Tripurasundari ashtakam

  Tripurasundari ashtakam

      (The octet to the beauty of three worlds)

                         By

               Adhi Shankara Bhagawat Pada

                    Translated by

                   P.R.Ramachander

                     

 (Among the several names of the goddess Parvathy one of the very important is Tripurasundari. This means the prettiest woman of the three worlds. It is also possible that she is called Tripurasundari because she is the consort of Lord Shiva who is called Tripura because he contains within himself all the three forms of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.)

Kadambha vana charineen, muni kadambha kadambhineem,

Nidhambha jitha bhoodaram sura nithambhini sevitham,

Navamburuha lochanam abhinavambhudha shyamalam,

Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.   1

I salute that beauty of the three worlds,

Who is the consort of the three eyed one,

Who wanders in the forest of Kadambha**,

Who is like a rich cloud to the sages*,

Whose hips excel the mountains,

Who is served by wide hipped deva maidens,

Who has eyes like newly opened lotus,

And whose colour is that of the rich grey cloud.

**”Kadambha is a tree called Nauclea cadamba. It is said

to put forth orange, fragrant buds at the roaring of thunder clouds.

A withered relic of the Kadambha tree is preserved in the precincts of

the Madurai Sri Meenakshi temple. It also means multitude. In that

sense, the Kadambha forest stands for the universe that the Devi

permeates completely.”

* She is like a cloud that quenches the thirst for knowledge of the sages.

Kadambha vana vasineem kanaka vallaki dharineem,

Maharhamani harineem mukha samullasa dwarineem,

Daya vibhava karineem,visadha lochineem charineem,

Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.   2

I salute that beauty of the three worlds,

Who is the consort of the three eyed one,

Who lives in the forest of Kadambha trees,

Who carries a Veena made of Gold,

Who wears a necklace of precious gems ,

Whose face is aglow with the delight  of  nectar,

Who in her mercy showers all that is wanted,

Who has exceedingly pretty eyes,

And who keeps on shifting.

Kadambha vanashalaya  kuchbarollasanmalaya,

Kuchopamithashailaya gurukrupalasad velaya,

Madarunakapolaya  madhura geetha vachalaya,

Kayapi gana leelaya  kavachiha vayam leelaya   3

We are playfully covered by her from all evils,

By her dwelling in Kadambha forest,

By her garland which is kept above her breasts,

By her breasts which are like mountains,

By her grace and benevolence which is great,

By her blushed cheeks which are red,

By her mellifluous sweet toned songs,

And by her body which is blue like the cloud.

Kadambha vana madhykam kanaka mandala lopa sthithaam,

Shadambhuruha vasineem sathath sidha sowdamineem,

Vidambhitha japa ruchim  vikhacha chandra choodamanim,

Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.   4

I salute that beauty of the three worlds,

Who is the consort of the three eyed one,

Who is in the middle of Kadambha forest,

Who lives golden disc which is ,

Situated on the    six lotus flowers,

Who is the permanent  light giver  to the seers,

Who likes fully open japa flowers,

And who wears the crescent as her head gear.

Kuchancithabanjikaam kutila kunthalalangrutham,

Kusheshaya nivasineem kutila chitha vidwesineem,

Madaaruna vilochanaam manasi jari sammohineem,

Madhnga muni kanyakaam, madhurabhashineen ashraye. 5

I take refuge in her who talks sweetly,

Who is the daughter of sage Mathanga,

Who holds the Veena close to  her breasts,

Who prettily makes up her curly tresses,

Who lives the peals of water lily,

Who hates people with evil thoughts,

Who has eyes red due to her zest,

And who entices the destroyer of the god of love,

Smareth prathama puspineem, rudhira bindu neelabaram,

Graheetha madhu pathrikaam madhu vigurna nethranchalam,

Gana sthans baronnatham galitha soolikaam shyamalam,

Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.   6

I salute that beauty of the three worlds,

Who is the consort of the three eyed one,

Who holds the first flower of God of love,

Who wears the bluish silk dotted with red spots,

Who holds in her hand the pot of wine,

Whose rim of eyes of shaking due to intoxication,

Who has heavy  breasts  which rise high,

And who is the swarthy one with disheveled locks..

Sakumkuma vilepanaam alaka kampikasthurikaam,

Samanthahasitheshanaam sachara chapa pasangusam,

Asesha jana mohineem aruna malya bhooshambaram,

Japa kusuma basuraam japa vidhow smarathembikam. 7

I think of that Ambika during meditation,

Who adorns herself  with saffron,

Whose tresses have the perfume of musk,

Who watches everyone with gentle smile,

Who has bow, arrow , a noose and hook ,

Who entices everyone with least effort,

Whose cloth is decorated with red hibiscus,

Who shines decorated with Japa flowers

Purandara purandrikaam chikura bandha sairandhrikam,

Pithamaha pathivrutham, patu pateera charcharathaam,

Mukunda ramani manim  lasadalangriya kaarineem,

Bajami bhuvanambikam, sura vadhootika chetikam. 8

I  salute that Goddess of the world,

Who rules over the world of Lord Shiva,

Who has her tresses plaited by the queen of devas,

Who is applied sandal by the consort of Brahma,

Who is made to wear ornaments of gems by Goddess Lakshmi,

And who has several Deva maidens as companions.

Sharada Bhujanga prayathashtakam

Sharada Bhujanga prayathashtakam

(The octet to Sharada written in a meter with snake like movement)

By

Adhi Shankara Bhagawat Pada

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Sharda is the goddess of the temple town of Sringeri. She is supposed to be an incarnation of Goddess Saraswathi.Adhishankara has established one of his Mutts in this town, which is in the shores of River Thunga.

 This great stotra unlike the other stotras of  Adhi Shankara is difficult to follow, though it is extremely musical. Many interpretations exist because of that. I have to a large extent followed the Tamil translation (Making changes wherever I did not agree) which appeared in Brahma Sandesam,  April 2009 issue. People who disagree with the translation are requested to pardon this ignoramus.)

Suvakshoja kumbham , sudha poorna kumbhaam,

Prasadavalambhaam , prapunyavalambaam,

Sadasyendu bhimbhaam , sadanoshta bhimbhaam,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              1

Having pot like breasts , which are  pots full of nectar,

Prepared to shower  her grace , she looks after those who do good,

And she has the form of ever glowing moon with reddish lips resembling a cherry,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

Kadakshe dayardhraam , kare gnana mudhraam,

Kalabhir vinidhram , kalapai subhadhraam,

Purasthreem vinidhraam , pura sthunga bhadram,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              2

Brimming with mercy in her glance,  showing symbol of wisdom in her hands,

Always awakened  by the art forms, always wearing ornaments,

And who is the wakeful great lady and living in the shores of auspicious river  Thunga*,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

                 * Sringeri temple is situated in the shores of Thunga and not Thunga Bhadra

                    and so I have taken one meaning of Bhadhra as auspicious.

Lalaamanga phaalaam  lasad gana lolaam,

Swabhakthaika paalaam , yasa sree kapolaam,

Kare thwaksha maalaam , kanath prathna lolaam,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              3

Wearing ornaments in her forehead, becoming ecstasic in good music,

Looking after her devotees , with two cheeks famous for their beauty,

And having garland of beads in her hand and who has deep liking for ornaments,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

Su seemantha veneem drusa nirjithaineem,

Ramath keera vaneem Namath vajra panim,

Sudhamandharasyam, mudha chinthya veneem,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              4

With braided hair  parted at the middle showing hanging ornamental balls,

With playing glances of a deer and worshipped by the Devendra,

With nectar like smiling face and hair that attracts our mind,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

Susantham sudeham druganthe kachanthaam,

Lasad salla thagee manthama chinthyam,

Smara thapasai sanga poorva sthitham thaam,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              5

Very peaceful, with a pretty mien , with black hair ,with eyes like that of deer,

With shining body like a tender climber, who cannot be measured by mind,

And who existed before the imaginative world of great sages,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

Kurange , thurange  Mrugendre , Khagendre,

Maraale madhebhe  mahokshe adhi rodaam,

Mahathyam navamyam sada saama roopam,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              6

She who rides on a deer, horse , lion and eagle,

She who rides on the swan, the bull and the elephant,

During the nine holy days and has a very peaceful form,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

Jwalath kanthi vahnim , jagan mohanaamgeem,

Bhaje maanasam bhoja subrantha brungeem,

Nija stotra Sangeetha  nruthya prabhangeem,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              7

She who is as pretty as raging fire, she whose prettiness attracts the world,

She who moves around the lotus like mind of her devotees like a bee,

And she whose luster is increased by true prayer , song and dance,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

Bhavambhoja nethraja  sampoojyamanam,

Lasan manda hasa prabha vakthra chihnaam,

Chlath chanchalodhara thadanga karnam,

Bhaje Saradambhaam ajasram madhambham.                              8

She who is worshipped by Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Lord Brahma,

She whose face is lighted by her lustrous smile,

And she whose prettiness is increased by the swinging ear pendants,

And I pray that mother Sharada who is forever my mother.

Adhi SAnkakara's Shat Padhi

 Shat padhi (Vishnu  Shat padhi)

                  (The poem of six verses or The bees)

                                         By

                       Adhi Shankara Bhagawat Pada,

                                Translated by

                              P.R.Ramachander

अविनयमपनय विष्णो दमय मनः शमय विषयमृगतृष्णाम् ।
भूतदयां विस्तारय तारय संसारसागरतः ॥ १॥

Avinayamapanaya vishno, damaya mana ,samaya vishaya mruga thrushnam,

Bhootha dayaam vistharaya, tharaya samasara sagaratha.    1

Oh my lord Vishnu, please remove my pride,

Make  my entire mind filled with  peace,

Put an end to any attraction towards animal desires,

Expand my mind with mercy to all beings,

And help me cross, this  ocean of daily life.

दिव्यधुनीमकरन्दे परिमलपरिभोगसच्चिदानन्दे ।
श्रीपतिपदारविन्दे भवभयखेदच्छिदे वन्दे ॥ २॥

Divya dhooni makarande parimala pari bhoga sachidanande,

Sripathi padaaravinde bhava bhaya khedha chidhe vande.    2

I salute the lotus like feet of Vishnu,

Which cuts off  the fear and sorrow of the worldly life,

Which is like a river of holy pollen grains,

And which is with the divine scent of eternal happiness.

सत्यपि भेदापगमे नाथ तवाहं न मामकीनस्त्वम् ।
सामुद्रो हि तरङ्गः क्वचन समुद्रो न तारङ्गः ॥ ३॥

Sathyapi bhedhapagame  nadha thwaham na mamakeenasthwam,

Saamudhro hi tharanga kwachana samudhro na tharanga.     3

Even at the time of  true realization, when I see no differences,

I am but a part of you, and you are never my part,

For a tide is a part of the sea and sea can never be a part of the tide.

उद्धृतनग नगभिदनुज दनुजकुलामित्र मित्रशशिदृष्टे ।
दृष्टे भवति प्रभवति न भवति किं भवतिरस्कारः ॥ ४॥

Udhruthanaga nagabhidanuja dhanukalaa mithra mithra sasi drushte,

Drushte bhavathi  prabhavathi  na bhavathi kim bhava thiraskara.  4

He who lifted the mountain,

Who is the brother of  the enemy of the mountain,

Who is the enemy of the Asura clan,

And who sees with the eyes of moon and sun,

Once you are seen , the sorrow of the world end,

And is there anything that will remain to happen?

मत्स्यादिभिरवतारैरवतारवताऽवता सदा वसुधाम् ।
परमेश्वर परिपाल्यो भवता भवतापभीतोऽहम् ॥ ५॥

Mathsyadhi biravathaarai  ravatharavatha avatha sadha vasudham,

Parameshwara paripalyo bhavatha bhava thapa bheethoham.      5

You who took incarnations   starting from that of a fish,

And well looked after forever   this entire earth,

Please  protect me, who am afraid of the life  of  this world

दामोदर गुणमन्दिर सुन्दरवदनारविन्द गोविन्द ।
भवजलधिमथनमन्दर परमं दरमपनय त्वं मे ॥ ६॥

6.Dhamodhara   guna mandira  sundara vadanaravinda  Govinda,

Bhava Jaladhi  madhana mandhara paramamdharmapanaya thwam mey

He who was tied by a rope  in your belly,

Who is store house of good qualities,

Who has a lotus like face,

Who is the caretaker  of all beings,

And who is the greatest method  to churn  the ocean of life,

Please  remove the fear of worldly life from me

नारायण करुणामय शरणं करवाणि तावकौ चरणौ ।
इति षट्पदी मदीये वदनसरोजे सदा वसतु ॥ ७॥

7.Narayana Karunamaya saranam  karavani  thawakou charanou,

IthiShadpadhee  madheeyee vandhana saroje sada  Vasathu

OH Narayana, Oh personificar=tion of mercy, let my hands salute your feet,

And  let these six verseslive always in  my lotus  like face

॥ इति श्रीमद् शङ्कराचार्यविरचितं विष्णुषट्पदीस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

The  Vishnu Shatpadhi stotra  by Adhi Sankara  is complete

A prayer to Lord Shiva in Tamil

A prayer to Lord Shiva  in Tamil

Translated  by

P.R.Ramachander

Tamil text given by face book friend  Pk Srinivasan is given at the end

(My deep sense of acknowledgement to him)

He is of five letters¹,

He is in five places²,

He has   five activites³

He has    five faces⁴

He is the father  of

One with elephant face

And one with six faces,

He has Goddess Parvathy   as his part

He is everything   to those   who salute hs feet,

He is a  delusion to those   who do not salute his feet,

He is the father   and mother,

He is an expert in dance 

He who sleeps   on the stage.

And he   who dances  on the stage ,

Are same   to those who know,

And to  those   who do not know.

Both of them   are   not known.

1.Namashivaya   2 Kanchipuram, THiruvanaikaval,  THiruvannamalai, Kala Hasthi and Chidambaram

3. creation, upkeep, destruction, obscuration and revelation

4.SAdhyojatha  , Vamadeva  , Aghora  , Thathpurusha and Eeshana

ஐந்தெழுத்தா னவன்
ஐந்திடத்தா னவன்
ஐந்தொழிலா னவன்
ஐம்முகத்தா னவன்
ஆனைமுகத்தா னவனுக்கும்
ஆறுமுகத்தா னவனுக்கும்
அப்ப னானவன்
அம்பிகை பாகத்தான்
அடிபணிவோர்க் கனைத்து மாவான்
அடிபணியாக்கு மருளிடுவான்
அம்மை யப்பனவன்
ஆடல் வல்லா னவன்
அரங்கிலுறங் கிடுமவனும்
அவையி லாடிடு மிவனும்
அறிந்தவர்க் கொன்றேயாம்
அறியார்க்கு யறிதேயாம்!

Ramayana in sixteen words

Ramayana  in sixteen words

Translated  by

P.R.Ramachander

I got this   from the post of my friend in facebook  Srikrishnan Raghavan Ghanapatigal. To him  my acknowledgements. Here is a very concise   and very meaningful summary of Ramayana in 16 Tamil words   which I have translated  in to 16 english  phrases andI have also explained  how these sixteen words  give Ramayana    story concisely. At the end I am  pasting what my friend has posted in Tamil:-

16 வார்த்தை ராமாயணம்
******************************
"பிறந்தார் வளர்ந்தார் கற்றார் பெற்றார்
மணந்தார் சிறந்தார் துறந்தார் நெகிழ்ந்தார்
இழந்தார் அலைந்தார் அழித்தார் செழித்தார்
துறந்தார் துவண்டார் ஆண்டார் மீண்டார்

Pathinaru  vaarthai   Ramayanam

Piranthar, valarnthar , Kathraar , pethrar ,

Mananthar , chiranthar , thuranthar , negizhnthar,

Yizhanthar, Alainthar, azhithar , CHezhithar,

THuranthar , thuvandaar  , aandaar  , meendaar

Ramayana in sixteen words(here phrases)

Took birth, grew up, learnt knowledge, got blessings,

Got married, became  special,  gave up, melted due to emotion,

Lost , wandered, destroyed, made  it great,

Gave up , suffered mentally  , ruled and went back.

Piranthar-took birth-

Took birth as son of Dasaratha  and Kausalya

Valarnthaar- Grew up-

 Grew up along with his brothers

Kathrar- learnt knowledge

Was trained by Vasishta

Pethrar- Got blessings

Got blessings from sage Viswamithra

Mananthar- Got married-

Got married   to Sita

Chiranthar-became special-

Became   special in the eyes  of people  of Ayodhya

THuranthar-gave up-

Gave up his kingdom  obeying his father

Negizhnthar- melted due to emotion

Melted due to emotion of love by Sita, Lakshmana, Guha , several sages, Jatayu

Yizhanthar- lost-

Lost his wife Sita

Alainthar-Wandered-

Wandered  in search of her

Azhithar- Destroyed-

Destroyed Ravana   and his army

Chezhithar- Mage u it gre-

Made his kingdom great

THuranthar-gave up-

Gave yup his wife based on gossip

THuvandar – Suffered mentally-

Suffered Mentally the absence of Sita

AAndaar- ruled-

Ruled his country  well

Meendar- went back-

Went back to heavens

16 வார்த்தை ராமாயணம்
******************************
"பிறந்தார் வளர்ந்தார் கற்றார் பெற்றார்
மணந்தார் சிறந்தார் துறந்தார் நெகிழ்ந்தார்
இழந்தார் அலைந்தார் அழித்தார் செழித்தார்
துறந்தார் துவண்டார் ஆண்டார் மீண்டார்

விளக்கம்:
************
1. பிறந்தார்: ஸ்ரீராமர் கௌசல்யா தேவிக்கு தசரதரின் ஏக்கத்தைப் போக்கும்படியாக பிறந்தது.

2.வளர்ந்தார்: தசரதர் கௌசல்யை சுமித்திரை கைகேயி ஆகியோர் அன்பிலே வளர்ந்தது

3.கற்றார்: வஷிஷ்டரிடம் சகல வேதங்கள் ஞானங்கள் கலைகள் முறைகள் யாவும் கற்றது.

4.பெற்றார்: வஷிஷ்டரிடம் கற்ற துனுர்வேதத்தைக் கொண்டு விஸ்வாமித்ரர் யாகம் காத்து விஸ்வாமித்ரரை மகிழ்வித்து பல திவ்ய அஸ்திரங்களை பெற்றது.

5.மணந்தார்: ஜனகபுரியில் சிவனாரின் வில்லை உடைத்து ஜனகர்-சுனயனாவின் ஏக்கத்தை தகர்த்து மண்ணின் மகளாம் சீதையை மணந்தது.

6.சிறந்தார்: அயோத்யாவின் மக்கள் மற்றும் கோசல தேசத்தினர் அனைவர் மனதிலும் தன் உயரிய குணங்களால் இடம் பிடித்து சிறந்து விளங்கியது.

7.துறந்தார்: கைகேயியின் சொல்லேற்று தன்னுடையதாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட ராஜ்ஜியத்தை துறந்து வனவாழ்வை ஏற்றது.

8. நெகிழ்ந்தார்: 
*அயோத்தியா நகரின் மக்களின் அன்பைக் கண்டு நெகிழ்ந்தது.
*குகனார் அன்பில் நெகிழ்ந்தது.
*பரத்வாஜர் அன்பில் நெகிழ்ந்தது.
*பரதரின் அப்பழுக்கற்ற உள்ளத்தையும் தன் மீது கொண்டிருந்த பாலனைய அன்பினையும் தன்னலமற்ற குணத்தையும் தியாகத்தையும் விசுவாசத்தையும் கண்டு நெகிழ்ந்தது.
*அத்ரி-அனுசூயை முதல் சபரி வரையிலான சகல ஞானிகள் மற்றும் பக்தர்களின் அன்பிலே நெகிழ்ந்தது.
*சுக்ரீவர் படையினரின் சேவையில் நெகிழ்ந்தது.
*விபீஷணரின் சரணாகதியில் நெகிழ்ந்தது.
*எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் மேலாக ஆஞ்சநேயரின் சேவையைக் கண்டு, 'கைம்மாறு செய்ய என்னிடம் எதுவுமில்லை. என்னால் முடிந்தது என்னையே தருவது' எனக் கூறி ஆஞ்சநேயரை அணைத்துக் கொண்டது.

9.இழந்தார்: மாய மானின் பின் சென்று அன்னை சீதையை தொலைத்தது.

10.அலைந்தார்: அன்னை சீதையை தேடி அலைந்தது.

11.அழித்தார்: இலங்கையை அழித்தது.

12.செழித்தார்:
*சீதையை மீண்டும் பெற்று அகமும் முகமும் செழித்தது.
*ராஜ்ஜியத்தை மீண்டும் பெற்று செல்வச் செழிப்பான வாழ்க்கைக்கு திரும்பியது.

13.துறந்தார்:
அன்னை சீதையின் தூய்மையை மக்களில் சிலர் புரிந்து கொள்ளாத நிலையில் மக்களின் குழப்பத்தை நீக்குவதற்காக அன்னை சீதையை துறந்தது.

13.துவண்டார்:
அன்னை சீதையை பிரிய நேர்ந்தது சீராமருக்கு மிகுந்த வலியை தந்தது. அந்த வலி அவரை சில காலம் மனதளவில் துவள செய்தது.

15.ஆண்டார்:
என்ன தான் மனதினுள் காயம் இருந்தாலும் மக்களுக்கு செய்ய வேண்டிய கடமைகள் அனைத்தையும் குறைவற செய்து மக்கள் உடலால், மனதால் ஆரோக்கியமானவர்களாகவும் செல்வச் செழிப்புடன் வாழும்படியும் பார்த்துக் கொண்டது.

16.மீண்டார்:
பதினோறாயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் நல்லாட்சி செய்து மக்கள் அனைவரையும் ராமராகவும் சீதையாகவும் மாற்றி தன்னுடனே அழைத்துக் கொண்டு தன் இருப்பிடமான வைகுண்டம் மீண்டது".

ஜெய் ஸ்ரீராம்.ஜெய் ஜெய் ஸ்ரீ ராம்..... :)