Kamasikhaashtakam-- Part 2

[Guest guest]

VERSE 5 : PRAYER FOR BLESSINGS TO THE WORLD

 

SVASTHAANESHU MARUT GANAAN NIYAMAYAN

SVAADHINA SARVENDRIYA:

PARYANGA STIRA DHARANAA PRAKATITHA

PRATYANGH MUKHAAVASTHITHI : I

PRAAYENA PRANIPETHUSHAAM PRABHURASAOU

YOGAM NIJAM SIKSHAYAN

KAAMAA NATHANUTAAT ASESHAA JAGATHAAM

KAMAASIKHAA KESARI: II

 

In this verse set in the majestic Sarthoola Vikriditham meter

to remind one of the powerful movements of the fast

lion chasing Hiranya, Swami Desikan prays

to Kaamaasikhaa Narasimhan to bless the people of the world

and grant them all their desired boons(Asaou. kaamaasikhaa

Kesari: Asesha Jagathaam kaaman aatanuthaath ).

Swami describes the Lord facing west. He sits in

Paryangaasanam at ThiruveLLukkai and appears in his Yogic

posture giving the impression that He is ready to teach His devotees the

secrets of Yoga that require knowledge about the firm control of

the five vayus (Praanan, Apaanam, Samaanam, Udhaanam and Vyaanam ).

He also appears to indicate to them the firm way to control the five

Karmendriyaas and the five Jnanendriyaas as the prerequisite to

meditate on Him. One of the names for Lord Narasimhan is

Hrishikesan or the one who has full control over his Indriyaas.

Kamasikaa Narasimhan"s Paryangaasanam (Yoga Pattai with a belt

over his crossed legs and knees) reminds of His Yogaacharya

role in teaching his disciples such as Prahlaada the secrets of Yoga to

attain His blessings.

 

VERSE 6: PRAYER TO THE LORD'S HANDS FOR PROTECTION

 

VIKASWARA NAKA SVARUKSHATHA HIRANYA VAKSHASTHALEE--

NIRARGALA VINIRGALATH RUDIRA SINDHU SANDHYAAYITAA : I

AVANTHU MADA NAASIKAA MANUJA PANCHA VAKTHRASYA MAAM

AHAMPRATAMIKAA MITA: PRATITAAHAVAA BAAHAVA: II

 

May the Kaamasikhaa Narasimhan"s hands having the red lustre of

the dusk protect me . Those hands compete with one another to

protect the devotee and to destoy the enemies of the devotee. The shining

finger nails of those hands tore apart the chest of Hiranyan like the

ferocious Vajra weapon. At that time, the blood from the heart of Hiranyan

gushed forth and covered the hands of the Lord and gave them the

red hue of the sun at dusk. Those hands were competing with one another to

destroy Hiranyan as well as to comfort the child Bhagavatha Prahlada.

May those powerful hands protect me always!

 

VERSE 7: MERCY OF THE LORD EVEN DURING HIS FEROCIOUS STATE

 

SATAA PATALA BHEESHANEH SARABHASAATTAHAASOTHBHATEH

SPURATH KRUTHI PARISPUTATH BRUGUTIKEPI VAKTREH KRTEH I

KRUPAA KAPATA kESARIN DHANUJA DIMBHA DHATTA STHANAA

SAROJA SADHRUSAA DRUSAA VYATHIBISHAJYA TEH VYAJYATEH II

 

O Kapata Narasimha! o Lord, who did not swerve away from the

boons given to Hiranya and yet hoodwinked him through your avatara

features ! When You appeared out of the Pillar in his palace with

the frightening swirl of your manes and ear-shattering roars ,your brows were

twittering with your mighty anger at Hiranya for the injustices that he did to

your devotee. Even in that state of fury, your lotus eyes fell with mercy

on Prahlaada . Those merciful glances were like the feedings of divine and

invigorating milk to the child Prahlaada. Your limitless compassion to

your devotees became evident then.

 

VERSE 8: SARANAGATHI AT THE FEET OF NARASIMHAN

 

TVAYI RAKSHATHI RAKSHAKAI: KIM ANYAI :

TVAYI CHA ARAKSHATI RAKSHAKAI: KIM ANYAI: I

ITHI NISCHITA DHEE: SRAYAAMI NITYAM

NRUHAREH: VEGAVATHEE TATAASRAYAM TVAAM II

 

O kamaasikhaa Narasimhaa! you are sarva sakthan.

When You are resolved to protect some one, where is the

need to seek the protection of other Gods? When You are resolved

NOT to protect some one , which other God is capable of protecting us?.

Thereis no one. Knowing this fundamental truth, I have resolved

to offer my saranaagathi at your lotus feet alone that rest at the

banks of Vegavathi river.

 

VERSE 9: PALA: SRUTHI OF THIS ASHTAKAM

 

ITTAM STHUTHA: SAKRUTHIHAASHTABHIRESHA PADHYAI :

SRI VENKATESA RACHITHAI: TRIDHASENDRA VANDHYA: I

DHURDHAANTA GORA DHURITA DVIRADHENDRA BHEDEE

KAMAASIKHAA NARAHARI: VITANOTHU KAAMAAN II

 

May Kamaasikhaa Narasimhan , who is worshipped by

the Devaas and who tears apart the gigantic heap of sins ,

as if they are oppsing elephants, grant all the

desired boons to devotees , who recite these eight slokas on Him

composed by Venkatesa Kavi !

 

In the next and final posting , I will cover the four Pasurams of

the two Azhwaars on Kamaasikhaa Narasimhan.

 

KAVITHAARKIKA SIMHAAYA KALYANA GUNA SAALINEH

SRIMATEH VENKATESAAYA VEDANTHA GURAVEH NAMA:

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan