Nyasa Dasakam

Sri D. Ramaswamy Ayyangar

The anushṭhāna or observance of prapatti may be sakṛt, once only. But a reading or recitation of this stotram will help a prapanna to remind himself of what has been done and what he has got to do for the rest of his life. Every devout Vaishnava recites this stotra at the beginning of tiruvaaradhana (daily worship) of the Lord. The Stotra deals with the atma-nikshepa (saranagati), with its angas, and prays for flawless service to the Lord in the post-prapatti period. It is a complete code in itself — a very short and sweet one. Sloka 2 refers to all the angas one word for each. Prapatti is performed by us only by His grace and only for His benefit, not ours; this is pointed out in slokas 3 and 10. The stotra winds up with referring to the sense of relief obtained after casting off all burden. The last sloka of Nyasa Vimsati is invariably recited along with Nyasa Dasakam at its conclusion.