Thursday, July 31, 2008

Amarnath protests

I want to dedicate this prayer to the nationalists who have died in the Amarnath protests in Jammu.

Prabum pran natham vibhum vishwa natham

jagannatha natham sada nanda bhajam

Bhavat bhavya bhuteswaram bhutnatham

Shivam sankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who is the Lord, Who is the Lord of our lives, Who is Vibhu, Who is the Lord of the world, Who is the Lord of Viṣṇu (Jagannātha), Who is always dwelling in happiness, Who imparts light or shine to everything, Who is the Lord of living beings, Who is the Lord of ghosts, and Who is the Lord of everyone.1

Gala rundmalam tano sarp jalam

Mahakal kalam ganesha thee palam

Jata jut gangotaram jai vishalam

Shivam shankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who has a garland of skull around the neck, Who has a net of snakes around His body, Who is the destroyer of the immense-destroyer Kāla, Who is the lord of Gaṇeśa, Whose matted-hair are spread-out by the presence of the waves of Gańgā falling on His head, and Who is the Lord of everyone.2

Muda makaram mandalam mandayantam

Mahamandalam bhasma bhusha dharantam

Anadinha aparam mahamoh maram

Shivam shankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who scatters happiness [in the world], Who is ornating the universe, Who is the immense universe Himself, Who is possessing the adornment of ashes, Who is without a beginning, Who is without a measure, Who removes the greatest attachments, and Who is the Lord of everyone.3

Vata dho nivasam maha tatya hasam

Maha papa nasham sadya suprakasam

Girisham Ganesham suresham mahesham

Shivam shankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who resides below a Vaṭa (Banyan) tree, Who possesses an immense laughter, Who destroys the greatest sins, Who is always resplendent, Who is the Lord of Himālaya, various tormentor-groups (Gaṇa) and the demi-gods, Who is the great Lord, and Who is the Lord of everyone.4

Girindratam jasam tuhi tat deham

Giro sansthitam sarvoda sannageham

Parabhrahma brahma dibhivandyamanam

Shivam shankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who shares half of His body with the daughter of Himālaya¹, Who is situated in a mountain (Kailāsa), Who is always a resort for the depressed, Who is the Ātman, Who is reverred by (or Who is worthy of reverence by) Brahma and others, and Who is the Lord of everyone.5

Kapalam trishulam karabhayam dadhanam

Padam bhojanam bhray kamam dadanam

Bali vardayanam suranam pradhanam

Shivam shankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who holds a skull and a trident in the hands, Who endows the desires of those who are humble to His lotus-feet, Who uses an Ox as a vehicle², Who is supreme and above various demi-gods, and Who is the Lord of everyone.6

Sharad Chandra gatram gunanand patram

Trinetram pavitram dhaneshasya mitram

Aparna kaletram sada

Shivam shankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who has a face like the Winter-moon, Who is the subject of happiness of Gaṇa (tormentor groups), Who has three eyes, Who is pure, Who is the friend of Kubera (controller of wealth), Who is the consort of Aparṇā (Pārvatī), Who has eternal characteristics, and Who is the Lord of everyone.7

Harm sarpa haaram chitta bhu vibharam

Bhavam ved saram sada nirvikaram

Smashane vasantam manojam dahantam

Shivam shankaram shambu meshan meda

I pray You, Śiva, Śańkara, Śambhu, Who is known as Hara, Who has a garland of snakes, Who roams around the cremation grounds, Who is the universe, Who is the summary of the Veda (or the One discussed by Veda), Who is always dispassionate, Who is living in the cremation grounds, Who is burning desires born in the mind, and Who is the Lord of everyone.8

Those who study this prayer every morning with effulgence and emotions for Trident-holding Śiva, achieve Mokṣa, after having attained a dutiful son, wealth, friends, wife, and a colorful life.9

Notes:

¹ The Ardhanārīśvara form of Śiva consists of half Śiva and half Pārvatī, the daughter of Himalaya.

² Thanks to Nandini Sivakumar and Arjun Kanagal for shedding light on the meaning of the phrase balīvardayānaḿ.

Translator: Animesh Kumar

Adi Sankaracharya’s Sri Krishnashtakam

Adi Sankaracharya’s
Sri Krishnashtakam

[The octet in praise of Lord Krishna]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Bhaje vrajaika mandanam, samastha papa khandanam,
Swabhaktha chitha ranjanam, sadaiva nanda nandanam,
Supincha gucha masthakam, sunada venu hasthakam,
Ananga raga sagaram, Namami Krishna sagaram. 1

I pray Him, who is the ornament to the land of Vraja,
Who cuts off entire sins,
Who pleases the mind of his devotees,
And who is the godly son of Nanda Gopa.
Salutations to the sea like Lord Krishna,
Who decorates his head with peacock feathers,
Who has the sweet sounding flute in his hand,
And who is the music of the ocean of love.

Manoja garva mochanam vishala lola lochanam,
Vidhootha gopa sochanam namami padma lochanam,
Kararavindha bhoodaram smithavaloka sundraram,
Mahendra mana daranam, Namami Krishna varanam. 2

Salutations to Him who has lotus like eyes,
Who wins over the pride of the god of love,
Who has broad and ever shifting eyes,
And who consoled the gopas of the worry over the emissary.
Salutations to the elephant like Lord Krishna,
Who lifted the mountain by his lotus soft hands,
Who has a pretty gaze and smile,
And who killed the pride of the great Indra.

Kadhambha soonu kundalam sucharu ganda mandalam,
Vrajanganaika vallabham namami Krishna durlabham.
Yasodhata samodhaya sagopaya sananandaya,
Yutham sukhaika dayakam namami gopa nayakam. 3

Salutations to the Lord Krishna ,
Who is not easy to get,
Who wears the ear rings of Kadambha flowers,
Who has very pretty smooth cheeks,
And who is the lord of the women of Vrija.
Salutations to the chief of Gopas,
Who grants supreme bliss,
To Yasodha, gopas and Nanda,
And who is the giver of pleasures.

Sadhaiva pada pankajam madheeya manase nijam,
Dadanamuthamalakam, namami Nanda balakam,
Samastha dosha soshanam, samastha loka poshanam,
Samastha gopa manasam, Namami nanda lalasam. 4

Salutations to the Nanda lad,
Whose lotus like feet is drowned,
Ever truly in my mind,
And who has curls of hair falling on his face.
Salutations to Him who enthralls Nanda,
Who diminishes bad effects of all sins,
Who takes care of the entire world.,
And who is in the mind of every cow herd.

Bhoovo bharavatharakam bhavabdi karma dharakam,
Yasomathee kisorakam, namami chitha chorakam.
Drugantha kantha banginam, sada sadala sanginam,
Dine dine navam navam namami nanda sambhavam. 5

I bow to him who is the stealer of hearts,
Who incarnated to reduce the weight of the world,
Who helps us cross the miserable ocean of life,
And who is young baby of mother Yasoda.
I bow to the son of King Nanda,
Who has a pair of pretty shining eyes,
Who is followed by bees wherever he goes,
And who is new and newer to his devotees,
Today and everyday.

Gunakaram sukhakaram krupakaram krupaparam,
Suradwihannikarthanam, namami gopa nandanam.
Naveenagopa naagaram naveena keli lampatam,
Namami megha sundram thathith prabhalasathpatam. 6

I salute the kid of all gopas, who is the treasure house,
Of good qualities, pleasure and mercy,
Who is above the needs of mercy,
And who removed all the problems of devas.
I salute the handsome one who is the colour of the cloud,
Who wears yellow coloured silk resembling lightning,
Who appears as a new Gopa every time he is seen,
And who is interested in new antics every time.

Samastha gopa nandanam, hrudambujaika modhanam,
Namami kunja madhyagam, prasanna bhanu shobhanam.
Nikamakamadhayakam drugantha charu sayakam,
Rasalavenu gayakam, namami kunja nayakam. 7

I salute Krishna, the lad amidst the vrija land,
Who is pleased and shines like the good sun,
Who is the son of all gopas,
And who is the pleasure of all their hearts.
I salute Krishna , who is the leader of lads of vrija,
Who plays soulful music using his flute,
Who grants pleasures even though he does not want them,
And whose glances are like defenseless arrows.

Vidagdha gopikaa mano manogna thalpasayinam,
Namami kunja kanane pravrudha vahni payinam.
Kisorakanthi ranchitham, druganjanam sushobitham,
Gajendra moksa karinam, Namami sri viharinam. 8

I salute Him who swallowed the fire,
In the gardens and forests of Vraja land,
Who was sleeping in the dreams of the very able gopis.
I salute Him who is with the goddess of wealth,
Who was the cause of salvation of Gajendra,
Who is surrounded by divine glow of youth,
And who shines in all directions.

Yadha thadha yadha thadha thadiva krushna sathkadha,
Maya sadaiva geeyathaam thadha krupa vidheeyathaam.
Pramanikashtakadwayam japathyadheethya ya pumaan,
Bhaveth sa nanda nandane bhave bhave subhakthiman. 9

Where I live, wherever I exist,
Let me be immersed in your stories,
For always without break,
So that I am blessed with your grace.
That great man who sings this double octet.
Would be born with devotion to Krishna,
In all his births.