Know Your Mantra

Sri Annapurna Ashtakam

2008-11-27T03:10:00.000-08:00

What is an Ashtakam? An Ashtakam is a song comprising eight sections. You are expected to sing each section to the same music.

Sri Annapurna Ashtakam is written by Adi Shankaracharya to praise and invoke the grace of Mother Goddess Annapurneswari. Mother Goddess Annapurneswari is the presiding deity at Banaras or Varanasi. She is the Mother who graces food to everybody ; especially for poor and destitute. The Godess of Varanasi also fed King Harishchandra's children (he became poor due to Rishi Vashishta). There are many Annapoorni temples in India where food is freely served every day to every one i.e. Dharmasthala in Karnataka.

Annapurna Ashtakam is loved for its wordings and composition. You will realise all your ambitions by chanting or singing this ashtakam.

Nithyaananda kari,
Varaa abhya karee,
Soundarya rathnaakaree,
Nirddhotahakila ghora pavaanakaree,
Prathyaksha Maheswaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree.,

Naana rathna vichitra bhooshana karee,
Hemaambaradambaree,
Mukthaa haara vilamba maana vilasa,
Dwakshoja kumbaan dharee,
Kasmeera garu vasithaa ruchi karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 2

Yogaanandakaree ripu kshyakaree,
Dharman artha nishtaakaree,
Chandrarkaanala bhasa maana laharee,
Trilokya rakshaa karee,
Sarvaiswarya samastha vaanchithakaree,K
Kasi puraadheeswaree,B
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 3

Kailaasaachala kandharaa laya karee,
Gowree , umaa sankaree,Kaumaree nigamartha gochara karee,
Omkara beejaksharee,
Moksha dwaara kavata patana karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 4

Drusyaa drusya vibhootha vahana karee,
Brhmaanda bhando dharee,
Leelaa nataka suthra kelana karee,
Vijnana deeptham guree,
Sree viswesa mana prasaadhana karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 5

Urvee sarva janeswaree bhagawathee,
Maatha krupaa sagaree,
Venee neela samaana kunthala dharee,
Ananda dhaneswaree,
Sarvanandakaree bhayaa shubhakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 6

Aadhi kshaantha samastha varna nikaree,
Shabho tribhaava karee,
Kasmeeraa tripureswaree trilaharee,
Nithyaamakuree sarvaree,
Kamaa kamksha karee janodhaya karee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 7

Devee sarva vichitra rathna rachithaa,
Dakshayanee sundaree,
Vama swadu payodhara priyakaree,
Sownhagya maaheswaree,
Bhakthaabhishtakaree, sadaa shubhakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 8

Chandrakaanala koti koti sadrusaa,
Chandramsu bhimbaan dharee,
Chandrakaagni samaana kunthala dharee
Chandrarka varneshwaree,
Maala pustaka pasasangusa dharee,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 9

Kshatrathraanakaree, mahaa bhayakaree,
Mthaa krupaa sagaree,
Sakshaan mokshakaree sadaa shiva karee,
Visweshwaree sridharee,
Daksha krundha karee niraa mayakaree,
Kasi puraadheeswaree,
Bhikshaam dehi, krupaa valambana karee,
Mathaa Annapurneswaree 10

Annapurne sadaa purne,
Sankara praana vallabhe,
Jnana vairagya sidhyartham,
Bikshaa dehee cha parvathy.

Mathaa cha Parvathy Devi,
Pithaas cha Maheswara
Bandhawa Shiva Bhakatamscha,
Swadesho Bhuvana Trayam.

Dakshinamurthy Ashtakam

2008-11-27T02:09:00.000-08:00

What is an Ashtakam? An Ashtakam is a song comprising eight sections. You are expected to sing each section to the same music.

Adi Shankaracharya has composed an Ashtakam on Lord Dakshinamurthy (the Lord of Jnana). Dakshinamurthy Ashtakam (or Astakam). In this hymn he praises and invokes the blessings of the Lord.Dakshinamurthy is Lord Shiva's another incarnation. He is assumed as 'guru' or teacher of knowledge and wisdom.

Dakshinamurthy Ashtakam is a powerful Stotra.You may chant the hymns and pray the Lord. If you know the inner meaning and philosophy of the hymn then you may be able to appreciate the philosophy.

Mouna Vyakhya prakatitha, para,
Brahma thathwam yuvanam,
Varshishtha anthevasad rishiganai,
Ravrutham brahma nishtai,
Acharyendram kara kalihtha chin,
Mudram ananda roopam,
Swathmaramam mudhitha vadanam,
Dakshinamurthim eede. 1

Viswam darpana drusyamana nagari,
Thulyam nijantargatham,
Pasyannathmani mayaya bahirivoth,
Bhutham yatha nidraya,
Ya sakshath kuruthe prabodha samaye,
Swathmanameva dwayam,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree Dakshinamurthaye. 2

Beejasyanthari vankuro jagadhidham,
Prang nirvikalpam puna,
Mayakalpitha desa kala kalanaa,
Vaichithrya chithrikrutham,
Mayaveeva vijrumbhayathyapi maha,
Yogeeva yah swechaya,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 3

Yasyaiva sphuranam sadathmakamasath,
Kalparthagam bhasathe,
Sakshaath thathwamaseethi veda vachasa,
Yobodhyathyasrithhan,
Yath saksht karanath bhavenna punara,
Aavrithir bhavambhonidhow,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 4

Nanachidhra ghato dhara sthitha maha,
Deepa prabha bhaswaram,
Jnanam yasya thu chakshuradhi karana,
Dwara bahi spandathe,
Jaanameethi tham eva baandham anubathi,
Yethath samastham jagat,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 5

Deham pranam api indryanyapi chalaam,
Budhim cha soonyam vidhu,
Stree balandha jadopamasthvaha mithi,
Brandha brusam vadhina,
Maya sakthi vilasa kalpitha maha,
Vyamoha samharine,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 6

Rahu grastha divakarendu sadrusho,
Maya samachadanath,
Sanamthra karanopa samharanatho,
Yo abhoot sushuptha pumaan,
Pragaswapsaamithi prabodha samaye,
Yaa prathyabignayathe,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 7

Balyadishwapi jagaradhadishu thadha,
Sarva sva avasthasthaswapi,
Vyavrutha swanuvarthamanamaha ,
Mithyanth sphurantham sada,
Svathmaanam pragatikarothi bajatham,
Yo mudraya bhadraya,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 8

Viswam pasyathi karya karana thaya,
Swa swami sambandatha,
Sishyacharya thaya thadaiva pithru,
Puthradhyathmana bedatha,
Swapne Jagrathi va ya esha purusho,
Maya Paribramitha,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 9

Bhoorambaamsya anilo ambhara,
Maharnadho himamasu puman,
Ithyabhathi characharathmakamidham,
Yasyaiva murthyashtakam,
Nanyath kinchana vidhyathe vimrusathaam,
Yasmath parasmath vibho,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye. 10

Sarvathmathvamithi sphutikruthamitham,
Yasmadamushamin sthave,
Thenasya sravanath thadartha mananath,
Dyanascha Sankeerthanath,
Sarvathmathva maha vibhuthi sahitham,
Syadheeswarasthvam svatha,
Siddhyeth thath punarashtadha parinatham,
Chaisvaryamvayhatham. 11

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mouna Vyakhya prakatitha, para,
Brahma thathwam yuvanam,
Varshishtha anthevasad rishiganai,
Ravrutham brahma nishtai,
Acharyendram kara kalihtha chin,
Mudram ananda roopam,
Swathmaramam mudhitha vadanam,
Dakshinamurthim eede. 1

Chitram Vata tharor mole vruddha,
Sishya, Guror Yuva,
Gurostu mounam vykhyanam,
Sishyasthu china samsaya

Om nama pranavarthaya,
Suddha jnanaika moorthaye nama,
Nirmalaya prasanthaya,
Sri Dakshinamurthaye nama.

Gurave sara lokaanam,
Bishaje bhava roginaam,
Nidhaye sarva vidhyanam,
Sri Dakshinamurthaye nama.

Adi Shankaracharya

2008-11-27T01:28:00.000-08:00

Adi Shankaracharya (788 CE - 820 CE), left an indelible mark on Hindu religion and Vedic Dharma. He was the first to consolidate Advaita Vedanta. It is one among the three sub-schools of Vedanta philosophy.

Adi Shankaracharya was born to a Brahmin couple in a very small village known as Kaladi in Kerala. Even today you can visit Kaladi and visit the two shrines dedicated to Dakshinamurthy and the other to Goddess Sharada (Saraswati). You can also visit his place of birth.

The young boy adopted Sanyasa and left Kerala to find his guru. Govinda Bhagavatpada accepted Shankara as his disciple after testing his knowledge in Vedas. The guru wanted that Shankara should write commentry on the Brahma Sutras. Shankara continued his journey to Banaras. There he composed five slokas named as Manisha Panchakam. In the mean time he got many disciples.

Adi Shankaracharyas proceeded to write his well renowned Bashyas (His Commentaries) and Prakarana granthas ("treatises of philosophy").at Badari.. At Srisailam he wrote Shivanada Lahari, a sloka praising Lord Shiva. Later he also composed Lakshmi-Narasimha Stotra. This was to thank Lord Narasimha. The Lord has saved Adi Shankaracharya was from a kapalika (savage).

The monk further travelled to Gokarna temple, then to Mookambika temple at Kollur and finally to Sringeri. At Sringeri he instituted Sharadha Peetam (seat of Sharada).. Soon after this the monk commenced his Dig-Vijaya (Tour to Conquest) and travelled all over India and during his journey was propagating the philosophy of Advaita. On his way he entered and engaged debate with Buddhist and Jain monks and other Hindu scholars e.g. Neelakanta..

Adi Shankaracharya established four Mutts: One at Sringeri (South India) in Karnataka; Second one at Dwaraka (Western India) in Gujarat; The third one at Puri (Eastern India) in Orissa; and the fourth at Jyotirmath (also called Joshimath) (North India) in Uttarakhand.

Later Adi Shankaracharya travelled to Sharada Peetam located in (now Pakistan Occupied) Kashmir. There are also he conquered people belonging to different scholastic disciplines i.e. Vedanta, Mimamsa.

Finally Adi Shankaracharya reached Kedarnath-Badrinath loacated on the lap of Himalaya. At Kedarnath he attained videha mukti (freedom from the embodiments). Even today you may visit the tomb of Adi Shankara just behind the Shiva temple.at Kedarnath.

After spending thirty two years of fruitful life, Adi Shankaracharya established the Vedic Dharma. What you enjoy today as your Hindu religion is due to the efforts of this monk. For this he debated and conquered more numerous, significant and powerful scholars and monks. He was able to overpower them single handedly to establish the Shanmatha (six-important faiths or Hindu religious sects) i.e. Saivam (Lord Shiva), Vaishnavam (Lord Vishnu), Saktham (Goddesses), Souram (Lord Surya or Sun God), Ganapathyam (Lord Ganapathy) and Skandam (Lord Subramanya).

Navagraha gayatri

2008-11-21T01:10:00.000-08:00

Navagraha Icons in a Hindu temple

Nine Planets or Navagraha

The Hindus attach significance to Navagrahas (or Nine Planets including sun and moon) and they believe that these planets play a keyrole in their destiny. The nine planets are Sun (Surya) , Moon (Chandra), Mars (Chevvay) , Mercury (Bhudhan), Jupiter (Guru or Viyalan), Venus (Sukran), Saturn (sani), Rahu (Shaddow planets - Snake's head) and Ketu (Shadow plaents - Snake's tail) control our joy, sorrow, obstacles, business, career, marriage, progeny, health and longevity and death. The Indian calendars have assigned more importance to these planets and the week days are named in the names of these seven planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn).

In lunar based Hindu astrology, significance is attached on the positions of the nine planets in the twelve constellations of the zodiac, the belt around the sky in which the movements of Sun, Moon and planets are confined. People believe that transition of Saturn, Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu from one zodiac sign to other sign will bring good or bad or mixed fortunes. All miseries and obstacles caused by one or many planets will be mitigtated by chanting Gayatris relevant to the specific plane(s).

Surya gayatri (Sun)

om aswadhwajaaya vidmahae
paasa hastaaya dheemahi
tanno surya: prachodayaat

Chandra gayatri (Moon)

om padmadhwajaaya vidmahae

hema rupaaya dheemahi

tanno soma: prachodayaat

Angaaraka gayatri (chevvaai) (Mars)

om veeradhwajaaya vidmahae

vighna hastaaya dheemahi

tanno bhouma: prachodayaat

Budha gayatri (Mercury)

om gajadhwajaaya vidmahae

sukha hastaaya dheemahi

tanno budha: prachodayaat

Guru gayatri (Jupiter)

om vrishabadhwajaaya vidmahae

kruni hastaaya dheemahi

tanno guru: prachodayaat

Shukra gayatri (Venus)

om aswadhwajaaya vidmahae

dhanur hastaaya dheemahi

tanno shukra: prachodayaat

Sanishwara gayatri (Saturn)

om kaakadhwajaaya vidmahae

khadga hastaaya dheemahi

tanno mandah: prachodayaat

Raahu gayatri (Shadow Planet -Snakes Head)

om naakadhwajaaya vidmahae

padma hastaaya dheemahi

tanno raahu: prachodayaat

Kethu gayatri (Shadow Planet - Snakes Tail)

om aswadhwajaaya vidmahae

soola hastaaya dheemahi

tanno ketu: prachodayaat

Related Post: Gayatri on other Deities
Ganesha Gayatri

Rudra Gayatri

Shiva Gayatri

Sri Gayatri

Sri Shanmuga Gayatri

Rudra Gayatri

2008-11-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

Shiva the name of the Lord is a mantra. The meaning of Shiva is "One Who is all Bliss and the giver of happiness to all." Lord Shiva e is considered as one of the Trinity of Hindu pantheon (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). He is the supreme God in the Saiva religion (one among the six cults or religion or Shanmatha established by Adi Sankaracharya) or Saiva Siddhanta tradition of Hinduism. His name is referred as Rudra in Rig veda. ‘Although classically applied to the Absolute Brahman, Shiva can also refer to God (Ishwara) in His aspect of Dissolver and Liberator (often mistakenly thought of as "destroyer")’.
The icon Shiva linga is considered as the abstract form of Lord Shiva. Another icon Nataraja is represent Him as Lord of Dance. The Moola Mantra of Lord Shiva is Om Namashivaya. It is known as ‘Panchaksharam’ of five letter mantra. It forms exactly the central part of Sri Rudram and Sri Rudram forms the center part of Yajur Veda.

Rudra Gayatri
Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swaha
Aum Tadpurushaaya Vidvamahe,
Mahadevaaya Dheemahi
Tanno Rudra Prachodayaat

Meaning
Aum. Let us invoke the three realms of earth (-bhur), wind (-bhuvah) and fire (-swaha). Aum. Let us invoke the superlative (-tad) male (-purusha) and omniscient lord (-vidvamahe). Let us meditate and focus upon (-dheemahi) the supreme (-maha) lord (-devaaya). Let us ask Shiva (-rudra) to provide us inspiration and guidance (-prachodayaat) in our spiritual journeys.

Related Post: Gayatri on other Deities
Ganesha Gaytrai
Shiva Gayatri
Sri Gayatri
Sri Shanmuga Gayatri

Shiva Gayatri

2008-11-19T23:25:00.000-08:00

Shiva the name of the Lord is a mantra. The meaning of Shiva is "One Who is all Bliss and the giver of happiness to all." Lord Shiva is considered as one of the Trinity of Hindu pantheon (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). He is the supreme God in the Saiva religion (one among the six cults or religion or Shanmatha established by Adi Sankaracharya) or Saiva Siddhanta tradition of Hinduism. His name is referred as Rudra in Rig veda. ‘Although classically applied to the Absolute Brahman, Shiva can also refer to God (Ishwara) in His aspect of Dissolver and Liberator (often mistakenly thought of as "destroyer")’.
The icon Shiva Lina is considered as the abstract form of Lord Shiva. Another icon Nataraja represent Him as Lord of Dance. The Moola Mantra of Lord Shiva is Om Namashivaya. It is known as ‘Panchaksharam’ of five letter mantra. It forms exactly the central part of Sri Rudram and Sri Rudram forms the center part of Yajur Veda.

Shiva Gayatri
Om Tatpuruṣhaya Vidmahe

Mahadevaya Dhimahi

Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat
Meaning

The Shiva Gayatri is a variation of the Gayatri Mantra sung in praise of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of meditation, penance, and destruction. This particular form of the mantra follows the original 24 syllable syntax of the Vedic Gayatri

Sri Shanmuga Gayatri

2008-11-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

Lord Murugan is more popular deity in South India and the deity is more associated with Tamils. He is also worshipped by many other names, including Senthil, Saravana, Karttikeya, Arumugam or Shanmuga, Kumara, Guha, Skanda, Subrahmanya, Velan and Swaminatha. You can worship Lord Muruga an almost all Saivite Hindu temples. You find the Lord at the north west corner.
There are many versions of the Gayatri Mantra. Sri Shanmuga Gayatri or Shanmukha Gayatri or Shanmugha Gayatri is one among them. It is praising Lord Muruga the supreme general of the Deva army. Recite this mantra on Tuesdays and Shashti days. It will have good effect when you recite the during fasting. You may chant it up to 27 times.

Sri Shanmuga Gayatri
Om

Thatpurushaya Vidhmahe

Maha Senaya Dhimahi

Thannah Shanmukha Prachodhayath
Meaning
OM
Let us know That Supreme Being and meditate upon Him,
The Supreme General of the great Deva Army:
Lord Shanmuga (Skanda),May He enlighten us and lead us to be One with Him.

Related posts: Gayatri on other deities:

Sri Gayatri

Ganesha Gayatri

2008-11-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

Lord Ganesha, also worshipped in the names of Ganesa, Ganesh, Ganapati, Ganapathy, Vinayakar, and Pillaiyar, is one of the well known and simple to worship deities in our Hindu pantheon. You may find the images of Lord Ganesha everywhere in India i.e. temples, river banks, underneath trees and mountain tops. Ganapathyam is the religion, in which Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the manifestation of the formless god or Nirguna Bhramhan. Ganapathyam is one among the Shanmathas established by Adi Sanakacharyar.
The elephant headed god is widely recognised as the remover of obstacles and more generally as Lord of Commencement, Lord of Wisdom and Intellect and Lord of Arts. He is usually honoured before commencing anything. He has multiple iconographical formats. His icon can formed simply from a handfull of turmeric paste or cowdung.
His Moola Mantra is Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. The purana and other scriptures dedicated to Lord Ganesha include the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa.

Ganesha Gayatri

Ohm Eikdantaye Vidmahe,

Vakratundaye Dhi-Mahi

Tan No Buddhih Prachodayat

Meaning

We devote our thoughts to the One Tusked Lord

We meditate upon Him who has a Curved trunk

May the tusked one guide us on the right path.

Sri Gayatri Mantra

2008-11-18T05:58:00.000-08:00

Gayatri Mantra is considered as mother of veda. The mantra is the foremost revered mantra in Hinduism. It inspires wisdom. For the first time it got recorded in Rig Veda (Reference: iii, 62, 10). The Veda was written in Sanskrit about 2500 to 3500 years ago so also the GayatrMantra. However this moola mantra may have been chanted for many generations before that.
The word Gayatri is formed from combination two important Sanskrit words:
1. gayanath = what is sung, giving of praise (or) gaya = vital energies
2. trayate = preserves, protects, gives deliverance, grants liberation
3. mantra = an instrument of thought, a sacred text. a prayer of praise
Now you will understand the overall meaning of Gayatri Mantra as: a prayer of praise that awakens the vital energies and gives liberation.

Sri Gayatri

Om Bhur Bhuvah Suvaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

Meaning

"May the Almighty God illuminate our intellect to lead us along the righteous path". The mantra is also a prayer to the "giver of light and life" - the sun.

Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life,

Remover of pain and sorrow,

The Bestower of happiness,

Oh! Creator of the Universe,

May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light,

May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction

There are many more versions of the Gayatri Mantra in which deities other than Savitur (sun) are invoked.
To quote example, there is Agni Gayatri, Durga Gayatri, Shiv Gayatri, Sri Shanmuga Gayatri, Vishnu Gayatri and Shiva Gyatri, On the whole, these Gayatri mantras are more or less similar, and we may consider them as derivation of the Gayatri of your Rig Veda.
Related Post: Gayatri on other Deities
Ganesha Gayatri
Sri Shanmuga Gayatri