Venkatam

 kaNNanadiyiNaiyemakkukkaattumveRpu 

kaduvinaiyariruvinaiyungadiyumveRpu 

thiNNamithu veedennath thigazhum veRpu 

theLintha peruntheerththangaL seRintha veRpu

puNNiyaththin pugalithenap pugazhum veRpu 

ponnulagiR pOga melaam puNarkkum veRpu 

viNNavaru maNNavarum virumbum veRpu 

vEngadaveRpena viLangum vEthaveRpE. 

MEANING: ThiruvEnkatam hills are the holy hills that have the power to reveal the sacred feet of the Lord (KaNNan adi iNai yemakku kAttum veRppu). The hill of the Lord has the power to destroy every kind of sin committed by the chEthanams (kadu vinayar iru vinayum kadiyum veRppu); This hill has the glories to be recognized as SrI Vaikuntam (TiNNamithu veedu yenna thihazhum veRppu); This hill has the vaibhavam of having sacred waters like KonEri, PaapanAsam and others (theLintha perum theertthangaL seRintha veRppu); This is the hill, which is recognized as the embodiment of all PuNyams (PuNNiyatthin puhal ithu yenap-puhazhum veRppu); ThiruvEnkatam is the holy hill, where all the bhOgams enjoyed in Parama Padham are made within the reach of the residents of this earth (PonnulahiR-bhOgamellAm puNarkkum veRppu); This is the auspicious hill desired as a place of residence by the DEvAs and the residents of this BhUlOkam (ViNNavarum MaNNavarum virumbum veRppu); This is indeed the hill celebrated by the VedAs and is revered as the ThiruvEnkatam hills (Venkata veRppu yena viLangum Veda VeRppE)

koil

 aaraathavaruLamutham pothinthakOyil 

ambuyaththOnayOththimannaRkaLiththakOyil 

thOlaathathaniveeran thozhutha kOyil 

thunaiyaana veedaNaRkkuththuNaiyaangOyil 

sEraathapayanellaaNYsErkkungOyil 

sezhumaRaiyin muthalezhuththuchsErnthakOyil 

theeraathavinaiyanaiththuntheerkungOyil 

thiruvaranga menath thigazhungOyil thaanE 

MEANING: The dhivya dEsam of SrIrangam has the eternal presence of Lord RanganAtha and is like the embodiment of the Lord's compassion that has taken the form of insatiable nectar (AarAdha aruLamudham pothintha Koil); SrIrangam was bequeathed to King IshvAku by Brahma DEvan (AmbhuyatthOn AyOddhi mannaRkku aLittha Koil); It has the vaibhavam as a temple worshipped by Lord Raamachandran Himself during His Vibhava avathAram (tOlAtha tani veeran thozhutha Koil); This is the koil that is the support for VibhIshaNan, who gave his support to Lord Raamachandra in the fight against his brother (thuNaiaana VeeDaNarkku thuNayAm Koil); It is the Koil, which can bless the worshippers with anugrahams that can not be gained anywhere else (sErAtha payan yellAm sErkkum Koil);

It is the KOil, which has the VimAnam in the shape of PraNavam (sezhu maRayin mudhal yezhutthu sErntha Koil); It has the power to destroy all kinds of sins (theerAtha vinai yellAm therkkum Koil); It is the dhivya dEsam of SrIrangam, which is the top most among all dhivya dEsams (Thiruvarangam yenat-thihazhum Koil thAne)

choice.

 [Bhujanga prayata is a meter for writing poems in Sanskrit. It means moving of a snake. Adi Shankara has written several prayers using this meter. There is a very interesting story about this stotra. Adi Shankara reached his mother's death bed before she died. He wanted to help her get salvation. So he composed a great stotra called Shiva Bhujanga Prayata Stotra in praise of Lord Shiva. As soon as it was completed, The servants of Lord Shiva came to take Shankara’s mother to heaven. But she was terrified to see them, because they wore the dresses of the forest and dressed in tiger skin with belts of snakes. Understanding her problem, Shankara humbly requested the servants of Lord Shiva to go back and composed this prayer to Lord Vishnu in the Bhujanga prayata meter. Once he recited it, the servants of Lord Vishnu, who had polished God like looks came to accompany Shankara’s mother to heaven. She was extremely pleased to go with them.]

Chidamsam vibhum nirmalam nirvikalpam,
Nireeham nirakaramongara gamyam,
Gunatheetha mavyakthamekam thureeyam,
Param brahma yam Veda thasmai namosthu. 1

Salutations to that God who is called that which is beyond Brahmam by Vedas,
Who is the Lord of the animated principle of life, who is clarity, who never dies,
Who does not have desire, who does not have form, who is known in Om,
Who is beyond three qualities, who is not clear, who is one and who is thureeya*.

Vishuddham shivam santham adhyandha heenam,
Jagajjevanam jyothir ananda roopam,
Adhigdesakala vyavachadaneeyam,
Thrayeevakthi yam veda thasmai namosthu. 2

My salutations to him who is told as trinity by Vedas,
Who is pure, who is peaceful, who is patient,
Who does not have beginning or end,
And whose limits cannot be fixed by stature or time.

Samanodhithaneka suryendu koti,
Prabha poora thulya dyuthim durnireeksham,
Na seetham na cha ushnam suvarnavadatham,
Prasannam sadananda samvith swaroopam. 3

He has the form having the dazzling light,
Of billions of moon and sun all rising together,
Which is difficult to be seen by the eye,
Having no heat nor cold and as pretty as gold,
And is always happy and pleased .

Sunasaputam sundarabrulalatam,
Kireetochithakunchitha snigdha kesam,
Spurathpundareekabhi ramayathaksham,
Samuthphulla raktha prasoonavathamsam. 4

He has very pretty nose and eyelids,
He has very wide and pretty forehead,
He has curled hair over which there is a crown,
He has eyes as pretty as the petals of lotus,
And wears the red hibiscus flower as ornament.

Sphurathath kundala mrushta ganda sthalantham,
Japarogachoradharam charu hasam,
Aali vyakula modha mandhara malam,
Mahora sphurath kousthubhodhara haram. 5

His shining ear drops dash against his pretty neck,
His red hibiscus coloured lips open for a pretty smile,
He attracts the bees because of the flower garland he wears,
And his chest shines because of garland and kousthuba gem.

Surathnanga dwairanvitham bahu dandai,
Chathurbhischalath kanakanalankruthagrai,
Udharodharankrutham peetha vasthram,
Pada dwandwa nirdhootha padmabhiramam. 6

He wears armlets made of pretty gems on his arms,
He decorates his four arms by wearing golden bangles,
He ties yellow silk cloth over his stomach,
And his two feet are able to defeat the pretty lotus.

Swabhaktheshu sandarithakaramevam,
Sada bhvayan sannirudhendriyaswa,
Durapam naro yathi samsara param,
Parasmai thamobhyopi thasmai namasthe. 7

He appears thus to all his devotees,
And he who meditates on this form,
Controlling all his five sense organs,
Easily crosses the difficult to cross sea of life,
And my salutations to him who dispels darkness.

Sriya satha kumbha dhyuthi snigdha kanthya,
Daranya cha doorva dala shyamalangya,
Kalathra dwayenamuna thoshithaya,
Triloki grahasthaya Vishno namasthe. 8

My salutations to Vishnu, the householder of three worlds,
Who leads a very satisfying life with his two wives,
One of them is Lakshmi who shines like gold and has slender waist,
And the other is Bhoomi Devi with the black colour of the Dhoorva grass.

Sareeram kalathram sutham bandhu vargam,
Vayasyan dhanam sathma bruthyam bhuvam cha,
Samastham parithyajya ha kashtameka,
Gamishyami dukhena dhooram kilaham. 9

I have traveled a long way with sorrow,
In search of you, after forsaking,
Body, wife, sons, relatives,
Friends, wealth land and servants.

Jareyam pisacheeva ha jeevitho may,
Mrujam asthi raktham cha mamsam balam cha,
Aho deva seedhami deenanukampin,
KImadhyapi hantha thwayodh basithavyam. 10

The old age is attacking me like a devil,
And destroys my blood, bones, flesh and strength,
And Hey God, who is merciful to the oppressed,
How come you seem to be not bothered at all?

Kapha vyahathoshnathbana swasa vega,
Vyadha vispurath sarvamarmasthibandham,
Vichinthyahamanthyam asahyam avastham,
Bibhemi prabho kim karomi praseedha. 11

I am scared thinking about those,
intolerable state of death,
When I would be troubled by
Phlegm, heavy breathing,
Pain in all bone joints and so,
Be pleased to tell me what I should do?

Lapannachythananda Govinda Vishno,
Murare hare Rama Narayanethi,
Yadha anusmarishyami bhakthya bhavantham,
Thadha may daya sheela, deva praseedha. 12

I cry, hey limitless one, Hey Govinda, Hey Vishnu,
Hey killer of Mura, Hey Hari, Hey Rama, Hey Narayana,
And think about you with devotion,
And so Oh merciful one, be pleased with me.

Krupalo hare kesavasesha hetho,
Jagannadha narayananda Vishno,
Namasthubhym ithyalapantham mudha maam,
Kuru sripathe thwad padambhoja bhaktham. 13

Hey merciful one, Hey Hari, Hey Kesava,
Hey cause of everything, Hey Lord of universe,
Hey Narayana, Hey Vishnu, Hey happiness,
I cry like this saluting you and so,
Please make me devotee of your lotus feet.

Namo Vishnave Vasudevaya thubhyam,
Namo Narasimha swaroopaya thubhyam,
Nama kala roopaya samhara karthre,
Namasthe varahaya bhooyo namasthe. 14

Salutations to Vishnu who is Vasudeva,
Salutations to him who took the form of man lion,
Salutations to him who destroys in the form of Kala,
Salutations and salutations to him who is a boar.

Namasthe Jagannata Vishno, Namasthe,
Namasthe Gadha chakrapane namasthe,
Namasthe prapannarthiharin namasthe,
Samasthaparadham Kshamaswakhilesa. 15

Salutations and salutations to Vishnu who is lord of universe
Salutations and salutations to him who carries a mace and a wheel,
Salutations and salutations to him who destroys sorrows of his devotees,
And Oh Lord of everything, be pleased to pardon all my lapses.

Mukhe mandahasam, nakhe chandrabhasam,
Kare charu chakram, suresadhi vandhyam,
BHujange sayanam, bhaje Padmanabham,
Harenanya daivam na manye na manye. 16

I salute the God with lotus flower on his belly
Who has a smile in the face and the shine of moon in nails,
Who holds pretty Chakra in the hand and
Who is being saluted by devas and who sleeps on a serpent,
And again and again affirm that there is no God except Hari.

Bhujanga prayatham padedhyasthu bhakthya,
Samadaya chithe bhavantham murare,
Sa moham vihayasu yushmath prasadath,
Samasrithya yogam vrajathyachyuthathwam. 17

Hey killer of Mura that devote who reads this prayer,
With a calm mind, would due to your grace,
Get rid of passions and attain yogic excellence,
And later attain that indestructible after life with you.

shat padi stotra.

 Avinayamapanaya vishno, damaya mana, samaya vishaya mruga thrushnam,

Bhootha dayaam vistharaya, tharaya samasara sagaratha. 1

Oh my lord Vishnu, please remove my pride,
Make my entire mind filled with peace,
Put an end to any attraction towards animal desires,
Expand my mind with mercy to all beings,
And help me cross, this ocean of daily life.

Divya dhooni makarande parimala pari bhoga sachidanande,
Sripathi padaaravinde bhava bhaya khedha chidhe vande. 2

I salute the lotus like feet of Vishnu,
Which cuts off the fear and sorrow of the worldly life,
Which is like a river of holy pollen grains,
And which is with the divine scent of eternal happiness.

Sathyapi bhedhapagame nadha thwaham na mamakeenasthwam,
Saamudhro hi tharanga kwachana samudhro na tharanga. 3

Even at the time of true realization, when I see no differences,
I am but a part of you, and you are never my part,
For a tide is a part of the sea and sea can never be a part of the tide.

Udhruthanaga nagabhidanuja dhanukalaa mithra mithra sasi drushte,
Drushte bhavathi prabhavathi na bhavathi kim bhava thiraskara. 4

He who lifted the mountain,
Who is the brother of the enemy of the mountain,
Who is the enemy of the Asura clan,
And who sees with the eyes of moon and sun,
Once you are seen, the sorrow of the world end,
And is there anything that will remain to happen?

Mathsyadhi biravathaarai ravatharavatha avatha sadha vasudham,
Parameshwara paripalyo bhavatha bhava thapa bheethoham. 5

You who took incarnations starting from that of fish,
And well looked after, forever, this entire earth,
Oh, God who is the greatest one,
Please protect me, who am afraid of the life of the world.

Dhamodhara guna mandira Sundara vadanara vinda govinda,
Bhava jaladhi madhana mandhara paramam dharamapanaya thwam mey 6

He who was tied by a rope in your belly,
Who is the storehouse of good qualities,
Who has a lotus like face,
Who is the care taker of all beings,
And who is the greatest method to churn the ocean of life,
Please remove the fear of worldly life from me.

Narayana karunamaya saranam karavani thawakou charanou,
Ithi shadpadhee madheeye vadhana saroje sada vasathu. 7

Oh Narayana, Oh personification of mercy,
Let my hands salute thine feet,
And let these six verses* live always,
In my lotus like face.

Vijnana nauka

Tapo yajnadaanaadibhissudhabudhir-
Virakto nripaadau pade tuchchabudhya
Parityajya Sarvam Yadaapnoti Tatvam
Param Brahma nityam Tadevaaham asmi. 1

By cleaning our mind with meditation, sacrifice and charity,
By becoming disenchanted with even king like positions,
And by sacrificing everything, we attain that principle
Of the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

Dayaalum Gurum Brahmanishtam Prasantham
Samaraadhya Bhaktyaa vichaarya swaroopam
Yadaapnoti Tatvam Nididhyaasya vidvaan
Param Brahma nityam Tadevaaham asmi 2

By worshipping with devotion, the merciful and peaceful teacher,
Who is searching for Brahman and by researching on the form,
The scholar after repeated and profound meditation makes his own,
The divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

Yad Aananda roopam prakasa swaroopam
Nirastha prapancham parichcheda soonyam
Aham Brahmavruthyaikagamyam tureeyam
Param Brahma nityam Tadevaaham asmi. 3

Forever having the form of joy which is full of splendour,
Forsaking the world that we see which does not have definition,
And Which can be attained only by constant search and a state full of bliss,
Is the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

Yad ajnanato bhati viswam samastham
Vinashtam cha sadyo yadaatma prabodha
Manovaagatheetham visudham vimuktam
Param Brahma nityam tadevaaham asmi. 4

By that ignorance of this entire concept of the physical world,
By that realization of Athma (soul), which leads to the loss of this concept,
Which is beyond mind and word, and also pure and fully free,
Is the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

Nishedhe krute neti neteeti vakyaih
Samadhisthithaanaam yadaabhaathi poornam
Avasthaathrayaatheetham advaitam ekam
Param Brahma nityam tadevaaham asmi. 5

By the negative action of the words: it is not it, It is not it,
That which shines entirely in those, who enter the state of Samadhi,
That which is beyond the three states* and which does not have any second,
Is the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.
* sleep, dream and wakefulness

Yad Aanandalesaih samanandi viswam
Yadaa bhaati satve sada bhati sarvam
Yadaalochite heyam anyat samastham
Param Brahma nityam tadevaaham asmi. 6

That due to its bits of bliss makes this world pleasant,
That due to its splendour makes this world full of light,
And that by whose thought this physical world becomes nothing,
Is the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

Anandam vibhum sarvayonim nireeham
Sivam sangaheenam yad omkaaragamyam
Niraakaaramathyujwalam mruthyuheenam
Param Brahma nityam tadevaaham asmi. 7

That which is endless, divine and controls everything,
That which is peaceful, alone and attainable through Om,
And that which is formless, has great luster and no death,
Is the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

Yad Aananda sindhau nimagnah puman sya-
Dvidyavilasah samastha prapanchah
Tadaa na sphurathyatbhutam yannimitham
Param Brahma nityam tadevaaham asmi. 8

That sea of bliss in which the seeker drowns himself,
And that wonderful cause which forever makes it disappear,
The ignorance which makes the physical world appear,
Is the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

Swaroopaanusandhanaroopaam sthuthim yah
Pathed aadaraal bhakthibhavo manushyah
Srunotheeha va nithyam udyukta chitto
Param Brahma nityam tadevaaham asmi. 9

This prayer written in the style of the search of the form of the self,
If read by men with respect and devotional thought,
Or if heard would lead them forever to blissful freedom,
And Is the divine and perennial concept that we ourselves are Brahman.

 

Hanumath pancha rathnam.

 Veethakhila vishayecham, Jathanandaasru pulakamathyacham,

Seethapathi dhoothakhyam,Vathathmajamadhya bhavaye hrudhyam. 1

I think about the son of Vayu in my mind,
Who is devoid of all desires of enjoyment,
Who sheds copious tears of joy,
Whose hair stands erect at His thought,
And who is the great emissary of the Lord of Sita


Tharunaruna Muka kamalam, karuna rasa poora poorithapangam,
Saajeevanamaasase manjula mahimana manjana Bhagyam. 2

All my life I yearn to see that Hanuman,
Who is the good fortune of Anjana,
Whose face is as red as the rising Sun,
Whose glances are full of the mercy,
Who brought back the dead in the battle,
And whose fame is great.


Sambhara vairi saradhigamambudala vipula lochanadhaaram,
Kambu gala niladishtam bimba jwalithoshta mekamalambhe 3

My only refuge is Hanuman,
Who had reddish lips like the Bimba fruit,
Who is the enemy of the arrows of Manmatha,
Who has broad eyes like lotus leaves,
And whose neck is like a conch.


Dhoorikrutha seetharthi, prakati krutha rama vaibhava spohoorthi,
Daritha dasa mukha keerthi, puratho mama bhathu Hanumatho Murthy. 4

Let the form of Hanuman ,
Which drove away the sorrow of Sita,
Which made known the prowess of Rama,
And which destroyed the fame of ten headed Ravana,
Shine before me.


Vanara nikaradhyaksham, dhanava kula kumudha ravikara sadruksham,
Dheena janavana dheeksham pavana paka ambuja madraksham. 5

I Saw Lord Hanuman,
Who is the result of penance of God of wind,
Who is the leader of all monkeys,
Who is similar to the Sun God to water lily,
To the hoards of Rakshasas,
And who is he protector of the suffering humans.


Ethath pavana suthasya stotram,
Ya patathi pancha rathnakhyam,
Chiramiha nikhilan bhogan bhukthwa,
Sri Rama Bhakthiman Bhavathi.

He who reads these five gems,
Which are the poems of praise of,
The son of God of wind,
Would become a devotee of Lord Rama,
And would enjoy his life for a long time.

Atma Panchakam

 Naham deho, nendriya nyantharangam,

Nahamkara prana vargaa na budhi,
Darapathya kshethra vithadhi dhoora,
Sakshi nithya prathyagathma shivoham. 1

I am neither the body, nor the senses nor the mind,
Neither am I pride, soul nor intellect,
But I am Shiva, who is eternal,
Who is completely unattached.
Who is far, far and far away
From wife, son, lands and assets,
And is the witness for everything.

Rajjwagnanath bhathi rajjuryadhai,
Swathma jnanad athmano jeeva bhava,
Aapthokthya hi branthinase sa rajjur,
Jjevo naham desikokthya shivoham. 2

Due to ignorance I think that a rope is a snake,
For due to absence of Jnana.
I ascribe life in to lifeless thing.
And when the realized one points it out,
I wake up from this illusion,
And understand that it is a rope and not a snake.
Similarly I am not the soul but Shiva,
Which I only understand by the teaching of the great teacher.

Aabhadhedham vishwamathmanya sathyam,
Sathya jnanananda roope vimohat,
Nidhramohat swapnavath thanna sathyam,
Shuddha poorno nithya eka Shivoham. 3

Due to the veil of ignorance,
I see this world in the eternal life,
Which has the form of truth and joy,
Similar to the dream which I see due to veil of sleep,
For I am the pure complete, perennial and single Shiva.

Mathi nanyath kinchid athrasthi viswam,
Sathyam bahyam vasthu mayopakjnaptham,
Adarsandhar bhasamanasya thulyam,
Mayyadwaithe bhathi thasmad shivoham. 4

This world is in no way different from me,
Similar to everything getting reflected in a mirror,
All the world is within me,
So I am that Shiva which is without two.

Naham jatho na pravrudho na nashto,
Dehasyoktha prakrutha sarva dharma,
Karthruthwadhi schinmaya syasthi naham,
Karasyaiva hyathmano may Shivoham. 5

Nor was I born nor grew nor die,
For birth, growth and death are for the body,
The nature of taking up a work is,
The reflections of pride and not,
For my soul which is eternal,
And so I am the unattached Shiva.

Naham jatho janma mruthyu kutho may,
Naham prana kshuth pipase kutho may,
Naham chitham sokamohou kutho may,
Naham kartha bandha mokshou kutho may. 6

I was not born, whence birth and death came to me,
I am not the soul, whence came hunger and thirst to me,
I am not the mind, whence came passion and sorrow to me,
I am not the doer, whence came attachment and achment to me?