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Hymns and Stotras-M S Rajajee

Part VI

Sri Kaamaasikaashtakam

This is a Stotra of eight stanzas, composed by Sri Nigamaanta Vedanta Desika with one more verse giving the phalasruti. It is addressed to Lord Narasimha at Velukkai, south of Kanchipuram, on the bunds of the river Vegavati. The Lord came here of His own free Will or "Sankalpa" and hence the Sanskrit equivalent of this has been ascribed as the title. The Lord is a Yoga Narasimha having three eyes. While He looks frightening to His enemies, He is very benign and compassionate towards His devotees. It is said that the Lord at Velukkai is the same as Lord Ashtabhuja at Kanchipuram, staying at Velukkai to protect the yajna of Brahma.

Sruteenaamuttaram bhaagam

Vegavatyascha dakshinam

Kaamaadadhivasan jeeyat

kaschdadbhuta Kesaree

May that unique wonderful lion, who by His own free will dwells in the upper parts of the Vedas, also on the south bank of Vegavati river, remain ever shining and glorious.

Tapanendvagninayanah

taapaanapacinotu nah

Taapaneeyarahasyaanaam

saarah kaamaasika Harih

May Kaamaasika Hari, who is the essence of the Tapaneeyopanishad and whose eyes are the Sun, the Moon and Fire, remove our three afflictions.

Aakanthamaadipurusham

kantheeravamupari

kunthitaaraatim

Vegopakanthasangaat

vimuktavaikunthabahumatimupaase

I contemplate on He who is the form of the Primordial Person up to the neck and is in the Form of a lion above, who has vanquished the enemies, and who prefers the vicinity of Vegavati to even Vaikuntha, His natural abode.

Bandhumakhilasya jantoh

Bandhura paryanka

bandharamaneeyam

Vishama-vilochanamede

Vegavateepulinakeli-Narasimha

I hymn Him, who out of sport took the Form of Narasimha, on the sand bank of the river Vegavati, who has three eyes, who is radiantly handsome in His "Paryanka" posture (sitting with the legs crossed) and who is a kinsman of all beings.

Svasthaanesu marudganaan

niyamayan

Svaadheenasarvendriyah

Paryankasthiradhaaranaaprakatitapratyanmukhaavasthitih

Prayena pranipetusah

prabhurasau yogam nijam

shikshayan

Kaamaanaatanuta

adasesajagataam kaamaasikaa

kesaree

May the Kaamaasikaa Lion, who is facing west, which is seated in the "Paryanka" posture, with deep thoughtful eyes, controlling His breath and senses, keeping the gods and the elements in their places, apparently instructing those who come to meditate on His infinite glory, grant all the desires of the world.

Vikasvara nakha svaru kshata

hiranya vakshasthalee

Nirargala vinirgaladrudhira

sindhu sandhyayitaah

Avantu madanaasikaamanujapanchavaktrasya maam

Aham-prathamikaa mithahprakaati aahavaa baahavah

May the hands of Madanaasikaa (that is, Kaamaasikaa) Narasimha, which are as red as the Sunset, as they are smeared by the blood gushing out of the chest of Hiranyakasipu, which had been torn apart by the thunderbolt like outstretched nails protect me. These hands vie with each other in giving battle to the "asuras".

Sataapatala-bheeshane

sarabhasaththaahaasodbhate

Sphuratkrudhi parisphuta

bhrukutikepi vaktre krite

Kripaa kapata kesarin! Danuja-

dimbha-datta-stanaa

Saroja-sadrisaa drisaa

vyativishajya te vyajyate

You came as the artful Man Lion, having a terrifying Form, with a mane (also), the thick eyebrows shaking in wrath and the face so angry. But, You were very tender with the demon child (Prahlada), almost suckling him and ridding him of his past fears.

Tvayi raksati rakshakaih

kimanyaih

Tvayi chaarakshati rakshakaih

kimanyaih

Iti nischitadheeh shrayaami

nityam

Nrihare Vegavatee tataashrayam

Tvaam

O Narahari, when You are there to protect, where is the need for others and when You are not there to protect, what is the use of others? With this firm resolve, I resort to You, You who are situate on the banks of the river Vegavati.

Ittham stutah

sakridihaasthabhiresha padyaih

Sri Venkatesarachita-

istridashendravandyah

Durdaantaghoradurit-

adviradendrabhedee

Kaamaasikaa Naraharir vitanotu

kaamaan

May the Kaamaasikaa Man Lion god Narahari, who is worshipped by all the gods, who destroys sins much as a lion drives away a herd of untamed elephants, grant all our wishes, when we recite these eight stanzas of Sri Venkatesa just once.

Selected stanzas from the works of Sri Vedanta Desika.

There are other works of Sri Vedanta Desika, where he refers to the Narasimha Avatara. To give an example, the following are some of the stanzas:

Sankalpa Sooryodayam: Act II,

82: Act VII, 36-41.

Paadukaa Sahasram: Verses

138, 288, 756, 846

Abheeti Stava: Verse 27

Varadaraaja Panchasat: Verse 23

(The list is only illustrative). Of the above, we give only two stanzas:

Paadukaa Sahasram

(Prakeernaka Paddhati, XXIX, Verse 16)

Muktaamsu-kesaravatee

sthiravajradamshtraa

Prahlaadasampadanuroopa-

Hiranyabhedaa

Moorthih shriyo bhavasi

Maadhavapaadarakshe!

Naathasya noonam uchitaa

Narasimhamoortheh

O Protector of the feet of Lord Madhava, You have manes which are like dazzling rays from the pearls. You who have strong teeth which are like diamonds. You who are displaying the Form in which You tore the asura Hiranyakasipu and brought bliss to Prahlada. You (the Paadukaas) are another Form of Goddess Lakshmi, accompanying the Lord.

Varadaraja Panchaasat –

Verse 23

Bhaktasya daanavasisoh

paripaalanaaya

Bhadraam Nrisimhakuhanaam

adhijagmushaste

Stambhaikavarjam adhunaapi

kareesa noonam

Tralokyabhetadakhilam

Narasimha-garbham

To save Prahlada, the child of the asura, You assumed an auspicious and attractive Form, disguised as Narasimha. This Form of Yours, is even now pervading the whole of the Universe, except the single pillar from which You (then emerged)

Ashtamukha Ganda Bherunda Dhyaana

In Chapter IV, while dealing with Iconography, we had made a reference to Ganda Bherunda Narasimha. There is an "Ashtamukha Ganda Bherunda Dhyaana" which is supposed to contain the essence of the secret Atharvana mantra. This Form of the Lord is very fierce and frightening. This `mantra’ is believed to be very powerful. The Emperor of all mantras and Yantras is Lord Narasimha and among all Forms of Narasimhas, the greatest is believed to be the Ashta Mukha Ganda Bherunda Narasimha. "Ganda Bherunda" has been described as a unique figure with a human face and wings/claws etc. It has also been described in dictionaries as a double-faced eagle. We have adopted the meaning of "Supreme-Being".

Slokam

Vandeham ghora ghora

prabalatara mahaa

gandabherunda simha

Vyaaghraashva kroda,

shaakhaamriga

Varakhagaraad-

bhallukaadyashtavaktram

Dvaatrimsatkoti baahum, hala-

musala-gadaa-sankha-

chakraadiheteer

Bibhraanam baamadamshtrum

sarabha, khaga gajaaanss

Bhakshayantam Nrisimham

Substance: Having the eight faces of a supreme Being, a gandabherunda, a lion, a royal tiger, horse, boar, monkey, Garuda (eagle), and a bear, having thirty-two million hands, holding the plough, the pounding stick, mace, sankha, chakra, sword etc., having frightening leonine teeth and eating the Sarabha, binds, elephants – to such an awesome ashtamukha (eight faced) Ganda Bherunda Ugra Narasimha, I offer salutations and am meditating (on such a Form).

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