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Kamasikhaashtakam-- Part 2

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • May 5, 1996 


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