Sri Subrahmanya Bhujangam

1 я . я . Sri Subrahmanya Bhujangam is a stotra composed by Sri Adi Though he always sports the appearance of a child, he can Sankaraacharya at Thiruchendur ( presently located in Tamil crumble the mountains of obstacles. Though he is elephant-- Nadu, India). When Sri Sankara meditated upon Sri faced, he is honored even by his five--faced father Shiva Subrahmanya at this temple, he became aware of the self (sadyaojaatam, vaamadevam, aghoram, tatpurushham and luminous light shining in his heart and words came out his iishaanam). Lord Brahma, Indra and the other Devas seek him mouth extemporaneously in the bhujanga metre. It is also said to fulfil their aspirations.

2 He is known as Ganesha and he is that Achaarya then actually saw the Adisesha worshipping the endowed with boundless glory. May he bless me with wealth! Lord and hence, adopted the bhujanga metre. Major portion of the translation provided here is adopted from Acharya's Humility the following book: Iyer, Ganesa M., Srimat Sankara Bhagavat Padal's Sri 7 я 7 , +8 . 7 я 7 , 9 :;. Subrahmanya Bhujangam , The Little flower Company, Madras, 1992. Invocation of Sri Vighneshvara 7 я 7 , <. 7 я 7 , (< #. /9 *к ш> ! ?% <@33* *. ! ". # х BC5 D * B(DE /9F G . I know not the science of musical sounds, I know not the $ " % &'. ()*+ , $ * meanings of complex texts either, I know not the nature of shlokas made of four types of padaas, and nor do I know the intricacies of the Gadyam style!))

3 But in my heart, shines a $- . / .. к к1. ) 2 345 6 . effulgent light with luminous six faces , and because of that from my mouth, amazing phrases with musical tone and meanings pour out in extempore. -2- я . This shloka brings out the humility of the acharya, who is Reason for Residing on the Sea Shore considered as the greatest jnani, poet, and yogi ever walked on the face of this earth. Meditating on the verse will bring wisdom to the aspirant..B7$ 7. (3 7 *. Lord as the Goal of Vedas M @B$ D. (3 N3* 3 O #.. 2D B$ H. I(2H. P 3 Q. R. S" T$ 3 D* UN3*. 7@ JD * . /K-(* #. 3 >* F. D +,V F W . * * . * . O Lord Subrahmanya ! son of spotless paraashakti [the Mother of the Cosmos], Thou have taken the your abode near the sea shore (Thiruchendur is a coastal town) as if it is indication that *.)))

4 я* @к L whenever the devotees take refuge in Thee, they can easily cross the ocean of samsara (the eternal cycle of life and death). and reach the other side of the shore safely! According some traditions it is said that when Sri Sankara sang this verse Lord Subrahmanya gave him darshan. Destroyer of Devotee's Difficulties O Son of Mahadeva! Seated on the peacock chariot, being the essence of the great mahaa vaakyaas, having wonderfully : 8$*N3D .. 3 - attractive body, dwelling in the heart of great sages, O the quintessence of four vedas! Thou are indeed the Lord of the Universe. N3:O 5 BC$X * 3 . * #. -3- я . P3 @, 4 .VY7&4) . +4.. O Lord Shanmukha!

5 Thou stands on the top of the Sugandha . * ?Z D@я* ( . 3 [ hill, proclaiming that whenever the devotees climb this hill it will give the same benefit as climbing the king of mountains (Kailas)! May the six-faced lord on the Sugandha hills remain The waves of worries that haunt the minds of the devotees get there to bless me! destroyed like the waves of the ocean that hit the shore, Thou stands on the sea-side town of Thiruchendur exemplifying this truth that the mental worry-waves get destroyed when the Glory of Lord Guha devotees surrender themselves at Thy feet. O Lord Guha (one who resides in the cave of the heart), I meditate on you always!)]

6 M @B$3 D* Glory of Sugandha Hill B7" 7 к2 * (T$ ]. +O * #. B(DX BC * 7D * B$ H - ( .. ^ . N3 43* D я3* 3* B$ H 5 #. я7 3; D .. @ ( . 3 _ . P3 "(T$+O B$ H5. On the shores of the great ocean which steals away the sins of the devotees, stands the Sugandha hills, the most favourable * @ * * ш х@ N3 \ site for the sages to perform their penance! Thou resides there to destroy the worries of the devotees! O self-luminous Lord who is present in the cave of the heart! I adore Thee! -4- я . Description of Lord's bed room 75шe @ * f*+3g5. Z^)4(* * 7&) . к @ *. @ 3 . Nк" 3* h* i . N3@ .`C /)I * # Let the mind (like a bee) which is burdened with domestic troubles become happy by hovering around Thy lotus feet which is adorned with the jingling ringlets made of rings and <Z a к43 1.)))

7 Bк +. beads, red in color indicating the grace, filled with the nectar of beauty and attracts the minds of the devotees.. * к 34к*.. D*+ c Meditation on Lord's waist In a radiant golden bed room, on a cot set with rubies and covered on all sides with sweet smelling flowers, Thou art ) 4 % Q. j DO 4 7 . seated with the effulgence of thousand suns! Thou art the answer to every desire of the heart and Thou fulfils the righteous desires of Thy devotees! Thou art the lord of devas and son of the lord of the universe! O Kartikeyaa I meditate on k)SZк%l) *х +@ 7 #. Thee! Meditation on Lord's feet d* m*7 <@3 7 . D)d. к* R * Z. к e.. * Nк" 3* n 7 6o.

8 7@ JD . 2ш 2)*4 # O Skanda, I meditate on Thy waist which is covered by a -5- я . gold colored cloth, shining with a string of ringing bells and beads, wearing a shining gold belt over the golden silk cloth, and which is by itself self-resplendent BCDN3* + > 7 tшZк > 7 #. Meditation on Lord's Chest 3*" JDш > R(F )+X > 7 . / " *+к". p7 @(3 - 3* b9 > 7 . * u > 7 6G . O Shanmukha! Thy arms punished Brahma, Thy arms N37 / 7 Vк q DD ( # governs the world as Thy play, Thy arms killed Soorapadma and other demons who are enemies of Indra, Thy arms are matchless in protecting the Universe, and Thy arms are a terror to Thine enemies. I worship Thy twelve arms which does all 7 !)

9 3 Dк D* 3 @D5 these things effortlessly. Meditation on Lord's Six faces ^ V 7* 4 7 D ( 66 . O conqueror of Tarakasura! By embracing Valli's ( Hunter's + D 5 ш &( l % ! 5. daughter) well--developed breast ornated with saffron, Thy chest became red colored, thereby manifesting your eternal grace towards devotees. And such a chest I adore. < v Sw:3 E*Z 3 #. Meditation on Twelve Arms 2) 4 j 5 к lO E 7 - $X кrg > 7 ^ s $&3 > - -6- я . Meditation on Lord's Twelve Eyes N3 xy х 7 . * Nк" j 6L . What can I compare to Thy six faces ! If there be six full moons free from blemishes and if those moons be ever shining on all + * ш к) 4 p*4~ яa. sides, even then they would be no match to your effulgent faces .

10 ! S" ш t +^ {)*ш #. Meditation on Lord's Facial Features . шZкe {5 к&Z 33E*- Nz Dy " O5 . B7 9 - *-* . + к 7 B75 6[ . Zкe { s & .p@| B7 #. O Son of Parameshwara! O Merciful Lord! When Thou hast twelve broad long eyes extending upto ears, what will Thou $ ! S" j $D) + 27@ loose by casting that side glance for a moment (on me)? Meditation on Lord's Six Heads 3 @к * ш х M @} /) 6W 3 @ @ * я * 3 ш . O Son of Parameshwara! I see Thy six lotus smiling faces shining like a group of swans, having gleaming side glance ever moving like a row of bees and with red lips overflowing я y +@ я 3* 7 #. with nectar. -7- я . я( D & @ я(C : 3* . 5. O Kumara!]}}