A prayer to Lord Guruvayurappan (Tamil)

Tamil prayer to Guruvayurappan

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(Guruvayurappan is the lord presiding over the temple in Guruvayur in Kerala. It is believed that the idol housed in the temple was the one worshipped by Lord Krishna himself and was brought to Guruvayur by Guru and Vayu and consecrated there. Over years the temple has become very popular in all parts of India. Here is a original prayer written in Tamil to be sung in the same tune as the popular prayer “Jaya Jaya Hey Mahishasura Mardini”)

Avani Rohini ashtami nalinil,
Devaki vayithil janithavane,
Akkaname vasudevarin moolam,
Yasodhayin veetai adainthavane,
Paavayam Rohini balakanaam,
Balaramanin pinbu pirandavane,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 1

He who is born to Devaki,
In the month of Avani* ,
In the star Rohini and in Ashtami,
He who reached Yasoda’s house,
Immediately through Vasudeva,
He who was born after Balarama,
Who was the son of Lady Rohini,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.
*August-September

Azhagiya penninai pol uru mariya,
Arakkiyaam poothanai vandhidave,
Kuzandai unakku aval kongai thandeyadhil,
Kodum visha palinai ootidave,
Azhagane paludane kalande aval,
Aviyai panam cheydhavane,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 2

When the Ogress Poothanaa,
Came made up as a pretty maiden,
And when she tried to breast feed you,
With poisonous milk from her breasts,
You drank mixed with her milk,
Her soul as well, Oh pretty one,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.

Valar pirai pol nee thottil kidanthu kan,
Valarnthirukkum antha velayile,
Vanchakan chakatanum unn uyir kondita,
Vandhanan vandiyin uruvinile,
Mulari malar paadam kondu udaithe avan,
Murindhu vizhundhida vaithavane,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 3

When you were slumbering in the cradle,
Like the crescent which is in growing phase,
The deceiver Sakata came in the form of a cart,
And you by kicking him with your soft flower like feet,
Made him break in to pieces , Oh God,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.

Katthena cheeri yezhunda Thruna varthan,
Kalathai nodiyil mudithavane,
Cheetham konde pakshi roopathil nindra,
Bhagasuran vayai kizhithavane,
Koothamena oru kuthirayai pol vanda,
Kesiyai maythitta kesavane,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 4


Oh God who within a second, put an end,
To Thrunavartha who rose like a howling storm,
Oh God who tore off the mouth of Bhagasura,
Who came like a bird which is very furious,
Oh Kesava who killed the asura Kesi,
Who came in the form a horse resembling death,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.

Kaliya Pambu vasikkum thadagathil,
Kadum visha jwalayum veesidave,
Kar mugil varnane , paralandha thiru,
Padam avan mudi meethu vaithe,
Thalamudan nadamadi avan thalai,
Vanangida cheydha dayanidhiye,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 5

When the poisonous fumes swept,
The lake in which Kaliya was living,
Oh God with the colour of Black cloud,
You kept your feet which measured the world,
On his head and danced according to musical beats,
And made him bow to you, Oh treasure of mercy,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.


Devar thalaivanai vanangidum poojayai,
Thevai illai yena neeki vaithe,
Govardham yenum malai thannai poojikka,
Kopathinal devendranum,
Yeviya kadu mazhai thaduthida malai thannai,
Kudayena viral thannil pidithavane,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 6

You stopped the worship of the lord of devas,
Telling that it is a needless worship,
And asked people to worship the Govardhana mountain,
And when the king of Devas became very furious,
And sent torrential rains, for protecting from the rain,
You held the mountain on one finger,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.

Bhava kkadal bandam aruthidum pavana,
Moorthiye , unnai ural thannile,
Pavai Yasodhayum bandhanam cheythida,
Parthirunday Damodharane,
Thavazhndu vande mani grrevanudan,
Nala koobharan sapathai theerthavane,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 7

Oh holy one who cuts off the tie with the ocean of life,
When the lady Yasodha tied you to the mortar,
You who were tied in the stomach simply observed,
And you crawled and gave redemption from curse,
To Manigrreva and Nala koobara,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.

Vennayudan Thayir paal kudangal pala,
Vendiya mattum niraindhirukka,
Mannai alli undan chinnam chiru Kumizh,
Vayinil pottathan mayamenna?
Annai Yasodhai mun vay thirandhe pala,
Andangal kaatiya vindai yenna?
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 8

When several pots of curd, milk and butter,
Are available in plenty, what was the reason to,
Take soil and put in your little pretty mouth?
What was the trick by which you showed,
Several universes in your open mouth to mother Yasodha?
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.


Devarum munivarum thedi thavam cheyyum,
Thiruvadi puzhutiyil padinthidave,
Aavinam meynthida nadantha Brindavanam,
Mulaitha pullagavum Akilane,
Pavi, naan aayargal padiyil andru,
Piranthidum bhagyam cheythilene,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 8

I the sinner was not lucky enough,
To be born in the land of cowherds,
Where the soil was touched by the feet,
Which is being searched by Gods and sages,
Nor was I lucky enough to be born as a grass,
Which was there in Brindavan, where cows grazed them.
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.

Yanaigal arasan Gajendran kalinai,
Androru mudalai izhuthidave,
AAdhi mudalvane abhayam yendre andha,
Yanayum alari azhaithidave,
Deena saranyane , mudalayai kondru andha,
Yanayin uyir thanai kathavane,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 9

Long ago when the leg of Gajendra,
The king of elephants was pulled by a crocodile,
And when that elephant beseeched and cried,
“Oh primeval God , please protect me, “
You the refuge of the oppressed killed that crocodile,
And saved the life of that elephant,
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.


Govinda, Govinda Gokula Nandana,
Govinda , Govinda nama hare,
Kodi janmanthara papangal therthida,
Koyil konday Gopala hare,
Pavigal undan namam uraithidil,
Parama padam tharum Rama Hare,
Jeya jeya hey guru vayu pureeswara,
Devaki nandana Krishna hare. 10

Oh Govinda, Oh Govinda, Oh Son of Gokula,
Oh Govinda, Oh Govinda whose name is Hari,
For removing sins committed in billions of births,
You occupied that temple, Oh Gopala, Oh Hari,
Oh Rama, Oh Hari , you would grant salvation,
To those sinners , who tell your name.
Victory, victory , Lord of Guruvayur,
Hari who is the son of Devaki.