Saraswati Ashtakam

Saraswati Ashtakam

[An octet to the goddess of knowledge]

Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Amba, thwadeya pada pankaja pamsu lesa,

Sambanda banduratharaa rasana thwadheeyam,

Sambhayudhadhipadamapya amruthathi ramyam,

Nimbhayathe kimutha bhouma padani thasya.1
(Oh, Mother, for him whose toungue is pretty,By the contact with the dust of lotus feet of yours,Even the position of Devendra,Made pleasant with holy things like nectar,Tastes bitter and what shall we say,About any positions in earth?
Matha, sthwadheya karunamrutha poorna drushti,

Pathakwachidwidhi vasan manuje na cheth syath,

Kaa thasya ghora api dhabhyavaaharanidhra,

Bheethyadhikeshu sama bhavamupeyivalsu. 2

(Oh Mother, If your merciful nectar like looks,Does not fully fall on a man,What shall we tell about him,Who does not see even differences,In food, sleep and in grades of fear? )
Vani rema giri suthethi cha roopa bhedai,

Kshoni jusham vividha mangala maadha dhasi,

Naneeyaseem thava vibhuthimaho vivekthum,

Ksheenibhavathyakruthakopi vacha prapancha?.3

(Mother, the world of words in this earth,Is just not sufficient to describe Your greatness,For you grant all that is good for the earth,In the forms of Sarasvathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi.)
Sarvagnatha giri sutha kamithir vipaksha,

Garvachidhakusalathadivishad guroscha,

Charvaartha sabdha ghatana patutha kaveenaam,

Sarvam thwadheeya karunaa kanika vivartha. 4

(Mother, the all time greatness of Lord Shiva,The ability to kill the pride in enemies Of Guru, the teacher of devas,And the ability to arrange words of the poets,Are but different forms of the drops of your mercy. )
Mooka kavirjada iha prathi bhavadhagryo,

Bheekunda durbhalamadhir dharani vijhetha,

Nishkinchano nidhipadhir bhavathi thwadheeya,

Mekam kadakshamavalambhya jagathsavithree.5

(Oh Goddess who is mother of all earth,By one mere merciful look of yours,A dumb man became a poet,A fool became the first among the wise,And a very poor man becomes very rich. )

Varnathmike, hima sudhakara sankha kunda,

Varnabhi rama thanu vallari viswa vandhye,

Karnatha deergha karunardhra kadaksha pathai,

Poorna akhilarthamima masu vidathsva devi. 6

(Hey Goddess with a colourful soul,Whose body is as white as the,Snow, moon, conch and Jasmine,And who is worshipped by the entire world,Please rain a merciful look on me,From your eyes which extend to your ears,And make me fulfill all my wishes. )
Kalam kiyanthamayi they chararavindha,

Malambhya hantha vilapami vilolachetha,

Balam kurushwa krutha kruthyamimam Shubhiaka,

nidhaya karuardhra mapangamasmin. 7

(For how long a time, am I crying,Near the lotus like feet of yours,Oh Goddess, who is the source of all that is good,Please be kind enough to shower,The merciful look of yours,So that this child will become contented. )

Ananda hethu mayi they karunaam vihaya,

Noonam na kinchidakhilesi vilokayami,

Dhoonam dayarhamagathim karunamruthadrai,

Renam shishum shishirayashu kadakshapathai. 8

(Hey Goddess who is the cause of my happiness,Except for your mercy, I do not see,Anything in this world to be happy,And so please make this child drench in cold,From the rain of mercy from your eyes.For I am fit for your mercy,And does not have any one else. )
Imam padedhya prayathasthavodhgha,

Mananya chetha jagatham jananya,

Sa vidhwadharadhitha pada peete,

Labhetha sarvam pursharthasartham.9

He who reads the prayer,To the mother of all the world,Would become fit to be worshipped by the wise,And would get all that is to be got.

Raja Rajeswari Mantra Matruka Stavam

Raja Rajeswari Mantra Matruka Stavam

[Model Prayer to Mother Raja Rajeswari]Translated by P. R. Ramachander[

This great prayer is supposed to be written by Adi Sankara Bhagwat Pada.

But is not included in the list of the works of the Acharya.]

Kalyanayudha poorna Chandra vadanaam praneswaraanandinim,

Poornaam poorna tharam paresa mahishim poornamrutha swadinim,

Sampoornaam pramothamrutha kalam vidhyavathim bharatheem,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 1

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who is store house of all the good qualities,Whose face resembles the shining full moon,Who makes her lord of the soul happy,Who is full and more than full,Who is the consort of Lord Shiva,Who enjoys nectar as her food,Who is complete in all respects,Whose only food is nectar,And who is Goddess Saraswathy,The Goddess of knowledge.)

Eekarathi samastha varna vividhakaraika chith roopineem,

Chithanyathmaka chakra raja nilayam chandranthe sancharineem,

Bala bhava vibhavaneem bhava param sadbhakthi chinthamneem,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 2

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who has several holy forms in words starting with “ea”,Who resides in Sri Chakra as its soul,Who travels in the universe of moon,Who is child like, and who “exists” and “not exists” Who is the soul of Lord Shiva,And who is in the hearts of her great devotees.)

Eeha digbara yoga vinuthaam, swananda bootham paraam,

Pasyanthi thanu madhyamam vilasineem, sri vaikarai roopineem,

Thmananda vicharineem, vivarakam vidhyaam, tribajathmikam,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 3

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who is worshipped by yogis who have forsaken everything,Who is personification of her own enjoyment,Who appears as to be at the outside,Who shines in the middle of the body,Who is the form of early dawn,Who is a thoughtful philosopher,Who explains philosophy to others,Who is the form of Sri Vidhya,And who is the form of three words-Iym, hreem and sreem.)

Lakshyalakshya nireekshnaam, nirupamam, rudraksha maalam dharam,

Tryakshyartha kruthi daksha vamsa kalikaam deergaksha deerga swaraam,

Bhadraam, bhadra vara pradam bhagawatheem, padmeswareem mudrineem,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 4

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who sees everything with an aim and without it,Who cannot be compared to any one else,Who wears the garland of Rudrakshas,Who has three eyes,Who was born in the clan of Daksha,Who has long eyes,Who is the long sound “Eeee”,Who does not need protection and who grants protection,Who is extremely learned,Who is the goddess sitting on the lotus,And who can be attained by tantric symbols.)

Hreem bheejagatha nada bindu bharithaam Omkara

Nadathmikaam,Brahmanda ganodhareem gunavathim, jnaneswareem jnanadam,

Ichagna kridineem mahim gathavadeem gandarwa sevitham,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 5

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who is full of the sound and bindu(dot) arising out of “Hreem”,Whose soul is the holy sound “Om”,Who is slightly bent because of her huge breasts,Who is of a great character,Who is the goddess of knowledge and who gives knowledge,Who plays as per her wish,Who goes around the world,And who is served by celestial maidens.)

Harshonmatha suvarna pathra barithaam peenondo koornikaam,

Hungara priya sabda jala niratham saraswathollasineem,

Sarasara vichara chathuram varnasramakaarineem,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 5

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who holds nectar, which is the greatest among drinks,In a golden pot filled with happiness,Who is happy with the holy sounds like “Hum”,Who gets immensely pleased with the root called “:Saraswatha”,Who thinks and sorts issues that have meaning and no-meaning,And who is responsible for the duties of different varnas.)

Sarveshanga viharineem sakarunam sannadhineem nadineem,

Samyoga priya roopineem priyavatheem preethaam prathaponnatham,

Sarvantharkathi shalineem siva dasai sandheepineem dheepineem,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 6

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who exists in the body of the greatest god,Who is full of mercy and who has a very sweet voice,Who is the sweet sound itself,Who is interested in joining together,Who is full of love and care,Whose fame is the top most,Who with her great character goes inside souls,Who gives power to the bow of lord Shiva,And who is the light herself.)

Karmakarma vivarjithaam kulavatheem karma pradham koulineem,

Kaarunyaam sarvagama niradham sindhuprilosineem,

Pancha brahma sanathana sanakatham geyaam suyogathmikaam,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 7

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who exists in the body of the greatest god,Who does not differentiate between duties and actions,Who is the goddess of well bred women,Who gives rewards to karmas,Who can be approached by the koula* way,Who is merciful and is engaged in all duties,Who lives in the middle of the ocean of milk,Who sits in the cots made of five brahmas**And who is being sung about by her devotees,Who are well versed in the art of yoga.*Thathtric worship of the left ** Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishwara and Sadashiva)

Hasthuyuthkumbha nibha sthanathvidayatha peenoonna dadanathaam,

Harathyabharanam surendra vinutham srungara peetalayam.

Yonyagaaraka yoni mudritha karaam nithyaam navaarnaathmikaam,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 8

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who has holy busts similar to the forehead of an elephant.Who wears several jewels including golden chains,Who is being worshipped by Devendra,Who occupies the stage of passion,Who gets pleased by the secret rites,Who wears the seal of the joints,Who is forever and is worshipped,By the nine lettered mantras.)

Lakshmi lakshana poorna bakthavruthaam leela vinoda sthithaam,

Laksharanchitha pada padma yugalam, brahmendra samsevitham,

Loka lokitha loka kama jananeem lokasrayangasthithaam,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 9

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who showers great grace as Lakshmi on her devotees,Who is extremely playful,Who has her feet with nails made red,Which are Served by Brahma and Indra,Who grants all wishes made by her devotees,And who is delighted to sit in the lap of her lord.)

Hreenngararchitha sankarapriyathama yogapeedeswareem,

Mangalyayudha pangajapa nayanam, mangalya sidhi pradham,

Karunyena viseshithanga sumahalavanya sam shobitham,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 10

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who gets happy by the chanting of “Hreem”,Who is the darling of Lord Shiva,Who sits on the dais of Yoga,Who has weapons which do good,Who has eyes like lotus flower,Who grants all that is good,Who has a mien drenched in mercy,And who shined because of her extreme beauty.)

Sarvagnana kalavatheem sakarunaam sarveshwareem sarvagam,

Sathyaam sarva mayeem sahasra dalajaam sathvarina vopasthitham,

Sanga sanga vivarjitham suga kareem balarka kodi prabhaam,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 11

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who is the store house of all knowledge and arts,Who is filled with mercy.Who is the goddess of all,Who is everything in the world,Who is the eternal truth,Who is spread everywhere,Who lives in the thousand petal lotus,Who lives in the ocean of milk,Who is the prime mover of uniting and detaching,Who gives pleasure ,and who shines like billions of rising sun.)

Kadhikshantha suvarna bindhu suthanum sarvanga samshobhithaam,

Nanavarna vichithra chithra charitham chaturya chinthamaneem,

Chithrananda vidhayineem suchapalam koodathraya karineem,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 12

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who is the golden dot in all consonants,Who is praised by all good people,Whose entire body shines,Who has the peculiar multi coloured form,Who is thoughtful intelligent gem,Who is the dream of artists,Who is never constant,And who is the form of the triad of mantras.)

Laksmisaana vidhineedra Chandra makudathyashtanga peedasrithaam.

Suryendumagnimayaika peeda nilayam, tristhaam trikoneswareem,

Gopthreem garvinigarvitham kakanakaa ganga ganesa priyam,

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 13

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who sits in the eight part stage held by,Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, Chandra and other gods,Whose stage shines like the moon, sun and fire,Who is of three parts and who is the goddess of the triangle,Who is not easily known, who destroys pride,And who sits in the sky of Chit loving Ganesa and Ganga.)

Hreem kooda thraya roopineem samayaneem samsarineem hamsineem,

Vamachara parayaneem sukulajam bheejavatheem mudrineem,

Kamaksheem karunardhra chitha samhitham, sreem sreem trimurthyathikaam.

Sri Chakra priya bindhu tharpana param Sri Raja rajeswarim. 14

(Salutations to Goddess Rajarajeswari,Who gets pleased by worship of Sree chakra,Who is of the form of the three mantras ending with “Hreem”,W ho is the eternal time and who leads a domestic life,Who is being worshipped by the “Hamsa” mantra,Who is being worshipped by the left based tantra,Who is pleased by the mantras and mudras,Who is having eyes of passion,Who has a mind drenched in mercy,And who is being worshipped by the trinity using “sreem” mantra.)

Ya Vidhya shiva kesavadhi janani, ya vai jagan mohini,

Ya Brahmadi pipeeli kantha jagadanandaika sandhayini,

Ya Pancha pranavathi rebha nalini, ya chitkala malini,

Saa paayath para devatha bhagavathy Rajarajeswari. 15

(Let her who is the mother of Vishnu and Shiva,Who is the enchantress of the world,Who takes care of every one from Brahma to an ant,Who is tender and is the soul of the five pranavas,And who wears all arts and knowledge as garland,Take care of all of us as the great goddess Rajarajeswari.

Brihaspathi Stotram

Brihaspathi Stotram

[Prayer to Jupiter]Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[This rare stotra addressed to Brihaspathi the teacher of all devas and the planet Jupiter. Jupiter occupies a rasi for one year. When it is with Chandra (our Rasi), third, fourth eighth, tenth and twelfth house from our rasi, it brings bad luck. This stotra chanted on Thursdays during this period will bring solace.]

Gurur brahaspathir jeeva suracharyo vidham vara,

Vageeso dhishino deerga samasru peethambaro yuva. 1

(Teacher, lord of prayer of beings, Teacher of demi gods,Greatest among the mighty, lord of words, preceptor,One having a long beard, he who is young and wears yellow silk.)

Sudha drushtir, grahadheeso, grha peeda apaharaka,

Daya kara, soumya moorthi, surarchya, kudmala dhyuthi. 2

He whose sight is nectar like, lord of all planets,He who steals away the bad effects of all planets,He who is merciful, he who is soft looking,He who is the teacher of devas, he who looks like a bud,)

Loka poojyo, loka guru, neethigno, neethi karaka,

Tharapathi schangeeraso veda vedya pithamaha, 3

(He who is respected by all, the teacher of all,He who is just, he who implements justice,Lord of all stars, he who is the son of Angeerasa,He who is worshipped by Vedas, grand father)

Bhakthya brahaspathim smruthwa, namanyethani ya padeth,

Arogi, bhalavan sriman, puthravan sa bhaven nara. 4

(He who remembers Brahaspathi with devotion and recites these names,Would be free from disease, would be strong, Would be wealthy, and would be blessed with several sons.)

Jeevedvarsha satham marthya, papam nasyathi, nasyathi,

Ya poojayeth guru dhine peetha gandha akshathambarai. 5

He who worships him on Thursdays, with sandal, holy rice and silk,Would live for one hundred years and all his sins would be destroyed.

Pushpa dheepo upa haraischa poojayithwa Brhaspathim,Brahmanan bhojayithwa cha peeda shanthir bhaved guro. 6Guru would remove all problems and bless with peace,Those who worship with light, flower and presents,And serve food to Brahmins.

UMA MAHESWARW STOTRAM

Uma Maheswara Stotram
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Nama Sivabhyam, Nava Youvanabhyam,
Paraspara slishta Vapurtharabhyam,
Nagendra Kanya vrusha Kethabhyam,
Namo Nama Sankara Parvatheebhyam

(Salutations to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shivaa,Who are always in fresh stage of youth,Who cling to each other in tight embrace,Of whom one is the daughter of the mountain,And the other is one whose symbol is a bull,Salutations and salutations to Lord Sankara And to that Goddess Parvathy.)

Nama Shivaabhyam sarasothsavabhyam,
Namaskruthabheeshta vara prathabhyam,
Narayanenarchitha padukabhyam,
Namo Nama Sankara Parvatheebhyam

(Salutations to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shivaa,Whose playful love is a festival,Who grant boons to those who salute them,And whose feet is worshipped by Lord Narayana,Salutations and salutations to Lord Sankara And to that Goddess Parvathy.)

Nama Shivaabhyam vrusha vahanabhyam,
Virinchi vishnveendra su poojithaabhyam,
Vibhoothi pattera vilepanaabhyam,
Namo Nama Sankara Parvatheebhyam.

(Salutations to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shivaa,Who ride on the divine bull,Who are worshipped by Vishnu, Brahma and Indra,And whose bodies are anointed with Sandal and holy ash,Salutations and salutations to Lord Sankara And to that Goddess Parvathy.)

Nama Shivaabhyam Jagadeeswarabhyam,
Jagat pathibhyabhyam , Jaya vigrahabhyam,
Jambhari mukhyair abhi vandidabhyam,
Namo Nama Sankara Parvatheebhyam.

(Salutations to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shivaa,Who are the lord and lady of the universe,Who are always victorious,And who are worshipped by Indra and his chiefs,Salutations and salutations to Lord Sankara And to that Goddess Parvathy)

Namashivaabhyam paramoushadabhyam,
Panchakshari panjara ranjithabhyam,
Prapancha srushti sthithi samhruthibhyam,
Namo Nama Sankara Parvatheebhyam.

(Salutations to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shivaa,Who are themselves the greatest medicineWho are happy to hear panchakshari repeated,And who create , rule and destroy the universe,Salutations and salutations to Lord Sankara And to that Goddess Parvathy)

Namashivaabhyam Athi sundarabhyam,
Athyanthamasaktha hrudambujabhyam,
Asesha lokaika hithamkarabhyam,
Namo Nama Sankara Parvatheebhyam.

Lalita Pancha Ratnam

Lalita Pancha Ratnam[Five Gems on Lalita]Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Pratha smarami Lalitha vadanaravindam,
Bimbadaram pradhula maukthika shobhi nasam,
Aakarna deerga nayanam mani kundaladyam,
Mandasmitham mruga madojjwala phala desam.
(I meditate in the morning,On the lotus face of Lalitha,Who has deep red lips,Who has nose shining like a pearl,Who has very long eyes which extend to the ears,Who has ear drops made of very precious gems,Who has a very sober pleasant smile,And who has a very pretty shining forehead.)
Prathar Bhajami Lalitha Bhuja kalpa vallim,
Rathnanguleeya lasathanguli pallavadyam,
Manikhya hema valayangadha Shobha maanam,
Pundreshu Chapa kusumeshu sruneen dadhanam.
(I salute in the morning,That Lalitha whose hand ,Is like a wish giving climbing plant,Who wears shining gem studded rings,Who wears golden bangles with precious stones,Who holds a bow of flowers,And who has the goad in her hands.)
Prathar namami lalitha charanaravindam,
Bhakteshta dana niratham bhava sindhu potham,
Padmasanadhi sura nayaka poojaneeyam,
Padmangusa dwaja sudarsana lanchanadyam.
(I worship in the morning,The lotus like feet of Lalitha,Which blesses her devotees with their wishes,Which is a boat which helps them cross this life,And who is worshipped by leaders of devas.Sitting in the lotus posture,And who holds lotus , goad, and flag And the wheel in her hands.)
Pratha sthuthave parasivaam lalithaam bhvaneem,
Trayyanha vedhya vibhavam karunanan vadhyam,
Viswasya srushti vilaya sthithi hethu bhootham,
Visweswareem nigama vang mana sathi dhooram.
(I pray in the morning, that Lalitha Who is the power behind Shiva,Who is the Goddess who is the slayer of arrogance,Who is described and known by Vedas and Upanishads,Who is the pure and auspicious form of mercy,Who is the cause of creation , upkeep and destruction,Who is the Lord of the universe,And who is beyond the reach of mind and words)
.Prathar vadami lalithe thava punya nama,
Kameswarethi, kamalethi Maheswareethi,
Sri shambhaveethi jagatham janani parethi,
Vag deva thethi vachasa tripureswareethi.
(I repeat in the morning your holy names, Lalitha,As the goddess of passion and love,As one who sits on the lotus,As one who is the greatest goddess,As the consort of Lord Shiva,As one who is he mother of the world,As the goddess of words and language,And as the one who is the goddess of the three cities.)
Ya sloka panchakam idham, Lalithambikya,
Soubhagyuam, sulalitham patathi prabhathe,
Thasmai dadathi lalitha jadithi prasanna,
Vidhyaam sriyam vimala soukha manantha keerthim.He who reads these five stanzas,In the morning , extolling the mother Lalitha,.Who is easy to please Would get luck, knowledge riches, endless fame By the grace of Goddess Lalitha.