Hymns and Stotras-M S Rajajee

Part VIII

Dasaavataara Stuti

This is a very important Stuti for Maadhvas and has been composed by Svami Vadiraaja. During one of his periodic "digvijayas" (victory marches), he opened his box which had the idols meant for worship. He did not find the deity Sri Hayagreeva. At that time, a farmer came running to him and complained that a horse belonging to the Svaami was eating the crop in his field. Svami Vadiraaja rushed there and sure enough, they found a horse eating the gram plants. When the two of them reached the place, the horse disappeared from sight. The farmer was puzzled. The Svami explained that the horse was God Himself. 

The farmer found that in the place of the farm produce eaten by the horse, there was gold. The farmer took the gold and donated the entire land to the local temple. The Svaami spontaneously composed the Dasaavataara Stuti. Since then, it has become the custom for devotees to recite this "Stuti" when conducting the "devara" pooja (daily worship for the Lord).

We give below only that part of the Stuti which refers to Lord Narasimha.

Om Narasimhaaya Namah

Dambholiteekshnanakha sambhenditendraripu-kumbheendra paahi      kripayaa,

Stambhaarbhakaasah-anadimbhaya dattavara gambheera nada Nrihare

Ambhodhijaanusaranaa-mbhojabhoopavana kumbheena sesha khagaraat

Kumbheendra krittidhara jambhali shanmukha

mukhaambhoruhaabhinuta namah

Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu, using only His sharp nails, which are equal to (Indra’s weapon) "Vajraayudha". This act is equal to the brutal killing of an elephant. Lord Narasimha was not of a natural birth, but emerged from a pillar. He will not pardon any enemies of Vishnu or His devotees. He was pleased with the devotion of Prahlaada and blessed him. The Lord’s roar is so pleasant to hear. While the goddess is uninterruptedly praying to Him, Brahma, Rudra, Vayu, Sesha, Garuda, Indra, Shanmukha and the other gods are also praying to Him. Sri Vadiraaja is praying to such a Narasimha to protect him.

Sri Nrisimha Panchaamrita Stotra

Govinda Kesava Janaardhana Vaasudeva

Visvesa visva Madhusoodana visvaroopa

Sri Padmanaabha Purushottama Pushkaraaksha

Naraayanaachchyuta Nrisimha namo namaste

Govinda! Kesava! Janardana! Vaasudeva! Visvesa (Lord of the Universe)! Visva (One who is the universe itself)! Madhusudana (One who killed a demon Madhu)! One who is in the form of the universe! Sri Padmanabha! Purushottama! O lotus eyed One! Narayana! Achyuta! Nrsimha! Salutations, salutations to Thee!

Devaah samastaah khalu yogimukhyaah

Gandharva-vidyaadhara-kinnaraascha

Yatpaadamoolam satatam namanti

Tam Naarasimham saranam gatosmi

I have sought refuge with Lord Narasimha at whose feet all the gods, all the great sages, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas and Kinnaras always bow down.

Vedaan Samastaan khalu saastra-garbhaan

Vidyaam balam keertimateem cha Lakshmeem

Yasya prasaadaat purushaa labhante

Tam Naarasimham saranam gatosmi

I have sought refuge with Lord Narasimha by whose grace men obtain all the Vedic knowledge including that of other scriptures, all (secular) learning, strength, prosperity and fame.

Brahmaa Shivastvam Purushottamascha

Naaraayanosau marutaam patischa

Chandraarka-vayvagni-marudganaascha

Tvameva tam tvaam satatam natosmi

I always bow down to You, O Lord Narasimha who are Yourself Brahma, Siva, Purushottama, Narayana, the lord of gods (i.e., Indra), the Moon, and the Sun, Wind-god, god of Fire and other hosts of divinities.

Svapne’pi nityam jagataam asesham

Srastaa cha hantaa vibhur aprameyah

Traataa tvamekah trividho vibhinnah

Tam tvaam Nrisimham satatam nato’smi

I always bow down to You, O Lord Narasimha, who are the creator of all the worlds even in dreams, and their destroyer as well. You are all-pervasive and incompre-hensible. You are our protector too. Though You are One, You appear in three aspects (as the Creator, Sustainer, and Destroyer).

Iti stutvaa Raghushreshtah poojayaamaasa tam harim

Pushpavrishtih papaataasu tasya devasya moordhani

Saadhu saadhviti tam prochuh devaa rushiganaih saha

Devaah uchuh:

Thus the best among the descendents of Raghu (Sri Rama) praised and worshipped the Lord Hari. There was a quick shower of flowers on the head of that Lord. All the gods including the sages said "well said; well said".

Raghavena kritam stotram panchaamritamanuttamam

Pathanti ye dvijavaraah teshaam svargastu saasvatah

The gods said: "Those best of twice-born who chant this unique Panchamrita Stotra will have their eternal place in heaven"

Iti Sri Nrisimhapanchaamritam samaaptam

Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Suprabhatam

Note: This is different from previous Stotra published in December issue.

Kausalyaa suprajaa Raama poorvaa sandhyaa pravartate

Uttishta narasaardoola kartavyam daiva maahnikam

O Rama! Kausalya has a very good offspring (in You). The morning twilight is just setting in. O best among men, arise! You have to perform divine daily duties.

Tava suprabhaatam arunaabjalochane

Tarunendubimbava-daneghamochane

Saranaagataarti-haranaaya deekshite Karunaarasaugha

Varunaalayekshite"

An auspicious morning to You, O lady with eyes like red lotuses! One with a face similar to the tender moon and One who sets men free from sin! One who has taken a pledge to remove the afflictions of those who have surrendered to You! One whose glances are full of the ocean of compassion!

Tava suprabhaatam amarendrasundaree Karapallavaatta kalitorumaalini

Kshanaruksahasra tulitaangasaubhage, Kanakaachitoru-mani-kundalaanchite

An auspicious morning to You, who have been offered a garland by the celestial damsels with their sprout-like hands! One whose physical charm is enhanced by the emission of a thousand rays a second! One who wears gem-studded golden ear-ornaments!

Tava suprabhaatam akhilaartibhanjani! Pranataarta-bhaktajana chittaranjani

Varataapaneeya viditaatmavaibhava Priyavaktrachandrama-chakoralochane

An auspicious morning to You who puts an end to all the afflictions (of the devotees)! One who delights the minds of the devotees prostrating to You! One whose eyes are like the Chakora birds feasting on the moon-like face of Your beloved Lord whose glory is known through the Tapaniya (Upanishad)!

Devaas chaturmukha-Purandara-Sankaraadyaah,

Siddhaassanaatana-Sanandana-Naaradaadyaah

Tvaamarchitum vividha-pushpakaraascharanti

Lakshminrikesari-vibho tava suprabhaatam

An auspicious morning to You, O Lord Lakshmi Nrsimha! Celestials like Brahma, Indra and Sankara (Siva) and Siddhas like Sanatana, Sanandana and Narada are moving around carrying a variety of flowers in their hands to worship You!

Devo divaakara iha prathitha-

prakaaso Divyaih karaistva-

danaghaanghri-yugam 

sahasraih

Samvaahitum bhrusamudeti 

harerdisaayaam 

Lakshminrikesari-vibho tava 

suprabhaatam

An auspicious morning to You, O Lord Lakshmi Nrsimha! Here is the Sun god, with brilliant radiance coming up quickly in the eastern Direction to gently stroke Your spotless feet with his thousand divine hands (rays).

Vipraassvanushthita garishtha 

gunakriyaadyaah, Snaataa

Visuddha-manaso vimalair 

vachobhih

Tvaam stotumadya vividhaih 

pranataascharanti

Lakshminrikesari-vibho tava 

suprabhaatam

An auspicious morning to You, O Lord Lakshmi Nrsimha! The Brahmins of excellent virtues, having discharged their great responsibilities, have taken their bath now and are prostrating before You and with pure minds. They are moving around and getting ready to sing Your glory with a variety of hymns.

Dhenuh purandara puraantara-bhooshanam saa

Tvatkinkaratva-karanaaya dharaamavaapya

Tvaddrishtibhaavita-sudhaama-sudhaasudaaraam Aakaankshate

Narahare tava Suprabhatam

An auspicious morning to You, O Lord Narahari! The cow which is the ornament to the city of Indra (i.e., Kamadhenu) has now reached earth to serve You and is desiring to have her beautiful nectarine streams of milk sanctified by Your glances.

Bhrutyohamadya yatiroopamupeyivaamste Paadaambujadvaya-pareecharanaaya yattah

Jaagarmi visvagunanirmita-narmaseela. Lakshminrikesari-vibho tava suprabhaatam

An auspicious morning to You, O Lord Lakshmi Nrsimha! You are of inscrutable nature and qualities which create the universe. I, Your humble servant, have assumed the form of an ascetic now, and am ready to serve Your lotus feet.

Vaaraasiraajatanayaa-nayanaambujaata-Maadhveerasajna

nayanaakhya-milindayugmam

Sanchaarayaadya vinateshu tadeeyabhakti-Saaragrahaaya Nrihare tava Suprabhaatam

An auspicious morning to You, O Lord Lakshmi Nrhari! Kindly turn Your bee-like eyes which have enjoyed the honey in the form of the lotus-eyes of the daughter of the Ocean (i.e., Lakshmi), towards Your humble devotees so as to enjoy the essence of their devotion too!

Sahyaapagottara-taranga-vibhanga-Sanga-tungaanga seetimanurujjadi-mottaraange

Range vihaaya ruchimatra viraajase Tvam Sreeranganaayakavibho! Tava suprabhaatam

An auspicious morning to You, O Lord Ranganayaka! You have now developed a special love for this place, disliking the lofty Srirangam, which has become extremely chill due to the constant contact with the lofty waves of the Kaveri river (born out of the Sahya mountain)

Naaraayanaadri-visaradvipulasravantee-Nishkraanta-nirijhara-jhalamjhala-gaadhasabdaih! 

Asprishtamaanasa ivaatra vihaarakaankshe Tvam bhaasi Venkatapate! Tava suprabhaatam!!

An auspicious morning to You, O Venkatesvara! You have manifested here since it appears that Your mind is no longer touched (attracted) by the melodious dulcet notes produced by the waterfalls formed out of the vast streams of water flowing on the Narayana mountain.

Gopeegrihaantarupakalpita-manthanaarta-Hayyangaveenahriti-kalpita-nrittajaatam

Adhyaapi tathyamiha kartumivaasi Taadrugroopo

Yadoottamavibho tava suprabhaatam

An auspicious morning to You, O foremost among the Yadus (Lord Krishna)! You have manifested here assuming that form as if to make those dances of Yours real even today, which dances You performed for receiving fresh butter produced in the process of churning that went on in the front yards of Gopikas’ houses.

Ittham RamaaNrihari rangadhureenasesha Sailesa yaadava-kulaadhipa suprabhaatam

Bhaktyaa param vyatanutaakhila saadhubhaavyam, Sri Srinivasa Nigamaanta Yatir visuddhah

Sri Srinivasa Nigamanta (Mahadesika) Yati of pious thoughts composed with great devotion this Suprabhatam for Lords Lakshmi Nrsimha, Venkatesvara and Krishna, which deserves to be chanted by all the devotees.

© "Sri Narasimha Avatara" by M S Rajajee, published by Sri Ahobila Matha, Hyderabad 500 013. Part VII of this article appeared in Splendour, December 2004 issue.

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