ANANDA RAMAYANAM - VI

From the Bhakti List Archives

• June 13, 1997


                          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