-chakram manye thava mukham idam manmatha-ratham;
Yam-aruhya druhyaty avani-ratham arkendhu-charanam
Mahaviro marah pramatha-pathaye sajjitavate.


I feel that thine face,
With the pair of ear studs,
Reflected in thine two mirror like cheeks.
Is the four wheeled Charriot,
Of the God of love.
Perhaps he thought he can win Lord Shiva,
Who was riding in the chariot of earth,
With Sun and moon as wheels,
Because he was riding in this chariot.

60
(Giving power of speech to dumb, Making your predictions come true)
Sarasvatyah sukthir amrutha-lahari-kaushala-harih
Pibanthyah Sarvani Sravana-chuluk abhyam aviralam;
Chamathkara-slagha-chalita-sirasah kundala-gano
Jhanatkarais taraih prati-vachanam achashta iva te.


Oh Goddess , who is the consort of Lord Shiva,
Your sweet voice which resembles,
The continuous waves of nectar,
Fills the ear vessels of Saraswathi,
Without break,
And she shakes her head hither and thither,
And the sound made by her ear studs,
Appear as if they applaud your words.

61
(Victory over mind, Getting of wealth)
Asau naasa-vamsas tuhina-girivamsa-dhvajapati
Thvadhiyo nedhiyah phalatu phalam asmakam uchitam;
Vahathy anthar muktah sisira-kara-nisvasa galitham
Samruddhya yat tasam bahir api cha mukta-mani-dharah

Oh Goddess , who is the flag of the clan of Himalayas,
Let your nose which is like a thin bamboo,
Give us the blessings which are apt and near.
I feel mother,
That you are wearing a rare pearl,
Brought out by your breath,
Through your left nostril,
For your nose is a storehouse,
Of rarest pearls divine.

62
(Good sleep)
Prakrithya'rakthayas thava sudhati dantha-cchada-ruchaih
Pravakshye saadrisyam janayathu phalam vidhruma-latha;
Na bimbam tad-bimba-prathiphalana-raagad arunitham
Thulam adhya'rodhum katham iva bhilajjetha kalaya.


Oh goddess who has beautiful rows of teeth,
I tried to find a simile to your blood red lips,
And can only imagine the fruit of the coral vine!
The fruits of the red cucurbit,
Hangs its head in shame,
On being compared to your lips,
As it has tried to imitate its colour.from you,
And knows that it has failed miserably.

63
(Bewitching all)
Smitha-jyothsna-jalam thava vadana-chandrasya pibatham
Chakoranam asid athi-rasataya chanchu-jadima;
Athas the sithamsor amrtha-laharim amla-ruchayah
Pibanthi svacchhandam nisi nisi bhrusam kaanjika-dhiya.


The Chakora* birds,
Feel that their tongues have been numbed,
By forever drinking,
The sweet nectar like light emanating,
From your moon like face,
And for a change wanted to taste,
The sour rice gruel during the night,
And have started drinking,
The white rays of the full moon in the sky.

64
(Getting of all knowledge)
Avishrantam pathyur guna-gana-katha'mridana-japa
Japa-pushpasc-chaya thava janani jihva jayathi saa;
Yad-agrasinayah sphatika-drishad-acchac-chavi mayi
Sarasvathya murthih parinamati manikya-vapusha.


Mother mine,
The well known tongue of yours,
Which without rest chants and repeats,
The many goods of your Consort, Shiva,
Is red like the hibiscus flower.
The Goddess of learning Saraswathi,
Sitting at the tip of your tongue,
Though white and sparkling like a crystal,
Turns red like the ruby,
Because of the colour of your tongue.

65
(Victory, Control over words)
Rane jithva'daithyan apahrutha-sirastraih kavachibhir
Nivrittais Chandamsa-Tripurahara-nirmalva-vimukhaih;
Visakh'endr'opendraih sasi-visadha-karpura-sakala
Viliyanthe maatas tava vadana-tambula-kabalah.


Oh mother of the world,
The lords subrahmanya, Vishnu and Indra,
Returning and resting after the war with Asuras.
Have removed their head gear,
And wearing the iron jackets,
Are not interested in the left over,
After the worship of Shiva,
Which belongs to Chandikeswara,
And are swallowing with zest,
The half chewed betel,
From your holy mouth,
Which has the camphor as white as the moon.

66
(Sweet words, Mastery in music)
Vipanchya gayanthi vividham apadhanam Pasupathea
Thvay'arabdhe vakthum chalita-sirasa sadhuvachane;
Tadhiyair madhuryair apalapitha-tantri-kala-ravam
Nijaam vinam vani nichulayati cholena nibhrutham.


Oh mother of all,.
When you start nodding your head,
Muttering sweetly, “good,good”,
To the Goddess Saraswathi,
When she sings the great stories to you,
Of Pasupathi our lord,
With the accompaniment of her Veena,
She mutes the Veena by the covering cloth,
So that the strings throwing sweetest music,
Are not put to shame,
By your voice full of sweetness.

67
(Appearance in person of the Goddess)
Karagrena sprustam thuhina-girina vatsalathaya
Girisen'odasthama muhur adhara-pan'akulataya;
Kara-grahyam sambhor mukha-mukura-vrintham Giri-sute
Kadham-karam bramas thava chubukam aupamya-rahitham.


Oh daughter of the mountain,
How can we describe the beauty of your chin,
Which was with affection caressed,
By the tip of his fingers by your father Himavan:
Which was oft lifted by the Lord of the mountain, Shiva,
In a hurry to drink deeply from your lips;
Which was so fit to be touched by his fingers;
Which did not have anything comparable,
And which is the handle of the mirror of your face.

68
(Attracting the king)
Bhujasleshan nithyam Pura-damayituh kantaka-vathi
Tava griva dhatte mukha-kamalanaala-sriyam iyam;
Svatah swetha kaalaagaru-bahula-jambala-malina
Mrinali-lalithyam vahati yadadho hara-lathika.

Your neck appears full of thorns always,
Due to the hairs standing out,
By the frequent embrace of thy Lord,
Who destroyed the three cities.
And looks like the beauty of the stalk,
Of your lotus like face.
The chain of white pearls worn below,
Is dulled by the incense and myrrh,
And the paste of sandal applied there,
And is like the tender stalk,
Dirtied by the bed of mud.

69
(Mastery over music)
Gale rekhas thisro gathi-gamaka-gith'aika nipune
Vivaha-vyanaddha-praguna-guna-samkhya-prahibhuvah;
Virajanthe nana-vidha-madhura-ragakara-bhuvam
Thrayanam gramanam sthithi-niyama-seemana iva the.

She who is an expert in Gathi, Gamaka and Geetha*,
The three lucky lines on your neck,
Perhaps remind one,
Of the number of the well tied manifold thread,
Tied during your marriage,
And also remind of the place,
In your pretty neck,
Where originates the three musical notes,
Of Shadja, Madhyama and Gandhara,

70
(Compensation for mistakes done to God Shiva)
Mrinali-mridhvinam thava bhuja-lathanam chatasrinam
Chaturbhih saundaryam Sarasija-bhavah stauthi vadanaih;
Nakhebhyah samtrasyan prathama-madhanadandhaka-ripo
Chaturnam sirshanam samam abhaya-hasth'arapana-dhiya.


Brahma, the God born out of Lotus,
Afraid of the nails Of Shiva,
Who killed the Asura called Andhaka,
Which has clipped of one of his heads,
Praises with his four faces,
Your four pretty , tender hands,
Resembling the lotus flower stalk,
So that he can ask for protection for his remaining four heads,
By use of your four merciful hands at the same time.

71
(Getting of wealth)
Nakhanam uddyotai nava-nalina-ragam vihasatham
Karanam te kantim kathaya kathayamah katham Ume;
Kayachid va samyam bhajatu kalaya hanta kamalam
Yadi kridal-lakshmi-charana-tala-laksha-rasa-chanam.


Oh Goddess Uma,
You only tell us ,how,
How we can describe,
The shining of your hands,
By the light of your nails,
Which tease the redness of freshly opened lotus?
Perhaps if the red lotus mixes,
With the liquid lac adorning,
The feet of Lakshmi,
Some resemblance can be seen.

72
(Conquering fear of darkness, Getting grace from Goddess, Making slave of Yakshini)
Samam devi skanda dwipa vadana peetham sthanayugam
Thavedham na khedham harathu sathatham prasnutha mukham
Yada loakakhya sankha kulitha hridayo hasa janaka
Swa kumbhou herambha parisrusathi hasthena jhhaddithi


Our Goddess Devi,
Let your two cool breasts,
Which have faces that always,
Give out milk,
And are simultaneously drunk deeply.
By Skanda and the elepahant faced Ganesha,,
Destroy all our sorrows.
Seeing them and getting confused,
The Herambha* feels for his two frontal globes,
To see whether they are there,
Making you both laugh.

73
(Production of milk, Redemption)
Amuu theey vakshoja vamrutharasa manikhya kuthupou
Na sadhehaspatho nagapathi pathake manasi na
Pibhanthou thow yasma dhavadhitha bhadusangha rasikou
Kumara vadhyapi dwiradhavadhana krouncha dhalanou


Oh, Victory flag of the king of mountains,
We never have any doubt in our mind,
That your two breasts divine,
Are the nectar filled pot made of rubies,
For The elephant faced one,
And he who killed Crownchasura*,
Even today do not know the pleasure of women,
And remain as young children.

74
(Good fame)
Bahathyambha sthamberam dhanuja kumbha prakrithibhi
Samaarabhdham muktha mamibhi ramalam haara lathikam
Kuchabhogo bhimbhadara ruchibhi rathna saabhalitham
Prathapa vyamishram puradamayithu keerthimiva thee


Oh mother mine.
The center place of your holy breasts,
Wear the glittering chain ,
Made out of the pearls,
Recovered from inside the head of Gajasura,
And reflect the redness of your lips,
Resembling the Bimba fruits,
And are coloured red inside.
You wear the chain with fame,
Like you wear the fame of our Lord.
Who destroyed the three cities.

75
(Capacity to write poems)
Twa stanyam manye dharanidhara kanye hridhayatha
Paya paraabhaara parivahathi saaraswathamiva
Dhayavathya dhattham dravida sisu raaswadhya thava yat
Kaveenam proudana majani kamaniya kavayitha

Oh daughter of the king of mountains,
I feel in my mind,
That the milk that flows from your breast,
Is really the goddess of learning, Sarswathi,
In the form of a tidal wave of nectar.
For , milk given by you ,who is full of mercy,
Made the child of Dravida*,
The king among those great poets,
Whose works stole one’s mind.

76
(Complete renunciation, Victory in love)
Hara krodha jwalaavalibhir avaleedena vapusha
Gabhire thee nabhisarasi kruthasangho manasija
Samuthasthou thasmath achalathanaye dhoomalathika
Janastham janithe thava janani romaavalirithi


Oh daughter of the mountain,
The God of love who is the king of the mind,
Being lit by the flame of anger of Shiva,
Immersed himself in the deep pond of thine navel.
The tendril like smoke emanated from there,
And mother, people think,
That this is the line of hair,
That climbs from your navel upwards.

77
(Gaining Micro sight, Attracting every one)
Yadhethath kalindhi thanu thara ngaa kruthi shive
Krushe mahye kinchid janani thawa yadbhathi sudheeyam
Vimardha –dhanyonyam kuchakalasayo –ranthara gatham
Thanu bhootham vyoma pravishadhiva nabhim kuharinim


The mother of universe who is Shiva and Shakthi,
In the narrow part of the middle of your body.
The learned men seem to see a line,
Which is in the shape of a small wave of the river Yamuna,
And which shines and glitters, and appears like the sky ,
Made very thin by thine dense colliding breasts,
Entering your cave like navel.

78
(Attracting all the universe)
Sthiro gangavartha sthana mukula romaa vali latha
Kalaabhalam kundam kusuma sara thejo hutha bhuja
Rathe leelamgaram kimapi thava nabhir giri suthe
Bhila dwaram siddhe rgirisa nayananam vijayathe

Oh daughter of the mountain,
Is your navel a whirl pool in river Ganga,
Which looks very stable!
Or is it the root of the climber,
Of the stream of your hair line,
Which has two breasts of yours as buds,
Or is it the Homa fire,
Where the fire is the light from cupid,
Or is it the play house of Rathi, the wife of God of love,
Or is it the opening to the cave,
In which Shiva’s tapas gets fulfilled,
I am not able to make up my mind!

79
(Getting magical capability, Bewitching all others)
Nisargha ksheenasya sthana thata bharena klamajusho
Namanmurthe narree thilaka sanakaii –sthrutayatha eva
Chiram thee Madhyasya thruthitha thatini theera tharuna
Samavasthaa sthemno bhavathu kusalam sailathanaye

Oh daughter of the mountain,
You who is the greatest among women,
Long live your pretty hips,
Which look fragile,
Which are by nature tiny,
Which are strained by your heavy breasts,
And hence slightly bent,
And which look like the tree,
In the eroded banks of a rushing river.

80
(Getting remarkablebeauty, Becoming expert in magic)
Kuchou sadhya swidhya-sthata =ghatitha koorpasabhidurou
Kasnthou dhormule kanaka kalasabhou kalayatha
Thava thrathum bhangadhalamithi valagnam thanubhava
Thridha naddham devi trivali lavalovallibhiriva


Oh Goddess mine,
Placed just below your shoulders,
By Cupid , the God of love,
Tearing your blouse which is attached ,
To your body by the sweat,
When you think of the greatness of your Lord,
And resembling pots of Gold,
Your breasts appear to be tied by him,
Securely three times,
By the three creeper like folds*.

81
(Stopping fire)
Guruthvam vistharam ksithidharapathi paravathy nijaath
Nithambha Dhhachhidhya twayi harana roopena nidhadhe
Athasthe vistheerno guruyamasesham vasumathim
Nithambha =praabhara sthagayathi lagutwam nayathi cha


Oh, daughter of the mountain,
Perhaps Himavan , the king of mountains,
Gave readily as dowry to you,
The density and breadth from his bottom,
So that your behinds are broad and dense.
And therefore they both hide all the world,
And make the world light.

82
(Stopping flood, Getting powers like Indhra)
Karrendranam sundan kanaka kadhali kaadapatali
Umabhamurubhyam –mubhayamapi nirjithya bhavathi
Savrithabhyam pathyu pranathikatinabham giri suthe
Vidhigne janubhysm vibhudha karikumbha dwayamasi


Oh daughter of the mountain,
Who knows the rules of the Vedas,
Using your two thighs,
You have achieved victory over,
The trunks of the elephant,
And the Golden pseudo stem of group of Banana plants,
And achieved victory over frontal globes,
Of Iravatha* the divine elephant,
By your holy round knees,
Which have become hard,
By repeated prostrations to your lord.

83
(Stopping of the army)
Paraa jenu rudhram dwigunasara garbhoy girisuthe
Nishanghou Unghe thee vishamavishikho bhada –maakrutha
Yadagre drishyanthe dasa satra phalaa paadayugali
Nakhagrachadhyan sura makuta sanayika nishitha


Oh daughter of the mountain,
The five arrowed cupid,
To win , Rudhra your lord,
Has made your legs,
In to an arrow case,
With ten arrows.
In the end of the case,
Are your two feet,
Studded with ten of your so called nails,
Which are the ten steel tipped arrows,
Sharpened on the crowns of Devas.

84
(Getting redemption, Entering into another’s body)
Sruthinam murdhano dadhati thava yau sekharathaya
Mama'py etau Matah sirasi dayaya dhehi charanau;
Yayoh paadhyam paathah Pasupathi-jata-juta-thatini
Yayor larksha-lakshmir aruna-Hari-chudamani-ruchih

Oh mother mine,
Be pleased to place your two feet ,
Which are the ornaments of the head of Upanishads,
The water which washes them are the river Ganges,
Flowing from Shiva’s head,
And the lac paint adorning which,
Have the red luster of the crown of Vishnu,
On my head with mercy..

85
(Removing fear of ghosts)
Namo vakam broomo nayana ramaneeyaya padayo
Thavasmai dwandhaya sphuta ruchi rasalaktha kavathe
Asooyathyantham yadhamihananaaya spruhyathe
Passonamisana pramadhavana kamkhelitharave


We tell our salutations,
To thine two sparkling feet.
Which are most beautiful to the eyes,
And Painted by the juice of red cotton.
We also know well ,
That God of all animals, your consort,
Is very jealous of the asoka trees in the garden ,
Which yearn for kick by your feet.

86
(Removing fear of ghosts, Victory over enemies)
Mrisha krithva gothra skhalana matha vailakshya namitham
Lalate bhartharam charana kamala thadayathi thee
Chiradantha salyam dhahanakritha –munmilee thavatha
Thula koti kkana kilikilith –meesana ripuna


In a playful mood,after teasing you,
About you and your family,
And at a loss to control your love tiff,
When your consort does prostrations,
Your lotus like feet touches his forehead,
And the God of love , the enemy of your Lord, who was burnt,
By the fire from his third eye,
And was keeping the enmity with your lord,
Like the ever hurting arrow,
Makes sounds like Kili Kili*,
From your belled anklets on the legs.

87
(Attracting of serpents)
Himani-hanthavyam hima-giri-nivas'aika-chaturau
Nisayam nidranam nisi charama-bhaghe cha visadau;
Varam laksmi-pathram sriyam ati srijanthau samayinam
Sarojam thvad-padau janani jayatas chitram iha kim.

Oh mother mine,
The lotus flower rots in snow,
But your feet are aces in being in snow,
The lotus flower sleeps at night,
But your feet are wakeful night and after night,
The lotus makes the goddess of wealth Lakshmi live in it,
But your feet gives Lakshmi* to its devotees,
And so your two feet always wins over the lotus,
What is so surprising in this?

88
(Making wild beasts obey)
Padham the kirhtinam prapadham apadham Devi vipadham
Katham nitham sadbhih kutina-kamati-karpara-thulam;
Katham vaa bahubhyam upayamana-kaale purabhida
Yad adhaya nyastham drshadi daya-manena manasa.


Oh, Goddess Devi,
How did the poets compare,
The foreside of your merciful feet,
Which are the source of fame to your devotees,
And which are not the source of danger to them ,
To the hard shell of tortoise,
I do not understand.
How did he who destroyed the three cities,
Take them in his hand,
And place them on hard rock*,
During your marriage?

89
(Getting rid of all diseases)
Nakhair naka-sthrinam kara-kamala-samkocha sasibhi
Tarunam dhivyanam hasata iva te chandi charanau;
Phalani svah-sthebhyah kisalaya-karagrena dhadhatam
Daridhrebhyo bhadraam sriyam anisam ahnaya dhadhatau.


Your moon like nails,
Oh mother who killed Chanda,
Which makes the celestial maidens,
Fold their hands in shame,
Forever tease your two feet,
Which unlike the holy trees in heaven,
(Which by their leaf bud like hands,
Give all they wish to the Gods,)
Give the poor people wealth and happiness,
Always and fast.

90
(Cutting of bad spells cast)
Dhadhane dinebhyah sriyam anisam asaanusadhrusim
Amandham saundharya-prakara-makarandham vikirathi;
Tav'asmin mandhara-sthabhaka-subhage yatu charane
Nimajjan majjivah karana-charanah sat-charanathaam.


My soul with six organs,
Is similar to the six legged honey bees,
Which dip at your holy feet,
Which are as pretty,
As the flower bunch,
Of the Celestial tree,
Which always grant wealth to the poor,
Whenever they wish,
And which without break showers floral honey.

91
(Getting of land, Getting riches)
Pada-nyasa-kreeda-parichayam iv'arabdhu-manasah
Skhalanthas the khelam bhavana-kala-hamsa na jahati;
Atas tesham siksham subhaga-mani-manjira-ranitha-
Chchalad achakshanam charana-kamalam charu-charite.


She who has a holy life,
The swans in your house,
Follow you without break,
As if to learn ,
Your gait which is like a celestial play.
So thine lotus like feet,
Taking recourse to the musical sound,
Produced by gems in your anklets,
Appears to teach them what they want.

92
(Getting ability to rule)
Gataas the mancathvam Druhina-Hari-Rudr'eshavara-bhrutah
Sivah svacchac-chaya-ghatita-kapata-pracchada-pata;
Tvadhiyanam bhasaam prati-phalana-rag'arunathaya
Sariri srungaro rasa iva dhrisam dhogdhi kuthukam.


Brahma, Vishnu, Rudhra and Easwara,
Who are the gods who rule the world,
Become the four legs of your cot,
So that they are able to serve you always.
Sadhashiva who is white in colour.
Becomes the bed spread on which you sleep,
And appears red , because he reflects your colour.
And to your eyes which are the personification,
Of the feelings of love,
He gives lot of happiness.

93
(Fulfillment of desires)
Araala kesheshu prakruthi-saralaa manda-hasithe
Sireeshabha chite drushad upala-sobha kucha-thate;
Bhrusam thanvi madhye pruthur urasijh'aroha-vishaye
Jagat trathum sambhor jayahti karuna kaachid aruna.


Her mercy which is beyond.
The mind and words of Our Lord Shiva,
Is forever victorious in the form of Aruna,
So as to save this world.
That spirit of mercy is in the form of,
Curves in her hairs,
In the form of natural sweetness in her smile.
In the form of pretty tenderness of a flower in her mind,
In the form of firmness of a ruby stone in her breasts,
In the form of thin seductiveness in her hips,
In the form of voluptuousness in her breasts and back.

94
(Getting all desires)
Kalankah kasthuri rajani-kara-bimbham jalamayam
Kalabhih karpurair marakatha-karandam nibiditam;
Athas thvad-bhogena prahti-dinam idam riktha-kuharam
Vidhir bhuyo bhuyo nibidayathi nunam thava krithe.


The moon that we know is thine jewel box,
Filled with water of incense,
The blackness we see in the moon,
The musk put for thy use in this box,
And the crescents we see of the moon
Is thy canister of emerald,
Full of divine camphor.
And for sure,
Brahma the creator refills these daily,
After your use,
So that they are always full.

95
(Getting of all desires)
Pur'arather antah-puram asi thathas thvach-charanayoh
Saparya-maryadha tharala-karananam asulabha;
Thatha hy'ethe neetah sathamukha-mukhah siddhim athulam
Thava dvar'opantha-sthithibhir anim'adyabhir amarah.


You are Leading light of the home of Lord Shiva,
Who destroyed the three cities,
And so coming near you and worshipping at thine feet,
Are not for those with weak mind.,
Who do not have control of their senses.
And that is why perhaps,
Indra and other Gods,
Stay outside your gates,
And attain your sweet self,
By practice of siddhis like Anima.

96
(Attainment of knowledge and wealth)
Kalathram vaidhathram kathi kathi bhajante na kavayah
Sriyo devyah ko va na bhavati pathih kairapi dhanaih;
Mahadevam hithva thava sathi sathinam acharame
Kuchabhyam aasangah kuravaka-tharor apyasulabhah.


Many poets reach the Goddess of learning,
The wife of the creaor,
By composing soulfull poems.
Many who search and attain riches,
Are termed as the Lord of the Goddess of wealth.
Oh, first among chaste woman,
Except Lord Shiva your consort.
Your breasts have not even touched,
The holy henna* tree.

97
(Redemption of the soul)
Giram aahur devim Druhina-gruhinim agaamavidho
Hareh pathnim padhmam Hara-sahacharim adhri-thanayam;
Thuriya kapi thvam dhuradhigama-niseema-mahima
Maha-maya visvam bhramayasi parabhrahma mahishi.


Oh , Parashakthi who is one with Parabrahma,
Though those who have learned Vedas,
Call you as Brahma’s wife Sarawathi,
Or call you as Vishnu’s wife Lakshmi,
Or call you as Shiva’s wife Parvathi,
You are the fourth called Maha Maya,
Who gives life to the world,
And have attained all that is to attain.

98
(Mastery over words)
Kadha kaale mathah kathaya kalith'alakthaka-rasam
Pibheyam vidyarthi thava charana-nirnejana-jalam;
Prakrithya mukhanam api cha kavitha-karanathaya
Kadha dhathe vani-mukha-kamala-thambula-rasatham.


Oh , mother mine,
When shall I , who begs for knowledge
Be able to drink, the nectar like water,
Flowing from your feet,
Mixed with reddish lac applied there?
When shall that water attain,
The goodness of saliva mixed with Thambola*,
From the mouth of goddess of learning,
Which made one born as mute,
Into the king of poets?

99
(Attainment of ultimate bliss)
Saraswathya lakshmya vidhi hari sapathno viharathe
Rathe pathivrithyam sidhilayathi ramyena vapusha
Chiram jivannehva kshapathi pasu pasa vyathikara
Paranandabhikhyam rasayathi rasam twadjanavaan.

Those who worship thee , oh mother,
Are so learned and so rich,
That even Brahma and Vishnu,
Are jealous of them
They are so handsome,
That even the wife of Cupid, Rathi,
Yearns for them.
He unbound from the ties of this birth,
Always enjoys ecstasic happiness,
And lives for ever .

100
(Attainment of all occult powers)
Pradhipa-jvalabhir dhivasa-kara-neerajana-vidhih
Sudha-suthes chandropala-jala-lavair arghya-rachana;
Svakiyair ambhobhih salila-nidhi-sauhitya karanam
Tvadiyabhir vagbhis thava janani vacham stutir iyam.


Oh Goddess who is the source of all words,
This poem which is made of words,
That you only made,
Is like showing the camphor lamp to the Sun,
Is like offering as ablation to the moon,
The water got from the moon stone,
And is like offering water worship,
To the sea.

& The result of chanting and worshipping with the stanza which follows
* The Thousand headed serpent who carries the worlds on his head
* Another name for Mooladhara Chakra
* The geometric design of Sri chakra(holy wheel) where the mother resides is described here.

* The Lord of all souls
* A mythical bird in Hindu mythology which is supposed to dring moon light
* Composed by Adhi Sankara Bhagawat Pada
* The nose jutting in between the eye brows
* Mythical birds supposed to drink the moon light
* The three major parts of Karnatic Classical music.-procedure, undulations and song
* Another name for Lord Ganesha
* God Subrahamanya
* The Tamil poet Tirugnana Sambandar who preceded Sankara
* The three folds on the belly.
* The elephant on which Indra rides
* Sound of teasing also Sound from anklets
* wealth is also called Lakshmi
* A rite in Hindu marriage called Asmarohanam
* The henna tree is supposed to wish for the embrace of maidens
* Betel leaf, betel nut andlime used for chewing

Comments

  1. Good work for compiling the stuff. This will be handy in refering to SoundaryaLahari and SivanandaLahari slokas and meanings.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog