Ganesa Dwadasa Nama Stotram

Ganesa Dwadasa Nama stotram
(Taken from Narada Purana)
Translated by P.R.Ramachander
Pranamya sirasa devam,
Gauri putram, Vinayakam,
Bhakthya vyasa smaren nithya,
Mayu kama artha sidhaye.
(The learned one, who wishes,
For more life, wealth and love,
Should salute with his head,
Lord Ganapathi who is the son of Parvathy.)
Prathamam Vakra thundam cha,
Ekadantham dveethiyakam,
Trithiyam Krishna pingalaksham,
Gajavakthram Chathurthakam.
(Think him first as god with broken tusk,
Second as the God with one tusk,
Third as the one with reddish black eyes,
Fourth as the one who has the face of an elephant.)
Lambhodaram panchamam cha ,
Sashtam Vikatameva cha,
Sapthamam Vignarajam cha,
Dhoomra varnam thadashtamam.
(Fifth as the one who has a very broad paunch,
Sixth as the one who is cruel to his enemies,
Seventh as the one who is remover of obstacles,
Eighth as the one who is of the colour of smoke.)
Navamam phala chandram cha,
Dasamam thu Vinayakam,
Ekadasam Ganapathim,
Dwadasam the gajananam.
(Ninth as the one who crescent in his forehead,
Tenth as the one, who is the leader of remover of obstacles,
Eleventh as the leader of the army of Lord Shiva,
And twelfth as the one who has the face of an elephant.)
Dwathasaithani namani ,
Trisandhyam ya paden nara,
Na cha vigna bhayam thasya,
Sarva sidhi karam dhruvam.
(Any one reading these twelve names,
At dawn, noon and dusk,
Will never have fear of defeat,
And would always achieve whatever he wants.)
Vidyarthi labhadhe vidhyam,
Danarthi labhathe danam,
Puthrarthi labhathe puthran,
Moksharthi labhathe gatheem.
(One who pursues education will get knowledge,
One who wants to earn money will get money,
One who wishes for a son , will get a son,
And one who wants salvation will get salvation.)
Japeth Ganapathi sthothram,
Shadbhir masai phalam labeth,
Samvatsarena sidhim cha,
Labhathe nathra samsaya.
Results of chanting this prayer,
Of Ganapthi will be got within six months,
And within a year , he would get all wishes fulfilled,
And there is no doubt about this.

Shiva Manasa Pooja

Shiva Manasa Pooja
(The mental worship of Lord Shiva)
BY Adhi Sankara Bhagwat Pada
Translated By P.R.Ramachander

Aaradhayami mani sannibham athma lingam,
Maayapuri hrudaya pankaja sannivishtam,
Sradha nadhi vimala chitha jalabishegai,
Nithyam samadhi kusmaira punarbhavai.
(This stanza does not appear in most of the texts of Shiva Manasa Pooja but appears in Nirguna Manasa Pooja. But the version which I consult includes it here as the first stanza)

(I worship that Linga,
Which is in me as my soul,
Residing in the illusory lotus of my heart,
Getting bathed by the clear water,
Of the river of my devotion,
And worshipped daily by the Lotus,
Of my meditation for avoiding another birth.)

Rathnai Kalpitham asanam, Himajalai snanam cha divyambaram,
Naana rathna vibhooshitham mruga madha modhanvitham Chandanam,
Jathi champaka bilwa pathra rachitham, pushpam cha deepam Thada,
Deepam deva dayanithe pasupathe, hrud kalpyatham gruhyatham.
(I offer you an imaginary throne made of precious jewels,
I offer you bath in the water of melted snow from the Himalayas,
I offer you holy silken cloth to wear,
I adorn you with very many precious jewels,
I offer you musk and sandal,
I offer you Bilwa and Champaka flowers,
And I offer you the holy lamp,
But all these I offer in the portal of my mind,
Please God who is merciful and who is the Lord of all beings,
Accept my offerings and bless me.)

Souvarne nava rathna Ganda Rachithe, pathre Grutham Payasam,
Bakshyam pancha vidam Payo dadhiyutham, rambha phalam panakam,
Saaka namayutham jalam ruchikaram, karpoora gandojwalam,
Thamboolam manasa maya virachitham Bhakthyo prabho sweekuru
(Sweet rice in a golden bowl inlaid with the nine jewels, the five kinds of food made from milk and curd, bananas, vegetables, sweet water scented with camphor, and betel leaves - I have prepared all these in my mind with devotion. O lord, please accept them.)
(I offer you Ghee and the sweet payasam in golden vessel ,
Decorated with nine type of precious gems,
I offer you five different dishes made of curd and milk,
I offer you panakam made of sweet fruits,
I offer you tasty sweet scented water to drink,
I offer you the lamp made of camphor along with tinkling bells,
And I offer you betel leaf and nut,
But these are offered by my mind with utter devotion to you,
So Lord Kindly accept and bless.)

Chathram Chamarayoryugam vyajanagam, chaa darshakam nirmalam,
Veena bheri mrudanga kahala kala geetha nruthyam thada,
Sasthangam pranthi sthuthir bahu vidha, hyethat samastham maya,
Sankalpena samapitham thava vibho , poojam gruhana prabho.
(I offer you a pretty stage,
I offer you couple of decorative fans,
I also offer you shining mirror,
I offer you Veena, kettledrums, Mrudanga and a very big drum,
I offer you song and dance,
I offer you full prostration,
I offer you several types of prayers,
But all these I offer you my Lord, in my mind
So Lord kindly accept this my worship.)

Aathma thwam Girija Mathi sahacharaa, prana sarreram gruham,
Pooja theey vishayopa bhoga rachana, nidhra samadhi sthithi,
Sanchara padayo pradakshina vidhi, , sthothrani sarva giraa,
Yadyath karma karomi thathad akhilam, shambho thavaradhanam.

(My soul is your temple my lord,
My activities are thine attendants,
My body is thine home,
My acts to please my senses are thine worship,
My act of sleep is the deep meditation on thee,
All my walks with my feet are thine perambulations,
What ever falls from my mouth are thine prayers,
Oh Lord, everything I say and do are thine forms of worship.)

Kara charana krutham vaak kayajam karmajam vaa,
Sravana nayanajam vaa maanasam vaa aparadham,
Vihithamavihitham vaa sarva methath Kshamaswa,
Jaya Jaya katunabdhe sri Mahadeva Shambho.

(Please pardon Oh lord
All those acts committed by me,
By hands, by action, by body or
By hearing, by my sight, or by my mind,
Whether they are proper or improper..
Victory oh victory, Oh, ocean of mercy,
Oh, The greatest of Gods and Oh benevolent one.)

Matha cha Parvathy Devi,
Pitha devo Maheswara,
Bandhava Shiva Bakthamscha,
Swadeso Bhuvana thray.

My mother is the goddess Parvathy,
My father is the Lord Shiva,
My friends are the devotees of Shiva
And my native place is all the three worlds.

Rudhrashtakam

Rudhrashtakam
(Octet on Rudhra)
Composed by
Goswami Thulasi Das
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(Here is a very rare prayer on Lord Shiva Composed by Goswami Thulasi das who was
the author of Ramacharith Manas in Hindi a great Vaishnavite saint)
Namam Meesana nirvana roopam,
Vibhum vyapakam Brahma Veda swaroopam,
Nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam nireeham,
Chidakasamaakasa vasam Bhajeham. 1
(I salute your Eesana form bereft of everything,
Who blesses, who has spread everywhere,
Who the form of Brhamam is as described in Vedas,
Who is true, who is property less, and who is everywhere
Who does not have any differences ,
And who is like a sky and resides in the divine cosmos, I pray him.)

Niraakara monkaara moolam thureeyam ,
Giraa jnana gotheethamesam gireesam,
Karalam maha kala kalam krupalam,
Gunaa gara samsara param nathoham. 2
(I salute that God who is without properties,
Who is the source of the holy sound Om,
Who is thureeya*, who is beyond sound, wisdom and senses.
Who is the God of mountains, who is cruel,
Who is the death to God of death , who is merciful,
Who is beyond properties and the bridge to cross life.
The fourth and most holy state of human beings.)
Thushaaraadhi sankasa gowram gabheeram,
Mano bhootha koti prabha sree sareeram,
Sphuran mouli kallolini charu ganga,
Lasaddala balendu kante bhujanga. 3
(I salute that God who is more whiter ,
Than the Himalayas and the conch,
Who is majestic , whose shine ,
Is superior to crores of god of love,
On whose head is the holy Ganges with waves,
Who wears the crescent on his forehead,
And a serpent encircles his neck.)
Chalath kundalam bru sunethram vishaalam,
Prasannananam neela kandam dhayalam,
Mugadheesa charmambaeam munda malam,
Priyam shankaram sarva nadham bhajami. 4
(I salute that God, with swinging ear globes,
Who has broad clear eyes, , whose face is happy,
Whose neck is blue, who is merciful,
Who wears the lion’s skin and a garland of skulls,
Who is God of all , loving and the destroyer.)
Prachandam prakrushtam Prakalbham paresam,
Akhandam ajam bhanu koti prakasam,
Thraya soola nirmoolanam soola panim,
Bhajeham bhavani pathim bhava gamyam. 5
(I salute that God who is vehement,
Who is superior , capable and divine,
Who is limitless, who is not born,
Who has the luster of billions of Suns,
Who holds the trident , who completely destroys,
Who holds the spear, who is consort of Parvathi,
And who goes in to the state of divine.)
Kalatheetha kalyani kalpanthakari,
Sada sajjananda datha purari,
Chidananda sandoha mohapahari,
Praseeda praseeda prabho mamamadhari. 6
(Oh Lord you are beyond time and ages,
You are the blissful and one who destroys ,
This world at the end of the eons,
You are the one who gives happiness to the good,
You are the destroyer of the three cities,
You are the Lord who grants us all,
Eternal bliss and destroy wrong passions,
And Oh killer of God of love, be pleased, be pleased.)
Na yavad Umanada padaravindam ,
Bhajantheeha loke pare vaa naraanaam,
Na thath sukham shanthi santhapa nasam,
Praseedha prabho Sarva bhoothadhivasam. 7
(Till one does not pray the lotus like feet ,
Of Lord Shiva, men would not get pleasure,
Peace and freedom from all sorrows
In this world or in the next world,
So please bless me God who lives in all beings.)
Na janami yogam , japam , naiva poojaam,
Nathoham sada sarvadha Shambhu thubhyam,
Jara janma dukhogha thathpyamanam,
Prabho pahi aapannamameesa Shambho. 8
(I do not know Yoga , chanting nor worship,
But I am always your devotee , Oh Shambho,
I being surrounded by old age , birth and sorrows,
Oh Lord Oh Shambo please save me from these dangers.)
Rudhrashtakamidham proktham Viprena hara thoshaye,
Ye padanthi naraa bhakthya thesham Shambhu praseedathi.
(This octet on Rudhra has been ,
Composed by a Brahmin to please the Lord,
And the man who reads this with devotion,
Would be blessed by the Lord Shambhu.)
Ithi Sri Goswami Thulasi dasa krutham Sri Rudhrashtakam sampoornam.
Thus ends The octet on Rudra, composed by Goswami Thulasidas

Subrahmanya Karavalambam

Subrahmanya Karavalambam
(Support of the hands of Subrahmanya)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(This prayer is also called “Swaminatha Karavalambam”. It sings the glory of Lord Subrahmanya, who is the consort of Valle to give a helping hand to the devotees.)
Hey Swaminatha karunakara deena bandho,
Sree Paravatheesa mukha pankaja padma bandho,
Sreesadhi deva gana poojitha pada padma,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 1(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the chief of gods, who is merciful,
Who is friend of the oppressed,
Who is the son of the lotus faced lord of goddess Parvathi,
And whose lotus feet is worshipped
By all gods and also by Lord of Goddess Lakshmi. )
Devadhi deva sutha , deva ganadhi nadha,
Devendra vandhya mrudu pankaja manju pada,
Devarshi narada muneendra sugeetha keerthe,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 2(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the son of God of gods, who is the chief of all gods,
Whose soft lotus like feet is worshipped by Devendra,
And whose fame is sung by deva sage Narada and others.)
Nithyanna dana nirathakhila roga harin,
Bhagya pradhana paripooritha bhaktha kama,
Sruthyagama pranava vachya nija swaroopa,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 3(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who gives food daily in charity, who cures all prevalent diseases,
Who bestows luck , who fulfills all wishes of devotees,
And whose real form is the pranava given in Vedas.)
Krouncha surendra parigandana sakthi soola,
Chapa thi sasthra parimanditha divya panai,
Sree kundaleesa drutha thunda sikheendra vaha,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 4(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the Lord of mountains, who holds,
Shakthi, Soola, bow and arrows in his holy hands,
Who wears ear rings and who rides the fast moving peacock.)
Devadhi deva radha mandala Madhya methya,
Devendra peeda nagaram druda chapa hastha,
Sooram nihathya sura kotibhiradyamana,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 5(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the god o gods,
Who rides the central Chariot among a group of chariots,
Who prevents problems for Devendra,
Who can send arrows very fast,
And who by killing Sura became,
The object of adulation of billions of devas.)
Heeradhi rathna vara yuktha kireeda hara,
Keyura kundala lasath kavachabhirama,
Hey Veera tharaka jayaa amara brunda vandhya,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 6(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who wears crowns and chains with diamonds and gems,
Who wears armlet, ear rings and strong armour,
And who is the valorous one who killed Tharaka,
And was saluted by the groups of devas.)
Panchaksharadhi manu manthritha ganga thoyai,
Panchamruthai praudhithendra mukhair muneendryai,
Pattabhishiktha maghavatha nayasa nadha,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 7(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who was crowned as their leader by Indra,
With the chanting of the holy five letters,
With the bathing of the holy water of Ganga,
After strengthening it further by holy chants,
And who was anointed with the five holy nectars,
By very learned and holy sages.)
Sree karthikeya karunamrutha poorna drushtya,
Kamadhi roga kalushi krutha drushta chitham,
Sikthwa thu mamava kala nidhi koti kantha,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 8(Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is known as Karthikeya , who with his ,
Fully nectar like looks of mercy cures,
Passion, diseases and mind which has made been dirty
Who is the treasure house of arts and
Who shines like billions of suns.)
Subrahmanyashtakam punyam yeh padanthi dwijothama,
They sarve mukthimayanthi subrahmanya prasadatha,
Subrahmanyashtakamidham prathar uthaya ya padeth,
Kodi janma krutham papam thath kshanad thasya nasyathi.(The twice born who reads this octet on Subrahmanya,
Would attain salvation by the grace of Lord Subrahmanya,
And for him who reads this octet on Subrahmanya , as soon as,
He gets up in the morning , the sins committed in billons,
Of previous births will vanish in a second. )

Bhavani Ashtakam

Bhavani Ashtakam
An Octet to the “Giver of Life”
By,
(Adhi Sankara Bhagwat Pada)
Translated By,
P.R.Ramachander
(This great Sthothra by Adhi Sankara would move any one who reads it to tears. If a great soul like Him, had to describe himself, thus, Imagine the state of an ignoramus like any one of us.)
Na thatho, na matha, na bandur na datha,
Na puthro, na puthri , na bruthyo , na bartha,
Na jayaa na Vidhya, na Vruthir mamaiva,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam Thwam ekaa Bhavani.
(Neither the mother nor the father,
Neither the relation nor the friend,
Neither the son nor the daughter,
Neither the servant nor the husband,
Neither the wife nor the knowledge,
And neither my sole occupation,
Are my refuges that I can depend, Oh, Bhavani,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani. )
Bhavabdhava pare , Maha dhukha Bheeru,
Papaatha prakami , pralobhi pramatha,
Kam samsara pasa prabadha sadaham,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam thwam ekaa Bhavani.
(I am in this ocean of birth and death,
I am a coward, who dare not face sorrow,
I am filled with lust and sin,
I am filled with greed and desire,
And tied I am, by the this useless life that I lead,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani. )
Na Janaami Dhanam, Na cha dhyana yogam,
Na janami thathram, na cha sthothra manthram,
Na janami poojam, na cha nyasa yogam,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam thwam ekaa Bhavani
(Neither do I know how to give,
Nor do I know how to meditate,
Neither do I know Thanthra*,
Nor do I know stanzas of prayer,
Neither do I know how to worship,
Nor do I know the art of yoga,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani)
Na janami Punyam, Na janami theertham,
Na janami mukthim, layam vaa kadachit,
Na janami bhakthim, vrutham vaapi maatha,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam, thwam ekaa Bhavani.
(Know I not how to be righteous,
Know I not the way to the places sacred,
Know I not methods of salvation,
Know I not how to merge my mind with God,
Know I not the art of devotion,
Know I not how to practice austerities, Oh, mother,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani )
Kukarmi, kusangi, kubudhi, kudhasa,
Kulachara heena, kadhachara leena,
Kudrushti, kuvakya prabandha, sadaham,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam, thwam ekaa Bhavani.
(Perform I bad actions,
Keep I company of bad ones,
Think I bad and sinful thoughts,
Serve I Bad masters,
Belong I to a bad family,
Immersed I am in sinful acts,
See I with bad intentions,
Write I collection of bad words,
Always and always,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.)
Prajesam, Ramesam, Mahesam, Suresam,
Dhinesam, Nisidheswaram vaa kadachit,
Na janami chanyath sadaham saranye,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam thwam ekaa Bhavani
(Neither Do I know the creator,
Nor the Lord of Lakshmi,
Neither do I know the lord of all,
Nor do I know the lord of devas,
Neither do I know the God who makes the day,
Nor the God who rules at night,
Neither do I know any other Gods,
Oh, Goddess to whom I bow always,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani )
Vivadhe, Vishadhe, pramadhe, pravase,
Jale cha anale parvathe shatru madhye,
Aranye, saranye sada maam prapahi,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam, thwam ekaa Bhavani.
(While I am in a heated argument,
While I am immersed in sorrow,
While I am suffering an accident,
While I am travelling far off,
While I am in water or fire,
While I am on the top of a mountain,
While I am surrounded by enemies,
And while I am in a deep forest,
Oh Goddess, I always bow before thee,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani)
Anadho, dharidro, jara roga yuktho,
Maha Ksheena dheena, sada jaadya vakthra,
Vipathou pravishta, pranshata sadhaham,
Gathisthwam, Gathisthwam, thwam ekaa Bhavani.
(While being an orphan,
While being extremely poor,
While affected by disease of old age,
While I am terribly tired,
While I am in a pitiable state,
While I am being swallowed by problems,
And While I suffer serious dangers,
I always bow before thee,
So you are my refuge and only refuge, Bhavani