Sunday, February 17, 2013

Ashtakshara Keerthanam of Poonthanam(malayalam)


Ashtakshara  Keerthanam
(The song about eight letters)

By
Poonthanam

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(Poonthanam was possibly one of the greatest forerunners of Bhakthi cult in Kerala and his greatest work was Jnana Pana, Loosely it can be translated as “Pot of Knowledge”. But “pana” here is not pot but a style of folk poem. This is written in a common man’s language and in a common man’s verse. It preaches the greatness of repetition (singing) of the Holy God’s names. In between Poonthanam wrote about the world he saw and the world he wanted to see. Some people term it as the “Bhagavad Geetha of Malayalam. Here is a mellifluous  extremely poetic prayer  addressed  to the God who is worshipped by the  eight letter chant, “Om Namo Narayanaya”)

1.Krishnambuja nethra Krishna, Nruhare  , Padmanabha,
Krishnachyutha  krupanasraya  karunamrutha  jaladhe ,
Krishnanandha   jaya  Govinda  Jagadeaswara  Krishnu, Mukunda,
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.


Oh Krishna with black lotus like eye , Oh Narasimha , Oh Padmanabha,
Oh Krishna, Oh Achyutha  ,Oh god who becomes indebted to those who surrender, Oh sea of nectar of mercy,
Hail Oh joyful Krishna  , Govinda, god of universe , Krishna , Mukunda,
Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

2.Narayana, Nalinekshana , Narakardhana , murali-,
Nadhamrutha  tharali krutha  naga jangama  vithathe,
Nana jana hrudayambuja nilayachyutha Vishno,
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.

Oh Narayana , Oh lotus eyed one , Oh killer of Naraka ,
Oh God  who with nectar like music of his flute , melted our mind,
Oh God who made the snake move out  , Oh Vishnu who lives,
In the lotus  like  mind of  various  people  as Achyutha,
Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

3.Athimohana sarasiruha  dala komala nayanaa,
Athasi kusuma  sushmadhara parimoshana  nipuna,
Athi sithala  karunamrutha   vaivasi krutha  hrudaya,
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.

Oh Bewitching pretty God with lotus like eyes,
Oh expert in taking away our mind wearing  very pretty flower of flax,
Oh God who using the very cold nectar of mercy makes us helpless,
Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

4.Kamalakara  paralalitha kamalanvitha  kamalodhara sushama,
Parimelitha  charanambuja  yugal aanatha  Bhuvana,
Samalayutha viphaleekrutha  kusalamrutha  charitha,
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.

Oh God  holding a lotus flower , with a lotus like navel and  served by  crowd of lotus flowers ,
Oh god  who is the universe with roaring  lotus like  pair of  feet ,
Oh God  who has a nectar   like  happy story  of blemish  and wantonness,
Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

5.Kala Bhashana , chala bhooshana  mathi dhooshana  harana,
Vidhi naipuna  vishami krutha janaduraga nruhare ,
Hela krutha  halaamadaneelambara sahaja,
Velathiga jana kaalana  kalanala   sadrusa,
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.

Oh stealer of  false speech , fraud acts  and sinning thoughts,
Oh Lord Narasimha ,expert in fate who removed people  of mischief far away,
Oh Lord  wearing blue cloths, who is the friend  those  intoxicated  amorous dalliance  
Oh Lord who is like forest fire which is the god of death  to very bad people,
Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

6.Leelakrutha hey vama mahesa jana subaga ,
Mandhara suma mandhira vara  Thulasi vana maalaa,
Mandhee krutha  Madhu kaidaba madanopama sushamaa,
Santhapitha santhathyarchanasandheepani charana.
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.

Oh good fortune of people  who is the God of Vamapura , who is  fond of sports,
Oh  garland of  forest  of Thulasi , who has perfume of Mandhara flowers and is the divine one of the temple,
Oh God  similar to god of love  with great prettiness , who was slowed down by Madhu and Kaidabha,
Oh God  , who offered   his children at  the feet of his teacher SAndheepini who was sorrowing,
 Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

7.Indhindhira varnaa kundalaanolitha karnaa,
Vrundavana vasaa  , pasu vrundhavana sheelaa,
Vrundharaka vrundharchitha padambuja Vishno,
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.

Oh God with the colour of a large bee, whose ears are  decorated by  ear globes,
Oh God who lives in Vrundavana, who used to graze the cows there,
Oh Eminent Lord Vishnu  whose lotus like feet are worshipped by Thulasi leaves,
Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

8.Vamalaya  vaasaa  drutha hemangadhe vibhavaa,
Bhama kucha kalasarchitha Damodhara  deva,
Somabharanaaswadhitha namamrutha Vishno,
Ashtakshara parikeerthana   Bhagwan thava   Saranam.

Oh Lord who lives in Vamapura , who wears  golden ornaments,
Oh God who worships the pot like  breasts of Bhama, Oh God Damodara,
Oh Vishnu  whose nectar like name is appreciated by Lord Shiva wearing the moon ,
Oh God who is sung by eight  letters , I surrender to you.

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