Manikarnikashtakam

Manikarnikashtakam

By

Adhi Sankara  Bhagawat pada

Translated  by

P.R.Ramachander

(Mani Karnika Ghat is  one of the very ancient Ghats  of Varanasi .This is very close to  Temple of Lord Kasiviswanath  .It is also one of the largest   cremation grounds   in Ganga. There is a Mani Karika temple and Mani Karnika Khund established there  by Lord Vishnu.This great prayer is addressed   to Mani Karnika  temple by Shankara Bhagawath Pada)

1.Thwatheere  Manikarnike   Hariharou  Sayujya mukthi pradhou,

Vadanthou kurutha   parasparamubhou  jantho  prayanothsave  ,

Madd roopo   nanujo  ayam asthu   harinaa  prokthaa , shivasthatkshanath,

Than  madhyadh abdhu gulanchano  garudagapeethambaronirgatha.

1.Oh Manikarnika  , when   in your banks Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu ,

Who can grant salvation  at the time of death  , were  arguing  with each other ,

And when Lord  Vishnu  toild him , “This man  would   assume   my form,”

At that time   from the middle of that being, Lord Vishnu having  ,

The symbol of sage   Brugu on him , came out on the Garuda  wearing  the yellow silk.

2.Indradhyasthridasa yakadanthi   niyatham bjoga kshaye they puna,

Jaayanthe  manujaas thathobhi   pasava keetaa   pathangadhaya,

Ye  Mathar manikarnike   thava  jalr   majjanthi nishkalmashaa,

Sayujyebhi  kireeda kousthubha darsaa   Narayana yasur  Bara.

2,Indra  and  other  devas try  to climb up but even they,

After they exhaust the  result  of blessed deeds  are born as,

A human being  or as a worm and Oh Mother Manikarnika ,

Those beings who  bathe in your  sacred waters are free from any stain,

And would assume the form Of   salvation of lord  Narayana,

Wearing a crown and the gem called Kausthubha.

3.Kasi  dhanyathama   vimuktha nagari saalankruthaa  Gangayaa,

Thathreyam  mani karnika   sukha karimukthirhi thath  kinkari,

Swarloka sthulitha   sa haiva vibudhai  kasyam samam Brahmana m

Kasi kshonithale  sthithaa   gurutharasas Swargho  laghuthwam gathaa

3.The ciry of Kasi as decorated  by river ganges as a very blessed town,

And there Manikarnika is pleasant and is like a maid servant called  “salvation”,

And even  the heavens as  well as land of Brahma  are weighed and compared  to Kasi,

And being heavier Kasi is down on earth  and Heavens being light are  on the top.

4.Ganga theeramanuthamam  hi sakalam thathrapi  kasyuthama,

Thasyaam saa  Manikarnikothamouthama   yethreswaro  mukthidha,

Devanamabhi durlabham  stalamidham  Papougha nasanam,

Poorvaparjitha   punya punjagamakam  punyair janai prapyathe .

4.The banks of Ganga are  incomparable  and everything is there, and there in the great Benares,

The ManiKarnina is the best among the best as Lord Shiva   grants salvation there,

And this place  is difficult   for even Devas to get as all  sins are destroyed there,

And it can can be  attained only due to blessed  deeds of previous births and People get blessings there.

5.Dukhambodhi nimagna janthu nivahasthesham  kadham  nishkruthi  ,

Jnathwa   thathi virinchinaa Varanasi sarmadhaa,

Lokaa swarga mukas thathopi  lagavo bogantha  patha  pradhaa,

Kasi mukthi puri   sadaa Shivakari dharmartha  Moksha pradhaa.

5.This  Benares was  created by Lord Brahms for removing the Sorrow,

Of all those p people   who are   drowned  in the  ocean of sorrow ,

The heaven and the worls above give us pleasure first and downfall later ,

But this Benares  which is a city of salvation is a place giving us Dharma , wealth as well as salvation.

6.Yeko Venu dharo , Dharaadharadgara Sri Vathsa bhoosha dhara ,

Yopyeka  khilka shankaro Visha dharo  Gangadharo Madhava  ,

Ye Mathar  Mani karnike   thava  jale   majjanthi   the Manava ,

Rudraa  vaa harayo  bhavanthi bahavasthesham bahuthwam  Kadham,

6,Hari is the only one who carries a flute, mountain   as well as Srivathsa,

Lord Shiva  is the only one who carries the poison , Ganges   and hew is asame as Hari,

All those human beings   who take  bth in this Manikarnika ghat,

Would rise up   from there as Hari or shiva and where is pluarality for them.

7.THwath theere  maranam  thu mangala karam   devirabhi slagyathe ,

Sakrastham  manujam   sahsra nayanai drushtum   sadaa  thathparaa,

Aayantham  savithaa c savithaa  sahasra kiranai  pragyudatho  aabhoothsadaa,

Punyasou Vrusha gi=o adhavaa  Garudaga  kim mandhiram   yaasyathi.

7.The death on your banks is auspicious and is appreciated by even Devas,

And those men are eagerly awaited by  Indra  with one thousand eyes,

And the Sun God with one thousand rays rises up eagerly to see ,

To which temple those persons riding on Bull as   well as Garuda  are going.

8.Madhyahna Mani karnikaa snapanajam punyam na vakthum kshamaa ,

Sweeyai rapatha   sathaiur chathurmukha   suro   vedartha Deekshaa guru,

Yogabhayasaa balena    Chandra shikhara   statha punya parangatha,

Thwatheere  prakarothi  suptha purusham  Narayanam  vaa shivam.

8.The  scared effect of   taking bath in Mani Karnika Ghat  at mid noon,

Cannot even be told by the teacher   Lord Brahma , the Lord who explains  Vedas ,

Even in hundreds of years and by the power  of practicing Yoga  and,

By being at end of blessed  deeds, the one who sleeps  there at night,

Is transformed   by Lord Chandrashekara  ae  Narayana or Shiva.

9.Kruchrai koti sathai swapapa nidhanam  yacha aswamedhai  balam,

THath sarvam Mani Karnika sanapanaje punye pravishtam bhaveth,

Snathwa  stotramitham   Nara  Padathi cheth samsara  paadho nidhi,

THeerthwaa pala valayath  prayathi   sadanam  thejomayam   Brahmana.

9.The power got by carrying  out  hundred crores of   painful penances  ,

And effect Carrying out of Aswamedha  sacrifice would all be got,

By one  who takes bath in Manikarnika    and reading this prayer,

And he would  be able to cross the ocean of Samsara  asif he is  crossing a small  body of water.