The Panchakshara (पञ्चाक्षर) literally means “five letters” in Sanskrit and refers to the five holy letters Na, Ma, Śi, Vā and Ya. This is prayer to Lord Siva and is associated with Siva’s Mantra , OM Namah Sivaya of which is also called the Panchakshari Mantra.
Here is a translation in Tamil of the epic Sthothram by Adi Sankaracharya
Composer :
Muthuswamy Dikshithar. Pl ref http://musicinfoguide.blogspot.com/2007/08/muthuswami-dikshitar-1775-1835.html
Audio Link :
Pl. listen to the Hyderabad Brothers at https://www.dropbox.com/s/xbi1q317iamr0hv/Arunachala%20Natham%20-%20Saranga%20-%20Hyderabad%20Brothers-uFmaVReLFi8.mp3?dl=0
Sanskrit Verses :
अरुणाचल नाथम् – रागं सारङ्गा – ताळं रूपकं
पल्लवि
अरुणाचल नाथं स्मरामि अनिशं
अपीत कुचाम्बा समेतम्
अनुपल्लवि
स्मरणात् कैवल्य प्रद चरणारविन्दं
तरुणादित्य कोटि संकाश चिदानन्दं
(मध्यम काल साहित्यम्)
करुणा रसादि कन्दं शरणागत सुर बृन्दम्
चरणम्
अप्राकृत तेजो-मय लिङ्गं
अत्यद्भुत कर धृत सारङ्गं
अप्रमेयं अपर्णाब्ज भृङ्गं
आरूढोत्तुङ्ग वृष तुरङ्गम्
(मध्यम काल साहित्यम्)
विप्रोत्तम विशेषान्तरङ्गं
वीर गुरु गुह तार प्रसङ्गं
स्व-प्रदीप मौलि विधृत गङ्गं
स्व-प्रकाश जित सोमाग्नि पतङ्गम्
Meaning in Tamil :
பல்லவி
அருணாசல நாதனை இடைவிடா நினைவேனே
உண்ணாமுலை அன்னையுடன் காட்சி தரும் …. அருணாசல
அனுபல்லவி
எண்ணம் ஒன்று போதும் அருணனின்
எம் முக்திக்கு வித்தாகும் அவன் கமலபாதம்
கோடி இளஞ்சூரியனின் கதிரொளித் தோற்றம்
பேரின்ப உள்ளுணர்வின் உருவகம்
மத்தியம கால சாகித்யம்
பரிவுடன் கருணை உணர்வின் அடிமூலம்
பணிந்திட்டு உம்பரார் அடைக்கலம்…..அருணாசல
சரணம்
அடிமுடி காணா அழல் வடிவ லிங்க வடிவோனே
அதி் அற்புத சாரங்கம் ஏந்திய கரம் உடையோனே
அயனும் அனந்தனும் அடைய இயலா அளவிலனே
அன்னையின் கமலமுக வட்டமிடும் கருவண்டே
உமையொரு பாகன் விடையேறும் விமலனே
மத்தியம கால சாகித்யம்
உயர் ஞானியர் உளம் நிறை ஒப்பிலாஅன்பனே
வீரமிகு குருகுகனை நேசமுடன் விழைவனே
மின்னார் செஞ்சடையில் கங்கை அணியோனே
அழல் மதி ஆதவன் விளை தரும் ஒளி மேலவனே
துலங்கும் தூய தமனியப்பிரபை உமையோனே….அருணாசல
Meaning in English:
For meaning and details about the deity and the temple, please refer https://sriramv.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/arunacalanatham-of-muttuswami-dikshitar/
In Tamil, we use the word கடவுள் (kadavul) to indicate God. நம்மைக் கடந்தும் (kada) நமக்கு உள் (ul) இருப்பதுவே கடவுள் (Meaning that the one which is away from us and yet inside us is God). A very simple word with very deep meaning. One can keep contemplating on this word alone. Deeper introspection will drive us to the concept of Infinity. Talking about infinity from a philosophical perspective will take us directly to this very famous Sloka (Hymn). This śloka is from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad and forms the mangalācarana mantra (Shanthi Sloka) for the Īśāvāsya Upanishad.
Excerpts from various commentaries on this sloka is summarised as understood by me in https://soundar53.substack.com/p/infinity
With very little knowledge of Sanskrit and abysmally poor idea about Vedanta and Spirituality, on January 4th of this year , I commenced my journey to try and get a feeling of the first Dasakam of Narayaneeyam. No need to emphasise the very low confidence that I had in this journey. It was akin to the journey by foot undertaken from the erstwhile State of Madras to Kasi (Varanasi) in the previous centuries, with the traveller not really sure if he will ever reach the destination; leave alone the chances of studying there.
As a beginner and a self-learner, like the Kasi traveller, I take lot of time to understand the sentence in Sanskrit (In Tamil we call it எழுத்துக்கூட்டி படிப்பது). Then look for help in splitting the long words into simple and understandable words (பதம் பிரித்து) and then refer to the dictionaries for meaning; come to some conclusion and then refine it with respect to the context. Many times I had lost hopes of me understanding the context and the concepts that are propounded by Bhattathri. But as I started the journey, I had an invisible hand holding mine after I finished studying each sloka – I can only guess that it was indeed the Lord of Guruvayur Himself.
So here I am; at the end of 75 days plus around 25 days of preparation , have just completed the first round of my study of 10 Slokas . I need to study this again and again till I get an understanding, as I feel that this Daskam brings out Vedantic concepts in describing Lord Guruvayurappan. I will do that as my next project. In the meantime, here is a consolidation of my learning.
Pl bear with me if you find my understanding and translation as inadequate. Please feel free to let me know through your comments.
Sanskrit Verse
ऐश्वर्यं शङ्करादीश्वरविनियमनं विश्वतेजोहराणां
तेजस्संहारि वीर्यं विमलमपि यशो निस्पृहैश्चोपगीतम्।
अङ्गासङ्गा सदा श्रीरखिलविदसि न क्वापि ते सङ्गवार्ता
तद्वातागारवासिन् मुरहर भगवच्छब्दमुख्याश्रयोऽसि॥१०॥
Audio Link
https://www.dropbox.com/s/of5xqux33phzhbx/Sloka%2010.mp3?dl=0 – chanting by Sri. Sankararama Sharma
Meaning in Tamil
Meaning in English
O Lord of Guruvaayur! Thy lordliness consists in being the controller of all gods from Lord Shankara onwards.Thy prowess overcomes that of those who excel the whole world in prowess. Thy pure fame is sung by even the most desireless sages. Laxmi Devi always resides in Thy bosom. Thou are omniscient and there is not the slightest trace of attachment in Thee. Therefore, the term ‘Bhagavan’ is applicable to Thee alone
English Transliteration
AishvaryaM shankaraadiishvaraviniyamanaM vishvatejOharaaNaaM
tejassanhaari viiryaM vimalamapi yashO nispRaihaishchOpagiitam .
angaasangaa sadaa shriirakhilavidasi na kvaapi tee sangavaartaa
tadvaataagaaravaasin murahara bhagavachChabdamukhyaashrayO(a)si .. 10
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
ऐश्वर्यं – state of being a mighty lord (Lordliness)
शङ्करादीश्वरविनियमनं = [शङ्कर + आदी + ईश्वर + विनियमनं = Sankara + beginning + Lord/God + control/limit/restrict = ] controls all gods beginning with Sankara
विश्वतेजोहराणां = [विश् + तेजस् + हर = universe, powers, destroy = ] of those (powerful beings) who are the destroyers (हर) of the powers (तेजस्) of the universe (विश्व)
तेजस्संहारि = [तेज: + संहारि = powers, destroyer ] = is the destroyer (संहारिन्) of the powers (तेजस्)
वीर्यं = prowess
विमलमपि = विमलं + अपि = stain less/pure/untainted
यशो = fame/honour
निस्पृहैश्चोपगीतम् = [निस्पृहै: + च + उपगीतं] = free from desire,and, sing/sung
अङ्गासङ्गा = अङ्ग + सङ्ग = part of the body (implies heart):, union
सदा – always (resides in your bosom)
श्रीरखिलविदसि = श्री + अखिलविदसि = Lakshmi, omnipresent
न क्वापि ते सङ्गवार्ता = no, anywhere, the, attachment (you are beyond any attachment)
तद्वातागारवासिन् = तत + वातगार + वासिन् = hence, air(vayu), house (guruvayur)
मुरहर = Mura the demon, victor (Murari, Krishna):
भगवच्छब्दमुख्याश्रयोऽसि = भगवत् + शब्द+ द्मुख्य + आश्रय: + असि = Bhagwan , the sound, main, base, you are (You are the main base for the name Bhagwan). The author says that only You deserve to be called Bhagavaan since You possess the six qualities of ऐश्वर्यं (sovereignty), वीर्यं (virility), यशः (fame), श्रीः (wealth), ज्ञानं (knowledge), वैराग्यम् (detachment).
Sanskrit Verse
कारुण्यात्काममन्यं ददति खलु परे स्वात्मदस्त्वं विशेषा–
दैश्वर्यादीशतेऽन्ये जगति परजने स्वात्मनोऽपीश्वरस्त्वम्।
त्वय्युच्चैरारमन्ति प्रतिपदमधुरे चेतना: स्फीतभाग्या–
स्त्वं चात्माराम एवेत्यतुलगुणगणाधार शौरे नमस्ते॥९॥
Audio Link
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2k4ty4w5dd8bys6/Sloka%209.mp3?dl=0 – chanting by Sri. Sankararama Sharma
Meaning in Tamil
Meaning in English
O Lord Shri Krishna! while other gods out of compassion, fulfill the desires of their devotees, Thou out of Thy unique compassion, offer Thyself (liberation) to Thy devotees. While other gods rule over the world with the powers invested in them, Thou are the very inner controller of all and rule over all beings and other gods as well as Thyself. Hence all fortunate jeevas [souls] take immense delight in the bliss that Thou are. As for Thee, Thou are ever satisfied in Thyself and are the abode of incomparable attributes. O Lord! prostrations to Thee.
English Transliteration
kaaruNyaatkaamamanyaM dadati khalu pare svaatmadastvaM visheShaa-
daishvaryaadiishate(a)nye jagati parajane svaatmanO(a)piishvarastvam .
tvaiyyuchchairaaramanti pratipadamadhure chetanaaH sphiitabhaagyaa-
stvaM chaatmaaraama evetyatulaguNagaNaadhaara shaure namaste .. 9
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
कारुण्यात्काममन्यं = कारुण्यात्-कामम्-अन्यं = compassion, desired objects, other
ददति – given
खलु – indeed
परे – other (other gods)
स्वात्मदस्त्वं = स्वात्मन् + असि + त्वं = swatman, asi, tvam = own self, give, your [You give your own self (i.e., give liberation)]
विशेषाद्- special
ऐश्वर्यादीशतेऽन्ये = ऐश्वर्यात् + ईस्ते + अन्ये = aishwaryath, ISTe, anye = by the power, rule, other (others rule by the power )
जगति – in the world
परजने – other people
स्वात्मनोऽपीश्वरस्त्वम्। = स्व-आत्मन: + अपि-ईश्वर: + त्वं = own self , even, lord, yourself
त्वय्युच्चैरारमन्ति= त्वयि-उच्चै:+ आरमन्ति = in you, higher (deeply), revel,
प्रतिपदमधुरे = प्रतिपद + मधुरे = every step, sweet
चेतना: – souls
स्फीतभाग्या = स्फीत + भाग्य = exceedingly, fortunate
स्त्वं चात्माराम एवेत्यतुलगुणगणाधार = त्वं + च + आत्माराम: + एव + इति + अतुल + गुण + गण+ आधार = you, also, reveling in ones own self + the one+ thus + immense + qualities + abode
शौरे – oh Sauri
नमस्ते – ते नमः. – to you, salutations
Sanskrit Verse
नम्राणां सन्निधत्ते सततमपि पुरस्तैरनभ्यर्थितान –
प्यर्थान् कामानजस्रं वितरति परमानन्दसान्द्रां गतिं च।
इत्थं निश्शेषलभ्यो निरवधिकफल: पारिजातो हरे त्वं
क्षुद्रं तं शक्रवाटीद्रुममभिलषति व्यर्थमर्थिव्रजोऽयम्॥८॥
Audio Link
https://www.dropbox.com/s/otvgfqct3zmta4q/Sloka%208.mp3?dl=0 – chanting by Sri. Sankararama Sharma
Meaning in Tamil
Meaning in English
O Lord Vishnu! for the devotees who surrender to Thee, Thou always confer, unasked for, not only wealth and other desires, but also liberation.Thus being accessible to every one and bestower of unlimited boons, Thou are the unique Paarijaata tree [parijaata: a heavenly flower]. Alas, the desire prompted hoards of people, in vain, long for trivial blessings from the Kalpaka tree of the garden of Indra. [Kalpaka: a wish fulfilling tree]
English Transliteration
namraaNaaM sannidhatte satatamapi purastairanabhyarthitaana-
pyarthaan kaamaanajasraM vitarati paramaanandasaandraaM gatiM cha .
itthaM nishsheShalabhyO niravadhikaphalaH paarijaatO hare tvaM
kshudraM taM shakravaaTiidrumamabhilaShati vyarthamarthivrajO(a)yam .. 8
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
नम्राणां – (to) those who worship The
सन्निधत्ते – you appear
सततम् अपि = always also
पुरः = in front
तैः = by them
अनभ्यर्थितान् अपि = अनभ्य (anabhya) अर्थितान् (arthitaan) अपि (api)- even those that have not been requested
अर्थान् कामान् = arthaan, kamaan, wealth and desired objects ( the two types of purushaarth)
अजस्रम् = ajasram -perpetually
वितरति – virarati – give away
परमानन्दसान्द्राम् =parama, ananda, saandra – which is completely filled (सान्द्र) with the Supreme (परम) Happiness (आनन्द)
गतिं च = gatim, ca – and the state
इत्थं = In this way,
निश्शेषलभ्यः = accessible to all without leaving anyone
निरवधिकफलः = the bestower of boundless (निरवधिक) fruits (फल)
पारिजातो हरे त्वं – Parijata Tree, Oh Hari, you
क्षुद्रं तं – ittham tam – inferior, that
शक्रवाटी- शक्, वाटी – shakra, vaaTi, Indra, Garden
द्रुम- druma, – tree
अभिलषति = abhilaShati, – wish/desire
व्यर्थमर्थिव्रजोऽयम् = व्यर्थम् (vyartham) unnecessarily/useless/futile + अर्थि (arthin) one who desires anything, + व्रज (vraja) several/multitude + अयम् (ayam) this
Sanskrit Verse
कष्टा ते सृष्टिचेष्टा बहुतरभवखेदावहा जीवभाजा–
मित्येवं पूर्वमालोचितमजित मया नैवमद्याभिजाने।
नोचेज्जीवा: कथं वा मधुरतरमिदं त्वद्वपुश्चिद्रसार्द्रं
नेत्रै: श्रोत्रैश्च पीत्वा परमरससुधाम्भोधिपूरे रमेरन्॥७॥
Audio Link
Please listen to the chanting by Sri. Sankararama Sharma – https://www.dropbox.com/s/z2qwoa943eh0cz5/Sloka%207.mp3?dl=0
Meaning in Tamil
Meaning in English
O Invincible Lord! Thy activity of creation is indeed a tragic sport, as it causes a lot of sufferings to the living beings. This is what I used to think, but now I do not think so. For if there were no creation, how could human beings enjoy the beauty and sweetness of Thy form which is so delightful to hear and ecstatic to behold, and thus revel in the ocean of Supreme-Bliss-Consciousness.
English Transliteration
kaShTaa te sR^iShTicheShTaa bahutarabhavakhedaavahaa jiivabhaajaa-
mityevaM puurvamaalOchitamajita mayaa naivamadyaabhijaane .
nOchejjiivaaH kathaM vaa madhurataramidaM tvadvapushchidrasaardraM
netraiH shrOtraishcha piitvaa paramarasasudhaambhOdhipuure rameran .. 7
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
• पूर्वम् = Earlier
• मया आलोचितम् = it was thought by me that
• ते सृष्टिचेष्टा = your activity of creation is
• कष्टा = one that is tormenting
• बहुतरभवखेदावहा = and one that brings forth many sorrows
• जीवभाजाम् = for all the living beings
• अजित = O, Invincible one
• अद्य एवं न अभिजाने = Now I do not think so.
• नो चेत् = If not
• कथं वा = how will
• जीवाः = the humans
• नेत्रैः श्रोत्रैः च पीत्वा = having drunk with eyes and ears (seen and heard)
• इदं त्वद्वपुः = this form of yours
• मधुरतरम् = that is extremely delightful
• चिद्रसार्द्रम् = and that is soaked (आर्द्र) in consciousness (चित्) and bliss (रस)
• रमेरन् = revel
• परमरससुधाम्भोधिपूरे = in the fullness (पूर) of the ocean (आम्भोधि) of absolute (परम) nectarian (सुधा) bliss (रस)
Sanskrit Verse
तत्ते प्रत्यग्रधाराधरललितकलायावलीकेलिकारं
लावण्यस्यैकसारं सुकृतिजनदृशां पूर्णपुण्यावतारम्।
लक्ष्मीनिश्शङ्कलीलानिलयनममृतस्यन्दसन्दोहमन्त:
सिञ्चत् सञ्चिन्तकानां वपुरनुकलये मारुतागारनाथ ॥६॥
Audio Link
https://www.dropbox.com/s/h27ueo0086egh4b/Sloka%206.mp3?dl=0
Meaning in Tamil
Meaning in English
Your form is like the beauty of the fresh rain bearing clouds, and of a beautiful bunch of blue lotuses. Your form is an embodiment of beauty, in the eyes of the people who have done meritorious deeds, and is a complete incarnation of all their good deeds. You are the abode where Goddess Laxmi delights without inhibition. You are the source of a torrential flow of nectarine Bliss, soaking the hearts of people who meditate. On that form of Yours I continuously meditate, O Lord of Guruvayur!
English Transliteration
Tatte pratyagradhaaraadhara lalita kalaayaavalii kelikaaraM
laavaNyasyaikasaaraM sukRaitijanadRaishaaM puurNa puNyaavataaram .
lakshmii nishshanka liilaa nilayanamamRsitasyanda sandOhamantaH
si~nchat sa~nchintakaanaaM vapuranukalaye maarutaagaaranaatha…6
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
• (हे) मारुतागारनाथ = O Lord of Guruvaayur
• (अहम्) अनुकलये = I meditate upon
• तत् ते वपुः = that body of yours
• प्रत्यग्रधाराधरललितकलायावलीकेलिकारम् = which ridicules (केलिकार) the fresh (प्रत्यग्र) rain-bearing (धारा-धर) clouds (धाराधर) and the bunch (आवली) of lovely (ललित) dark-colored kalaaya (कलाय) flowers, due to its superior dark-colored beauty
• लावण्यस्य एकसारम् = which is the ultimate (एक) essence (सार) of beauty (लावण्य)
• सुकृतिजनदृशां पूर्णपुण्यावतारम् = which is the full (पूर्ण) manifestation (अवतार) of the virtues (पुण्य) in front of the eyes (दृश्) of virtuous (सुकृति) people (जन)
• लक्ष्मीनिश्शङ्कलीलानिलयनम् = which is the location for Lakshmi to play without any worry
• सिञ्चत् = which is raining
• सञ्चिन्तकानाम् अन्तः = in the minds of those who are meditating
• अमृतस्यन्दसन्दोहम् = the combined flow of emerging nectar
Sanskrit Verse
निर्व्यापारोऽपि निष्कारणमज भजसे यत्क्रियामीक्षणाख्यां
तेनैवोदेति लीना प्रकृतिरसतिकल्पाऽपि कल्पादिकाले।
तस्या: संशुद्धमंशं कमपि तमतिरोधायकं सत्त्वरूपं
स त्वं धृत्वा दधासि स्वमहिमविभवाकुण्ठ वैकुण्ठ रूपं॥५॥
Audio Link
(Courtesy Shri. Sankararama Sharma – Ref https://www.sanskritfromhome.in/shankararama-sharma/)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ag98doaj19icdk/Sloka%205.mp3?dl=0
Meaning in Tamil
English Transliteration
Nir vyaapaarO (a)pi niShkaaraNam aja bhajase
yatkriyaam iikshaNa akhyaaM
tena ivO deti liinaa prakR^itir asati kalpa a(a)pi kalpaadi kaale .
tasyaaH samshuddhamam shaMkam api tam ati rOdhaayakaM satvaruupaM
sa tvaM dhR^itvaa dadhaasi sva mahima vibhava akuNTha vaikuNTha ruupam .. 5
Meaning in English
Oh Birthless Lord! Even though You are not bound by any activities, and You are without any motive, You do resort to that activity known as ‘eekshanaa’ – the will to create. Because of that only. Nature (‘Prakriti’) manifests itself. This Prakriti, is latent in You, as if non existent in the beginning of a new cycle of creation. Then, from the pure Saatvik portion of ‘Prakriti’ (Maya) (which does not in any way obstruct Your Brahmic effulgence), Oh Lord of Vaikunth, You manifest Yourself, in full glory, with a Divine form here in Guruvayur.
Meaning of the Sanskrit Words
निर्व्यापार: – अपि – jobless/free from any occupation, even (though not bound by any activities)
निष्कारणम् – without any reason/motive,
अज भजसे – unborn, choose (thou resort to),
यत्-क्रियाम्-ईक्षणा-आख्यां – that, action/performance/doing, sight/look/care for, inform/tell/make it known (that activity known as ‘eekshanaa’ (the will to create)
तेन-एव-उदेति लीना प्रकृति:-because of that, only, came to manifest, the latent, Nature or ‘Prakriti’
असति-कल्पा-अपि कल्पादि-काले -.असत् non existent/unreal, period, and, beginning of the period, timely/seasonable
(which abides in Thee) as if non existent in the beginning of a new cycle of creation
तस्या: संशुद्धम्-अंशं – that, purified of sin, part
of that (Prakriti) an absolutely pure part
कमपि तम्-अति रोधायकं सत्वरूपं – which does not stop/obstruct (Thy glory of) the Saatvic form
स त्वं धृत्वा दधासि -that Thou did take and assume
स्व-महिम-विभव-अकुण्ठ वैकुण्ठ रूपं – O Lord of Vaikuntha! a majestic form which does not obstruct Thy glories
…….majestic, omnipresence/rich/wealthy, eternal, vaikuntam, form
Prabhu's Ponder 