Dwadasa Nama Keerthanam

Dwadasa Nama Keerthanam

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. Many of you may be surprised to know that  he has written , several prayers in Sanskrit too. In this prayer he has prayed the dwadasa namas of Vishnu, viz Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu Madhusudana, Purushothama, Vamana, Sreedhara, Hrishikesa, Padmanabha and Damodhara.)

1.Sri Jaya Kesava , Kesi Nishoodhana, Vasudeva Krishna,

Natha jana vathsala,naraka vinasana,  Vasudeva , Krishna

Hail Kesava, killer of Kesi , Vasudeva, Krishna,

Darling of devotees , destroyer of hell,  Vasudeva , Krishna

2.Narayana jaya nalina  vilochana  Vasudeva Krishna,

Natha jana vathsala,naraka vinasana,  Vasudeva , Krishna

Hail Narayana , lotus eyed one , Vasudeva, Krishna,

Darling of devotees , destroyer of hell,  Vasudeva , Krishna

3.Jaya, jaya Madhava , Madhusudana jaya ,  Vasudeva, Krishna,

Madana  manohara  , manjula vigraha , Vasudeva.

Hail, hail , Madhava , One who gives joy to Gopis, Vasudeva, Krishna,

Prettier than God of love ,  One who is handsome, Vasudeva.

4.Jaya, jaya Govinda Gopikananda  , Vasudeva, Krishna,

Godhuli dhoomrathaka  siroruha, Vasudeva.

Hail, hail  Govinda, one who gives happiness  of Gopis, Vasudeva, Krishna,

Oh Vasudeva whose head is covered by dust   raised by  cows.

5.Vishno, jaya, jaya , Viswapathe  Jaya, Vasudeva, Krishna,

Vividha vilasa  vibhooshana bhooshitha   Vasudeva.

Hail, hail Vishnu , lord of the universe, hail, Vasudeva, Krishna,

Oh Vasudeva   who is ornamented with  different types of pretty ornaments.

6.Madhusudana , Jaya Madhava, jaya jaya Vasudeva, Krishna,

Marakatha varna  , manohara  Vigraha, Vasudevaa

Hail Madhusudana , hail , hail  Madhava , Vasudeva , Krishna,

Oh emerald coloured Vasudeva , who has a mind stealing form.

7.Jaya Purushothama , deva Trivikrama  Vasudeva, Krishna,

Varinatha   chandra prasanna mukhambuja, Vasudeva.

Hail the greatest Purusha, God TRivikrama , Vasudeva, Krishna,

Oh gifted Vasudeva who has  a lotus like face  like the full moon.

8.Jaya, jaya  Vamana , varada vibho  , Jaya  Vasudeva, Krishna,

Jaya,jaya  Jaladhi  sudhamrutha  bhajana  Vasudeva.

Hail, hail  Vamana who is the lord who blesses, Hail Vasudeva, Krishna,

Oh Vasudeva who participated in getting nectar  from the ocean.

9.Sridhara , jaya, jaya Sinchitha noopura Vasudeva , Krishna,

Sidhilikrutha  Janahrudaya  saroruha Vasudeva.

Hail, hail, Sridhara , Vasudeva with tinkling anklets , Krishna,

Oh Vasudeva  of the lake of broken people’s heart.

10.Jaya, jaya deva Hrishikesa , jaya, jaya Vasudeva ,Krishna,

Jani mruthi nasana  jagathi nayaka Vasudeva.

Hail, hail God Hrishikesa, hail, hail , Vasudeva , Krishna,

Oh Vasudeva   who destroys birth death cycle  and is the Lord of earth.

11.Sri Padmanabha, Mukunda, Hrishikesa, Janardhana, Vasudeva , Krishna,

Papa vinasana  Parama krupalaya  Vasudeva.

God Padmanabha , Mukunda , Hrishikesa , Janardhana  , Vasudeva , Krishna ,

Oh Vasudeva  Destroyer of sins and greatly charitable .

12.Damodara , jaya Devaki Nandana , Vasudeva, Krishna,

Danuja kulandhaka , deva Parayana , Vasudeva.

Hail Damodara , Son of Devaki  , Vasudeva, Krishna ,

Oh Vasudeva , Killer of asuras , one perused by devas.

12.Bhagawan jaya, jaya, bhagawatha Priya, Vasudeva, Krishna,

Varada Janardhana Vamapureswara  Vasudeva.

Hail, hail God , Who likes holy people , Vasudeva, Krishna ,

Oh Vasudeva who blesses, Oh Janardhana,  Oh Lord of Vamapura.