Ramanathashtakam

Ramanathashtakam

(The octet addressed to  Ramanatha)

By

Sri Rama

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Ramanatha , the God of Rameswaram is supposed to be installed by Lord Rama after the war. But Valmiki Ramayana does not refer to this but  indicates its installation before crossing the sea.  )

1.Sri Gajajinam  soola kapala paninam,

Jata dharm  Chandra kalavathamsam,

Umapathim Kala kalam  trinethram,

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

Clothed in elephant hide and holding skull and trident in his   hands,

Who sports matted tuft and who wears   the crescent of moon,

Who is consort of Uma, who  killed of God of death and has three eyes.

2,SAmastha papa kshaya   divya namam,

Prapanna Samsara   gathoushadham thwam,

Nama jjanaa  abheeshta   vara  pradham cha,

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

You have  a divine name removing all  sins,

You are the medicine which removes the ills of life of those   who surrender to you,

And also satisfy  all desires of those who salute you.

3.Sambham  Pravalendhu  sila samabham,

Jata alankrutha Chandra moulim,

Dig bheetha vaso vasanam varenyam,

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

Who is with Amba ,  who has pretty hair  who appears like  the piece of moon,

Who decorates himself  pretty  moon  on his matted hair , who is pretty   head gear,

And who wears an apparel which makes  all directions scared and who is the best.

4.Pura thraya dwamsana theevra Banam,

Kamanga samhara  kapala nethram,

SAndarsana thwa sthalamastha paapam,

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

Who  is the fierce arrow which destroyed the three cities,

Who has an eye in the forehead   which killed the God of love,

And by visiting whose place   all sins  are destroyed.

5.BHavandha karograha    basthi mantham,

SAmsara  kanthara  mahadavagnim,

Manoradha poorna kala  megam,

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

Who  is the one who saves one from  dark prison  of  fate,

Who is the great fire that would   burn the world,

And who is   the black cloud fulfilling mind’s desires.

6.Seethamsu vakthram   smitha  chandrikadyam,

Kapala  malodu gana  pracharam,

AAsambharam  vyomathanum  mahantham.

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

Who has a face  like the cool moon , who is like the smiling moon,

Who wears the skull garland ,  who supports   the lord of the stars,

Who wears desirable apparel , whose body is the sky and who is great.

7.Surasrua jyeshta  , surendra vandhyam,

Surasuroth  bhasura  bhoosuradyam,

Surabha ga  shobhitha   sekaram thwam,

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

Who is the   eldest among devas and asuras, who is saluted by king of devas,

Who shines as the noblest   among the devas  , asuras and Brahmins  ,

Who is honoured by devas   and who has a shining crest.

8.Sethor madhye  parvathagre   pavithre,

Gauryasakam   brajamanam mahesam,

 Jyothi roopam  , Chandra  suryagni nethram,

Sri Ramanatham Sirasa  Namami.

I salute with my head  that Ramanatha,

Who in the middle of Sethu   on the holy mountain top,

And  who along with Parvathi   shines and is the greatest God,

Who has a shining form  and has sun, moon and fire as eyes.

9.Ramenaivam samsthutho Ramanadha ,

Prathur bhootho ling madhyath bhavanya,

Drushtwa Rudram Raghava poorna Kama,

Nathvaa , sthuthvaprarthayaamasa Shambhum.

When Ramanadha   was praised  like this by Rama,

He  quickly appeared before him along with Bhavani  in the middle of the linga,

And after seeing lord Shiva, Raghava whose   desire was fulfilled,

aAlutated him, praised him   and  prayed  that God Shambhu.