ANANDA RAMAYANAM - VI

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Sri RAmajayam

Stories from SRI VALMIKI's ANANDA RAMAYANAM - Continued

 

This is the sixth posting in Ananda RAmAyaNam series:

 

4. Excerpt from SAra KANdam chapter 12:

 

There is a wonderful SrI RAma ashtakam describing RAma's qualities in

Ananda RAmAyaNam. This is attributed to Lord Siva who offers the

salutation to SrI RAma during His PattAbhishekam ceremony:

 

SugrIva mitram paramam pavitram

SItA kalatram navamegha gAtram

KAruNya pAtram satapatra netram

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (1)

 

(O friend of SugrIva, the purest of all, SItA's nAyaka, one with a body like

that of a new, just appearing cloud, one with great compassion, one with lotus

eyes, SrI RAmacandra, salutations to you!)

 

SamsAra sAram nigama pracAram

DharmAvatAram hrtabhUmi bhAram

SadA avikAram sukhasindhu sAram

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (2)

 

(One who has passed beyond samsAra, one who propagates vEdas, one who

is the embodiment of Dharma, one who relieves us from the burden of birth in

this world, one who has no vihAram anytime, one who is an ocean of happiness,

Oh SrI RAmacandra, salutations to you!)

 

LakshmI vilAsam jagatAm nivAsam

LankA vinAsam bhuvana prakAsam

BhUdEva vAsam saradinduhAsam

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (3)

 

(One who has LakshmI living with HIm, one who is the abode of all worlds,

one who destroyed Lanka, one who enlightens all the worlds, one who lives in

the hearts of BrAhmaNas, one who has the countenance with a smile like that

of the autumn moon, SrI RAmacandra, salutations to you!)

 

MandAra mAlam vachane rasAlam

Gunair visAlam hatasapta tAlam

KravyAda kAlam suralOka pAlam

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (4)

 

(One who wears mandAra (coral) garland, one whose words are sweet like a

sugarcane, one who is resplendent with good qualities, one who pierced

seven trees with one arrow, one who caused the end of asuras, one who protects

suralOka, Sri RAmacandra, salutations to you!)

 

VedAnta gAnam sakalaisamAnam

HrtAri mAnam tridasa pradhAnam

Gajendra yAnam vigatAvasAnam

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (5)

 

(O leader of vEdAntas, one who treats everyone equally, one who has subdued

ego, one who is the leader of the dEvas, one who has GajEndra for his vAhana,

one who has no end, SrI RAmacandra, salutations to you!)

 

SyAmabhiRAmam nayanAbhiRAmam

GuNAbhiRAmam vachanAbhiRAmam

VisvapraNAmam krta bhakta kAmam

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (6)

 

(One who has a pleasing countenance, one who has beautiful eyes, one who has

delightful qualities and is sweet in words, one to whom the whole world bows

in reverence, one who fulfills bhakta's desires, Sri RAmacandra, salutations

to you!)

 

LIlA sarIram raNaranga dhIram

Visvaika sAram Raghuvamsa hAram

GambhIra nAdam jitasarva vAdam

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (7)

 

 

(One who took on a human form as part of His lIla, one who is the bravest

in battlefield, one who is the meaning of all the worlds, one who is the

garland of Raghuvamsa, one who has a majestice voice, one who can win over

everyone through His convincing persuasion, Sri RAmacandra, salutations to you!)

 

Khale krtAntam swajane vinItam

SAmopagItam manasA pratItam

RAgENa gItam vachanadatItam

SrI RAmacandram satatam namAmi (8)

 

 

(One who destroys His enemies, one who is full of respect to His

elders, one who has been sung through SAma gAna, one who is worthy of

meditation, one who is worthy of praise through songs, one who is beyond

description by words, SrI RAmacandra, salutations to you!)

 

 

SrI RAmacandrasya varAshtakam tvAm

Mayeritam Devi manOharam ye

Pathanti srNvanti grNanti bhaktyA

TesvIya kAmAn pralabhanti nityam (9)

 

(O RAmacandra! Whoever reads or listens to this sweet Ashtakam I prayed

in your name, will have all their desires fulfilled!)

 

 

More to come,

 

Kalyani Krishnamachari