Chatussloki  - Yamunacharya

Introduction and Translation Lakshmi Devnath

Yamunacharya also known as Alavandar was the second in the Acharya lineage of the Visishtadvaita line of guru-s. The first was of course his illustrious grandfather Nathamuni – ‘The Discoverer of the Divya Prabandham.’ Yamuna wrote eight works in Sanskrit out of which only five remain. Amongst them is the Sristuti – a hymn in praise of Goddess Lakshmi. Also known as the Chatussloki for it has four verses, this short work explains the vital position of Lakshmi as the Consort of Lord Narayana and the Mediator between Him and His devotees and therein lies its importance. This work also happens to be the first of ‘praise poetry’ (stuti) in South India. This poem boasts of a lucid commentary in Sanskrit by Vedanta Desika and another one in Manipravala by Periavacchan Pillai. The Chatussloki of Yamuna forms the bedrock of all later expositions of the concept of Lakshmi.

Kaantaste Purushottamah

Phanipatih sayyaasanam

vaahanam

Vedaatmaa Vihagesvaro

yavanikaa Maayaa

Jaganmohinee |

Brahmeshaadisuravrajah

sadayitastvaddaasadaasee-ganah

Srirityeva ca naama te

Bhagavati Broomah katham

tvaam vayam ||

Yamuna begins his hymn to the Goddess by describing Her glory. He addresses her as "Oh Bhagavati" and proceeds to describe Her glory. He begins, "You are the beloved of Purushottama (an appellation for Vishnu). Adisesha, the King of serpents is both Your couch as well as bed. Your vehicle is the King of birds who is also an embodiment of the Vedas-Garuda. The veil which makes You invisible to the rest of the world is maya. Brahma, Siva and a host of other deities along with their wives are in attendance on you. However, your name Sri is the very embodiment of several auspicious attributes.

© "Nrisimhapriya" (October, 2003) published by Sri Nrisimhapriya Trust, # 30, Desika Bhavanam, Venkatesa Agraharam, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004. Website: www.ahobilamutt.org. Reprinted with permission.

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