Mooka Saaram -collection from Mooka panchasathi by Maha periyava

Mooka Saaram

(Essence  of  Mooka panchasathi)

Collection made by

Maha Periyavaa 

Translated by 

P.R.Ramachander

There is  no authentic proof available on the date and life of ‘Mooka kavi’. There lived a man in kAnchIpuram, who was speech impaired from birth. He was regularly visiting ‘kAmAkshi’ temple and was prostrating before the goddess. One day He saw the lips of the goddess and after that he started to speak and wrote a work called ‘mooka pancha sati’ or five hundred slokas in praise of the goddess. The word ‘mooka’ means ‘a person who cannot speak’ in Sanskrit, hence his name remained as ‘mooka kavi’.

This ‘mooka kavi’ was one of the AchAryAs of the kAnchI kAmakotI peetam and was called as mooka sankara. The date of his becoming the AchArya is approximately stated as 398 A.D. and he attained siddhi at 437 A.D.

His work ‘mooka panca sati’ has five sections; they are, AryA satakam, pAdAravinda satakam, manda smita satakam, katAksha satakam and stuti satakam. Each section consists of  about  hundred slokas. The metre or the vrittam in which these slokas were written is different in each section. Most of the Acharyas  of   the the Kanchi Kamakoti peetam    revered this great work and considered it next only   to  Soundarya Lahari in devotion and poetical frenzy  .  The Maha Periyavaa (Swami Chandra Shekara  SAraswathi  of Kamakoti peetam) felt the need  for the devotees  to chant this great work  but due  to being  very huge  , he has  himself selected  31  slokas from the great book   and called  it “Mookasaram (The essence of Mooka) “ and has so kindly gifted   to all of us. He has selected  the following   Stotras from Mooka Pancha sathi

1.Arya  Sathakam (About goddess  and her temple) 46, 47 , 98-  3 slokas

2.Padaravinda sathakam(About lotus like   feet of the goddess) 49, 44, 17 , 73, 74, 90, 99,  100 -8 slokas

3,Sthuthi Sathakam (Praising of the Goddess) 11, 12, 90 , 97 , 56 , 101 , 77. 48  , 99 – 9 slokas

4,Kadaksha  SAthakam (Praising the glance of goddess ) 16, 24 , 47, 77  , 94  -5 slokas

5,Mandasmitha   SAthakam (describing her smile) 94, 24, 23 , 85, 100  -   5 slokas

A book containing   the sanskeit originals, Tamil transliteration  , Tamil and English meaning  containing   this Mooka saaram has been published by  Srii Kanchi Kamakoti peetam, Kanchipuram.Please try to do parayana  of this great  collection daily and get  blessings of Goddess  Kamakshi  , Maha Periyava   and the great Acharya  Mooka Sankara

Raaka Chandra   samanakaanthi    vadhanaa   Naakaadhi rAja  sthuthaa  ,

Mookaanam api kurvathi  suradhuneneekasa vagvaibhavam,

Sri Kanchi Nagari   vihara   rasikaa   sokaapahanthri  sathaam,

Yekaa  punya parasparaa pasupatheraaka kaarini   Rajathe.  1 Sthuthi sathakam 11

Oh Goddess   who has   face  with  as much lustre  as the  full moon,

Who is prayed to by the king of devas who is in heaven,

Who gave  even the dumb ability to talk like   torrential flow  of Ganges,

Who enjoys staying in the town of Kanchi and who removes  sorrows of good people,

Who is  like the   rule  of  bevy of blessed  deeds of Lord Shiva.

Jaathaa Sithala sailatha   sukruthinaam    drusyaa  param dehinaam 

LOkaanaam    kshana maathra   samsmranatha   santhaapa vichchedhini,

AAscharya   bahu khelanam  vithanuthe   naischalyamaabischathi

Kampaayastha   seemni   kapi thatini   kaarunya padho mayi.    2 Sthuthi sathakam 12

OH goddess  who was born to the  cool mountain, Who can be  only seen by people with good deeds,

Who cuts off  sorrows pof people   who thinks about her atleast for a second,

It is a wonder that   one river    which is filled     with the water   of mercy,

Becomes still  and also stages   several games in the  banks of Kampa river,

Paraamrutha   jaree  pluthaa   jayathu nithyam anthaschari,

BHuvaama api bahischari   parama   samvedaathmikaa  ,

Mahadbira   parokshithaa    sathathameva  kanchhi pure,

Mamaanvaham amaham mathir   manasi bathu  Maaheswari,  3  Sthuthi sathakam 90

Oh Goddess  wh became wet due to flow  of divine nectar  , who travels daily   inside  mind of people,

Who travels outside   the world, who   is the one having    divine  consciousness,

Who is   always being   seen by great people   daily in  the city of Kanchi,

And who is praised  by Lord Shiva  , please   always   shine  in my mind.

Chara  chara  Jagan mayim , sakala   hrunmayim,   chinmayim,

Guna thraya  mayim, jagatraya  mayeem,  tridhaamaa mayim,

Paraa para  mayim   sadaa dasa dhisaam   nisaharmayim,

Paraam     sathatha   sanmayim  manasi kamakotim BHaje.  4.  Sthuthi sathakam   97

Oh goddess   who pervades the world of moving and non moving beings   who is in the  hearts of all , who is filled with divinity,

Who has the three  characters(SAtva, Rajas and thamas)  , who pervades  in all three  worlds , who is sun,moon and fire,

Who is here   and in other world  , who pervades in all   the ten directions as day and night  ,

And who is forever  divine  true form  , sing about  you in my mind as Kamakoti.

BHavaambodhou  naukaam   jadima  vipine   pavaka Shikaam,

Pranamendhraadhi  naamadhi makutaam   utthamsa   kalikaam,

Jagathape  Jyothsanama krutha kavacha panjara  pute  ,

Shukasthreem  Kamakshyaa manasi  kalaye   paada  yugaleem.  5.Padaravinda  sathakam   49

I meditate in my mind    the     feet   of Kamashi  , which are   the  ship,

IN the ocean of samsara , the destroying fire in the forest of foolishness  ,

The  decorative  flower on the crows of  the saluting Indra and the devas,

The cooling  moon light   to  our  sufferings   and female  bird in the cage called  Vedas.

Paraa   vidhyaa hrudhyaa    sritha madhana  vidhayaa   marakatha,

Prabhaaneelaa   leelaa   para vasitha soolayudha  manaa  ,

Thama pooram   dhooram charana natha pourandhara purim

Mrugaakshi  Kamaakshi   kamala tharalaaksho  nayathu may. 6  Sthuthi dasakam 56

May by   mountain of sins  be driven far away   by  Goddess Kamashi,   who is doe eyed , Who has pretty eyes like  lotus flower,

Who  is the divine knowledge  , who is pleasant to the mind, who is an expert in love play ,

Who is of the  black    colour of emerald, who has the mind of enchanted    holder   of trident  ,

And whose    feet is worshipped   by the ladies   of Indra’s capital.

Samara Vijaya  Koti   sadaaka aanandha   dhati,

Mrudhu guna   pari peti  mukhya kadaamba vaati,

Muni nutha paripaati  mohithaajanda   koti,

Parama   shiva vadhuti   Pathu  maam Kamakoti .  7  Sthuthi dasakam   101

May I be protected   by Kamakshi , who is the wife  of Lord Paramashiva,

Who is the victory flag of  wars, who is torrent of joy to those   who pray her,

Who is a divine box of   good qualities,  who has  a great  garden of Kadamba flowers,

Who is always praised   by sages and who enchants  the crores of people of this universe

Yasyaa  vaati   hrudaya kamalam  kausumi yoga bhajaam,

Yasyaa peeti   sathatha sisiraa   seekarair maakarandhai,

Yasyaa peti   sruthi parichalan mouli rathnasya   kanchi,

Saame somabharana   mahishi   saadyeth kamkshithaani.  8.  Sthuthi dasakam   77

Let my wishes   be fulfilled   by Kamakshi who  is the  queen of Lord Shiva   wearing moon as  ornament,

Who  considers   the  lotus like  mind of great yogis  as a flower garden,

Whose seat  is always kept cool by the waves   of honey flow   from the lotus flower with  thousand petals,

And who lives  in the town of Kanchi , which is   like   the head  of the Vedas.

Kundali Kumaari Kutile Chandi Chara chara savithriChamunde,
Guninee Guhaarini guhye Guru murthe thwam namami Kamakshi.  9.Arya satakam  46

I salute you Kamakshi , the goddess who wears ear studs, who is a lass as Bala,
Who is the Pranava “Om”, Who is the one who killed Chanda ,
Who is the Savithri who is behind mobile and immobile objects,
Who is the kiler of Chanda and Munda, Who has all the good properties,
Who lives in the cave of our mind and is secret and not visible
And who is the ultimate teacher.

Abhidha kruthlr bhidha kruthir, achidhakruthir api chida kruthir matha,
Anahantha thwamahantha bramayasi Kamakshi saswathi viswam. 10 . Arya Satakam 47

Oh Kamakshi who is the only stable aspect in this world,
You have both differing forms as well as a stable form,
You are the divine form as well as well as the realistic form,
And you are one who is beyond ego and the real supreme self.

Antharapi , bahirapi thwam janthu therantha kantha krudaham they,
Chinthitha santhanavathaam santhathamapi thantha neeshi mahimanam.11. Arya   Satakam 98

Inside and outside you are the one who is the death to him who brings death to all animals,
And you bless with ultimate knowledge those of your children who always think about you.

Giraam dhoorou   chorou jadimathimiranaam  krutha jagth-,

Parthraanou   sonou  muni hrudayaika leelaika   nipunou  ,

Nakhai smerou  saarou   nigama  vachasaam  khanditha bhava,

Gruhonmadhou  paadhou   thava  janani   Kamakshi kalaye .12. Padaravinda   SAtakam      44

Oh Goddess who is beyond words, who is the thief stealing darkness  of ignorance,

Who looks    after  the universe, who plays in the heart of sages   with her   red nails,

Who is   the meaning   of Vedas  and  who cuts off   the  mad   behaviour of the ghosts .

I  am meditating   on your    feet, Oh Goddess  Kamakshi.

Japaa Lakshmi sonoo  janitha  parama  jnana  nalini,

Vikasa vyasaango  viphalitha   jaga jjadya    garimaa,

Mana  poorvaadrim  may thilakayathi  kamakshi   tharasaa,

Thamaskaanda drohi thava  charana Paadhoja   ramana.  13. Padaravinda  SAtakam   17

Oh Goddess , the lustre   of   your lotus like feet   has the red colour  of Hibiscus,

And your sun like   feet   wakes up   the  destroyed world from    the darkness  of ignorance,

And let that sun arise  from my mind, which  is like   the mountain of sun rise

And  let it  like  the saffron on your forehead  remove  my ignorance.

Varivarthu sthema thwayee  mama giraam   devi manaso,

Naree narthu  proudaa vadana kamala Vakhya laharim

Charee charthu  praajnaa janani   jadimaa  na para  jane,

Saree  sarthu   swairam   janani  mayi kaamakshi  karunaa. 17  Sthuthi  satakam   48

Oh Mother  . oh Goddess of words , Oh Goddess  Kamakshi, , Let  my mind ,

Be always with you and the flow of words   dance   majestically  in your lotus  like face,

Oh mother  of wisdom   , let ignorance   shine    among  the people   who are my enemies,

And let kindness   flow  torrentially  of its own accord   in me.

Neelopi ragamadhikam  janayanpuraare,

Lolopi  nbhakthi madhikaam   drudayan naraanaam,

Vakropi   devi  namathaam   samathaam vithanvan,

Kamakshi    nruthyathu   mayee  thwad paanga pathaa  . 15. Kadaksha sathakam   16

Oh  Goddess Kamakshi , even if your glance by   your corner of your eyes,

Is black, it   increases the passion of Lord   Shiva  , and though  it is not stable,

Increases   the devotion of people  and  makes   devotees  who salute you

to be good hearted, and let it  always   dance in my   mind.

Athyantha   seethala mathandrayathu  kshnaardham,

Asthoka   vibhramam  ananga   vilasakandham,

Alpa    smithaarutham   apaara  krupaa  pravaham,

Akshipra roham  achiraanmayi  kamakoti  . 16 . Kadaksha  sathakam     24

Hey Kamakoti  Goddess , let you  glance with the corner   of the eyes,   which is very cool,

Which is very pretty   , which  is the reason for play   of the God of love,

Which is accompanied   by a smilr   and which  is like  the  flow of  limitless  mercy.

Be   with me     and take   rest in me   for at least   half a second.

Kaivalyadhaaya   karuna rasa  kimkaraaya,

Kamakshi   kandhalitha vibhrama   sankaraaya,

Aalokanaaya   thava bhaktha    shivankaraaya,

Mathar namosthu   para  thanthritha   sankaraaya   17  Kadaksha  Sathakam   47

Oh mother  Kamakshi , to your glance   which grants   us  salvation,

Which  is served by mercy  , which increases   the passion play  of Lord Shiva,

Which grants  prosperity    to your devotees

And which    drives  Lord Parameshwara   in to ecstasy  , my salutations

Samsara  katma parithapa  jushaam  naraanaam,

Kamakshi   seethala tharaani  thavekshithaani,

Charadhapanthi Ghana chandana   kardhamanthi,

Mukthaa gunanthi  nishesananthi   18. Kadaksha   sathakam 77

Oh Kamakshi   your glances that   cure   the  intense  heat of wrries,

Of the people    who are   undergoing   the   summer   of Samsara,

Are  like the   moon light , are like    the paste   of sandal  ,

And are  like peral necklaces  as well as    the drops    of snow.

Baanena pushpa   dhanusha   parikalpyamaanaa ,

Athraanena   bhaktha   manasaam   karuna karena  ,

Konena   komala  drusasthava   Kama koti  ,

Sonena soshaya    shive   mama  loka sindhum. 19  Kadaksha satakam   94

Oh Goddess  Kamakoti , Oh consort of Shiva, by your soft  glance 

From the corner of  the eyes, which  is like the  arrow of God of love ,

Which protects   the mind  of   devotees ,which is full of mercy

And  which is of red colour, please   dry  my ocean of sorrows.

Ajnaatha bhakthi rasam  aprasaradh vivekam,

Athyantha garva   anadheetha   samastha   saasthram,

Apraaptha   sathyam   asameepa gatham   cha mukthe  ,

Kamakshi   mamavathu   they karunaa  kadakshaa  20.  Kadaksha sathakam  100

Oh Kamakshi may   I be   protected  by    your   merciful glance  ,

Which  blesses even   those who do not know devotion  , who is not wise  ,

Who is very proud  , who has not learnt    all Sasthras  , who is a  liar ,

And who is very far off     from getting salvation.

Indhaane  bhava veethi hothra nivahe karmougha chandaanila ,

Proudimnaa   bahuleekruthe   nipathitham    santhaapa  hinthaakulam.

Maathar maam   parishincha   kinchidh amalai  peeyusha  varshairiva,

Sri Kamakshi   thava smitha dhyuthi   kanai  saisirya leelaakarai.  21. Mandasmitha sathakam  94

Oh mother Kamakshi  , please make me wet by  the crowd of lustre.

Of your smile   which is pure    and which is filled   with coolness of autumn,

Me who  has fallen in the  heaps of fire of samsara   which  is fanned by speedy winds,

And who is deeply upset  by sorrow    as well as anger .

 Karpoorair amruthair jagath janani  Kamakshi chandrathapai,

Mukthaa haara    gunair   mrunaala valayair  mugdha smitha sreeriyam,

Sri Kanchipura   nayike   samathayaa samsthooyathe   sajjanair,

Thathadruk mama   thapa santhi   vidhaye  kim devi mandhayathe 22. Mandasmitha   sathakam   24

Oh Goddess  Kamakshi who is the mother  of the universe, this lustre of the smile  of yours,

Is being praised    by   good people    as equivalent   to the  rays of nectar , to the luster produced by camphor,

To the  shine  of the  garlands   of pearls    and to the shine of the   stalk of lotus flowers,

And how is it   that smile  is   becoming  slow   to cool down   my sufferings?

Chetha seethalayanthu na paupather  aanandajeeaa thavo,

Namraanaam  nayanaadhvaseemasu   sarat Chandra thapopakrama ,

Samsaaraakhya saroruhaakarakhalikaare thusharothkaraa,

Kamakshi  smara keerthi bheeja nikaraa sthava mandajhasaanguraa.  23.  Mandasmitha  sathakam  31.

Oh Kamakshi let  the smile that  sprouts from you, Which the soul of joy of Lord   Shiva,

Which are like  start of  the autumn moon in places where  the eyes  of your  saluting devotees,

Which is like the snow fall  in destroying   the lotus pond of  SAmsara,

And which are  like the seedwhich would increase  the fame of god of love, cool my mind.

Soothi  swethima kandhalasya vasathi srungara  saarasriyaa ,

Poorthi  sookthi jareerasya  lajari  karunya pathonidhe,

Vaati  kaasana  kousumee   madhurimaswarajya   lakshmyaasthava,

Sri Kamakshi  mamaasthu  mangalakaree   haasa prabhaa  chaathuri.  24  Mandasmitha  sathaka  85

Oh Kamashi  let the  lustrous   cleverness  of your smile,  which is the birth point of   white shoots,

Which is place of stay   of the essence of  the lustre of  love, which  gives   encouragement,

To the flood  of great  poetic skill,  which is like the tide  of the ocean of mercy  ,

And which  is a great flower garden   of the sweetness of sweetness  of  Lakshmi  , bless  me with auspiciousness.

Kreedaa lola   krupaa saroruhamukhi soudhanganebhya  kavi-,

Sreni  vaak paripaatikaamrutha  jari suthi   grahebhya shivwe,

Nirvaanankura   saarva bhouma padavi   simhasanebhya sthava ,

Sri Kamakshi  , manojna mandha   hasithajyothishganebhyo nama.  25. Mandhasmitha sathakam 100

Oh auspicious  Kamakshi, To the waves of   lustre  of  your   pretty smile,

Which is like the  courtyard  of a lady who likes  sports and has lots like face,

 Which is the starting place  of the flow of nectar  of mastery over words in a group of poets,

And which is like the throne  of the  great king who  is the  beginning   of salvation, my salutations.

Kavithva sri misrikarana nipunou   rakshana  chanou,

Vipannaanaam   sriman   nalina   masrunou   sona kiranou  ,

Muneendraanaam   anthakarana saranou   mandha saranou,

Manojnou  Kamakshyaa   duritha  haranou   naumi charanou   26. Padarvindha sathakam   73

I salute Kamakshi’s feet  , which have the power   to increase  the lustre of the poem called Lakshmi,

Which have the ability   to save   those who are sufferings , which have the luster  like lotus flower,

Which have   red coloured rays , which have  the minds of sages as   residence,

Which are pretty   and are   capable of removing  our sufferings.

Parasmath  sarwasamaadhapi    cha parayo mukthi karayo,

Nakha sribhir  jyothsnaa  kaliytha thulayosthamra   thalayo,

Nileeye  Kamashyaa   nigama  nuthayor   nakinathayo,

Nirastha  pronmeela n nalinamadyoreva  payo  . 27  Padaravindha  sathakam  74

I am disappearing   in the   feet of Kamakshi  ,which are divine   and greater than all,

Which grant   salvation,which due to the luster  of the  red nails   

Are similar   to the moon light,  Which are praised by the Vedas 

Which are sung about by devas and which stile the pride of open lotus flowers.

Ranan manjeeraabhyaam   lalitha kamanaabhyaam   sukruthinaam,

Mano vaasthvyaabhyaam   madhitha  thimiraabhyaam   nakha  ruchaa ,

Nidheyaabhyaam   pathyaa   nija sirasi   Kamakshi sathatham,

Namasthe  paadhaabhyaam   nalina mrudulaabhyaam   giri suthe,   28  Padaravinda SAthakam   96

Oh Kamakshi  who is the daughter of the mountain  , to your feet  ,

Which are decorated by tingling feathers  , which make a beautiful walk 

Which has made  the mind of those   who do blessed deeds   as their home,

Whose lustre of  nails remove   all darkness  , Which have  ben kept on his head ,

By Lord Shiva   and which are   as soft    as lotus flowers  ,  always my salutations.

Yasa suthe   matha , madhura   kavithaam   pakshmalayathe  ,

Sriyam   dathe   chithe   kamapi   paripaakam  pradhayathe  ,

Sathaam  paasgranthim   sidhilayathi   kim kim na kuruthe  ,

Prapanne   kaamaakshyaa   pranthi   paripaati   charanayo.  29 Padaravindha sathakam   99

Oh mother  Kamakshi  , the action of saluting your feet  , increases  ,

The fame of good people  , increases   ability   to write   sweet poems,

Grants  prosperity  , Gives the  mind an indescribable maturity,

Opens up the tie created  by desires  and What it cannot do to  those who surrender  to it?

Maneeshaam  mahendreem  kakubhamiva    they kaamabhi   dasaam,

Pradathe  Kamaakshyaa   charana  tharunadithya  kirana,

Yadheeye   samparke   drutha rasa marandhaa   kavayathaam,

Paipaakam   dhathe  parimalavathi   sookthi nalini  30. Padaravindha  sathakam  100

  Oh goddess  Kamamaksi  , you  make the poems   of great poets   added   with,

The  honey from the pollen of the lotus flower and make it bloom,

And the rays of  your feet which are like   the young sun  ,

Lights up   their  brain like   the eastern direction  of Indra  and make them great.

Bhuvana  Janani   bhooshaa bhootha chandre   namasthe,

Kalusha   samani   kampaa there gehe   namasthe  ,

Nikhila  nigama vedhaye  nithya roope  namasthe  ,

Para shiva mayi  paasaa schedha hasthe  namasthe . 31  Sthuthi sathakam  99

Salutations to the mother of the world , who wears moon as an ornament,

Salutations to her who  destroys sins   who has temple in the  banks of Kampa river,

Salutations  to her who is known to all Vedas  and  who has never changing form,

Salutations  to one pervaded with Shiva(peace) who is armed with rope and the goad .