Meenakshi ashtotharam

Meenakshi ashtotharam

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Goddess Meenakshi(One with fish like eyes-fish is the emblem of Pandya kingdom)  is a presiding deity  of the   great Madurai  Meenakshi  temple. The city of Madurai was found  by  Kulasekara  Pandyan .His son and the king   was Malaya Dwaja Pandian.His queen was  Kanchanamala. They did not have any children and conducted several Yagas for getting one.Once from the sacrificial fire a three  tyear girl with three  breasts came out and sat on the lap  of Kanchana Malai ,Malayadwaja  was sad that he did not get a son.Then a divine voice told him to name her as THatathakai and bring her up just like a son and it also told him that her third breast would disappear   once she  comes across the Man whom she   would marry.The king obeyed the divine command  and taught THatathakai  the art of war and ruling the country. Later  she became the queen of Madurai .She started fighting war and conquering  other lands,Once she reached Kailasa abd Lord Shiva   came before her as  Lord Sundareswara and her third breast disappeared . She then fell in love with lord Shiva and got married to him.

    In the Madurai temple the Goddess Meenakshi  holds the pride of place .She has a crescent on her hair . holds a parrot  in her left hand  and a lotus flower on her right hand.Adhi Shankara  in Meenakshi Pancha rathnam describes   her  in an enchanting, devotion  dripping way as follows:-

“I always bow before that Meenakshi, who is the treasure house of mercy,

Who shines like billions of rising suns,

Who wears a shining crown,

Who has reddish lips like the Bimba fruits,

Who has shining rows of sparkling teeth,

Who decorates herself with reddish silk,

Whose feet is worshipped by Vishnu, Brahma and Indra,

Who is the consort Of Lord Shiva,

And who is the personification of sacred truth.   1

I always bow before that Meenakshi, who is the treasure house of mercy,

Who shines in a crown decorated by garland of pearls,

Whose face shines similar to the full moon,

Who wears tinkling anklets full of gems,

Who shines like a  fully opened lotus,

Who blesses her devotees with all their wishes,

Who is the daughter of the mountain,

And who is served by Goddess Saraswathi and Lakshmi.  2

I always bow before that Meenakshi, who is the treasure house of mercy,

Who is the sacred knowledge of Sri Vidhya,

Who dwells in the left side of Lord Shiva,

Who shines with the sacred sound “Hreem”,

Who is in the central dot of the holy design of Sri Chakra,

Who is the lady presiding over the court of Lord Shiva,

Who is the mother of Lord Subramnya and Ganesa,

And who is the enchanter of the universe.  3

I always bow before that Meenakshi, who is the treasure house of mercy,

Who is the consort of Lord Sundaresa,

Who removes fears,

Who grants knowledge,

Who is purest of the pure,

Who is black in colour,

Whose feel are worshipped by lotus flowers,

Who is the sister of Lord Narayana,

Who enjoys music from Veena, drum and flute,

And who is the goddess of varied aspects.     4

I always bow before that Meenakshi, who is the treasure house of mercy,

Who stays in the hearts of different yogis and saints,

Who grants different wealth and occult powers,

Whose feet shine with various flowers ,

Who is worshipped by Lord Narayana,

Who is the all pervasive sound of the holy spirit,

Who is greater than the great,

And who is the meaning of various philosophies.   5.

Let us  worship the Goddess  and lead a life of prosperity   and Auspeciousness:-

1.Om Sri Mathangyai Nama-Salutations to the Goddess  who is daughter of sage  Mathanga

2.Vijayayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who achieves  victory

3.Shyamayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is black

4.Shashiveshyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who  puts on the form of a moon

5.Shuka Priyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who likes parrot

6.Neepa Priyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who likes  the Kadamba tree

7.Kadambeshyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess   of Kadambas

8.Madha Ghoornnitha Lochanayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has a rapturous   dizzy   eyes

9.Bhakthanurakthayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who loves her devotees

10.Manthresyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  of manthras

11.Pushpinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is a matured  lady

12.Manithrinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is conjurer/eloquent

13.Shivayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the consort of Lord Shiva

14.Kalavathyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who wears the crescent/who is a great artist

15,Shri Raktha Vasthrayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who wears the red cloth

16.Abhiramayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is every moment pretty

17.Sumadhyamayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has a pretty middle

18.Trikona Madhya Nilayayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is in the middle of the triangle

19.Charu Chandravathamsinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has the  looks of the pretty moon 

20.Raha: Poojyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is secretly worshipped

21,Yoni Roopayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has the form of a joint

22.Maheshwaryai Nama: -Salutations to the  great goddess

23,Bhagapriyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who loves welfare  of others

24.Bhagaradhyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is worshipped by her lord

25,Subhagayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who  has a pretty body

26.Bhaga Malinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who wears excellent garland

27.Rathi Priyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  wholikes love

28.Chathur Bhahavey Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has four hands

29.Suvenyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has good braid

30.Charuhasinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who smiles sweetly

31.Madhu Priyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who likes honey

32.Shri Jananyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the mother of Lakshmi/prosperity

33.Sarvanyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is every thing

34.Shri Shivathmikayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the soul of  Shiva

35.Rajya Lakshmi Pradhayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who gives kingdom and  wealth 

36.Nithyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is forever

37.Neepodhyana Nivasinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who lives in earnest meditation

38.Veenavathyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who carries  Veena

39.Kambu Kandiyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has neck like a conch

40.Kameshyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the sort of Lord Kamesa

41,Yajya Roopinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has the form of Yajna

42,Sangeetha Rasikayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who enjoys music

43,Nadha Priyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who kl loves musical note

44.Neelothpala Dhyuthyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who resembles blue lotus

45.Mathanga Thanayayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who was the daughter of sage Mathanga

46,Lakshmyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  Lakshmi

47.Vyapinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who pervades

48,Sarva Ranjinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who charms every one

49.Divya Chandana Dhigdhangyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has applied divine sandal paste in all her limbs

50.Yavakardra Padhambujayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has  lotus like feet  walking with warm speed

51.Kasthuri Thilakayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who puts a musk thilaka

52,Subhruvey Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has pretty brows

53,Bimboshtyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has lips like bimba  fruits

54.Shrimadalasayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is  an indolent Goddes Lakshmi

55,Vidhya Rajyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who rules over the land of knowledge

56.Bhagavathyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is Bhagawathi

57.Sudha Pana anumodhinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who supports drinking of nectar

58.Sangha Thadanginyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who wears a  group of ear rings

59.Guhyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is secrative

60.Yoshith Purusha Mohinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who as a young lady   is an enchanter of men

61.Kinkari Bootha Geervanyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has bhootha lady servants

62,Koulinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who belongs to a great clan

63.Akshara Roopinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has a form that never ages

64.Vidyuth Kapola Phalakayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  whohas lightning like protective cheeks

65.Muktha Ratna Vibhooshithayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who wers ornaments made of pearls

66.Sunasanayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has a pretty nose

67.Thanumadhyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has a pretty middle of the body

68.Vidhyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is knowledge

69.Bhuvaneshwaryai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the goddess of earth

70.Pruthusthanyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who  stays in the earth

71.Brahma Vidhyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who  is divine knwledge

72,Sudha Sagara Nivasinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who lives in ocean of nectar

74.Guhya Vidhyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the secret  knowlwdge

75.Sri Anavadhyangayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who has faultless  limbs

76.Yanthrinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is a traveller

77.Rathi Lolupayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who eager desire to love

78.Trilokya Sundaryai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the prettiest one of three  worlds

79.Ramyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who entertains

80.Srunginyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who ties  others

81. Geervanyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess

82.Athmaikya Sumukhi Bhootha Jagad ahladha Karinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who made her very friendly  and pretty bhootha  happiest in the world

83.Kalpatheethayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is beyond all happenings

84.Kundalinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is in Kundalini

85.Kaladharayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who wears the crescent

86.Manaswinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is a virtuous wife

87.Achinthyanandha Vibhavayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who grants joy beyond our imagination

88.Ratna Simhasaneshwaryai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is thegoddess  of a gemthrone

89.Padmasanayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who sits on lotus

90.Kamakalayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the  celestial  letter

91.Swayambu  kusumapriyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who likes se;f existing flowers

92.Kalyanyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is auspicious

93.Nithya Pushpayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is a flower opening daily

94.Shambhavyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the consort of Shambhu

95.Varadhayinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the giver of boons

96.Sarva Vidhya Pradha Vachyayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who assures  to give all type of knowledge

97.Guhyopanisha Dhuthamayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who throws   light on secret Upanishads

98.Nrupa Vashyakaryai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who could attract kings

99.Bhokthrai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who  consumes

100. Jagad Prathyaksha Sakshinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the  personal witness  of the universe

101.Brahma Vishnu Eesa Jananyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is the mother  of Brahma, Vishnu   and Shiva

102.Sarva Soubhagya Dhayinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who grants all prosperity

103.Guhyadhiruhya Gopthryai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who hides all those   which are secret

104.Nithya Klinnayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who is daily soft

105.Amruthoth Bhavayai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who was born out of nectar

106.Kaivalya Dhathriyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who grants salvation

107.Vashinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who attracts

108.Sarva Sampath Pradhayinyai Nama: -Salutations to the Goddess  who gives all type of wealth