Lakshmi

anantha rUpiNi

அனந்த ரூபிணி

Pallavi

அனந்த ரூபிணி அகில ரக்ஷகி 

anantha rUpiNi akila rakshaki

அன்னபூரணி அமர பாலினி

annapUraNi amara pAlini

Anupallavi

அம்புலி சோதரி அம்புஜ தாரிணி 

ambuli sOdhari ambuja dhAriNi

அம்ருத பாஷிணி அநாத பந்து நீ

amrutha bhAshiNi anAtha bandhu nI

Charanam

அலைகடலிடையே அரியின் அருகே 

alaikadalidaiyE ariyin arugE

அமர்ந்த அழகே அதர அசைவால் 

amarndha azhagE adhara asaivAl

அனைத்தும் அனுக்ரஹிக்கும் அன்னையே 

anaitthum anugrahikkum annaiyE

அல்வழி அகற்றி அறிவும் அறமும்

alvazhi agattRi aRivum aRamum

அமோக வளமும் அளித்திட அருள் நாடி 

amOga vaLamum aLitthida aruL nAdi

அடியேன் அடைக்கலம் அடைந்தேன் அம்பிகே

adiyEn adaikkalam adaindhEn ambikE

Translation

Pallavi

Goddess of infinite forms, protector of the universe, nourisher of the world, you are also the guardian of the immortal devas.

Anupallavi

You are the sister of the moon god, Chandra; you are seated on a lotus. Your speech is as sweet as nectar. You are the savior of the orphaned and the destitute. 

Charanam

The beautiful goddess is seated next to Hari in the ocean. She is the divine mother who grants everything with a simple movement of her lips. Oh, Goddess, this humble devotee seeks refuge with you, so I can avoid evil ways. Bless me with intellect, righteousness (the path of dharma), and boundless prosperity. 

Author’s Note

This song is the author’s attempt to employ alliteration in the Pallavi, Anupallavi, and Charanam. It is a salutation to Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is seated beside Lord Vishnu in the milky ocean. Inspired by both its style and content, Smt. Asha Ramesh has set this song to the raga Asaveri.

Back To Top

kadalidai janittha

கடலிடை ஜனித்த

Pallavi

கடலிடை ஜனித்த கமலாம்பிகே நித்ய கல்யாணி நின் 

kadalidai janittha kamalAmbikE nithya kalyANi nin

கடைக்கண் அருள் தாராய்

kadaikkaN aruL thArAy

Anupallavi

எங்கும் மங்களம் தங்கிட செங்கயல் விழியால் 

engum mangaLam thangida sengkayal vizhiyAl

பொன் மழை பொழிந்திடும் அன்னலக்ஷ்மியே

pon mazhai pozhindhidum annalakshmiyE

Charanam

கலைமகள் மலைமகள் வியந்துன் துதி பாட 

kalaimagaL malaimagaL viyandhun thudhi pAda

பேழையுள் உறங்கிய சிறு உயிர்க்கும் உணவீந்த

pEzhaiyuL uRangiya siRu uyirkkum uNavIndha

மாதவன் மனங்கவர் மனோகரி ஜகத்ஜனனீ

mAdhavan manangkavar manOgari jagathjananI

ஆதவன் செங்கதிரும் உன் விழியொளி நிகரோ

Adhavan sengkadhirum un vizhiyoLi nigarO

Translation

Pallavi

Oh, Goddess Kamalambika, you are born from the ocean and are always auspicious. Devi, please shower compassion on me with a glance.

Anupallavi

Goddess Annalakshmi, you are the feeder of the universe. You possess fish-shaped beautiful eyes that shower gold on your devotees. You are responsible for prosperity everywhere.

Charanam

The goddess of knowledge, Saraswathy, and the daughter of the mountain king, Parvathi, sing your glory in astonishment. You are the deity who offers food to even a small creature locked up in a box. You are the darling of Lord Vishnu. You gave birth to the entire universe. Can the light that emanates from the rays of the sun equal the radiance of your eyes? 

Author’s Note

The first line of the Pallavi traces the origin of Goddess Lakshmi to the ocean. The support for this line comes from Vishnu Puranam and Padma Puranam. Mythologically, Goddess Lakshmi emerged during the churning of the milky ocean. For details, see:

Tamil Translation of Vishnu Puranam by “Navarathnamala” M.K. Venkataraman, Publisher “The Little Flower Company”, T. Nagar, Chennai 600017, Ist Edition 1995, Page 42 describes:

ஶ்ரீ மஹாலக்ஷ்மியின் ப்ராதுர்பாவம்

அப்பொழுது நீரிலிருந்து செந்தாமரையைக் கையிலேந்தி, செந்தாமரை மீதமர்ந்து, ஒளிவீசும் காந்தியுடன் ஸாக்ஷாத் மஹாலக்ஷ்மிதேவி ப்ராதுர்பாவம் ஆனாள். மஹரிஷிகள் ஆனந்தப் பரவசத்துடன் தேவியை ஶ்ரீ சுக்தத்தினால் துதித்தார்கள். விச்வாசு போன்ற கந்தர்வகள் கானம் செய்து முன் செல்ல, க்ருதாசீ போன்ற அப்சர கணங்கள் நர்த்தனம் செய்தார்கள். கங்காதி புண்ய நதிகள் மங்கள ஸ்நானத்திற்காக புனிததீர்த்தங்களைக் கொண்டு வந்தனர். தங்க கலசங்களில் திக்கஜங்கள் குளிர்ந்த நீரைத் தாங்கி வந்தன. ஸர்வ லோகங்களுக்கும் ஈச்வரியான திருமகளுக்குக் கோலாஹலமாக புனித நீராட்டு வைபவம் நடத்தினர்.

The Tamil translation of Padma Puranam also provides a similar appearance of Goddess Lakshmi during Samudra Mantan on pages 13 and 14. 

பத்ம புராணம், எழுதித் தயாரித்தவர்: எஸ். பி. ராமச்சந்திரன், தாமரை நூலகம், 7

என். ஜி. ஓ. காலனி, வட பழனி, சென்னை- 600026, மூன்றாம் பதிப்பு ஏப்ரல் 2008.

The second line in the charanam is based on folklore, for which there is no puranic reference. One day, Goddess Lakshmi wished to test Lord Vishnu’s compassion toward all living beings, no matter how small or insignificant they might be. She collected five ants, placed them inside a locked box. After serving a meal to her divine consort, she asked Him whether He had also cared for all her devotees. Lord Vishnu replied in the affirmative. Out of curiosity, Lakshmi opened the box and found the ants happily relishing a grain of rice. Vishnu then explained that the morsel had come from the red vermilion (tilakam) on her own forehead when she had locked the box.

The interpretation of this episode is that the compassionate Goddess Lakshmi, in her infinite mercy, ensured that even the tiniest of creatures were not left without sustenance. Thus, the divine grace of the gods extends to even the most minuscule forms of life.

Back To Top

padhaRi varuvAL

பதறி வருவாள்

Ragam: Kalyani Talam: Adi

Pallavi

பதறி வருவாள் பத்மலோசனி அன்பர்

padhaRi varuvAL padhmalOchani anbar

கதறி நிற்கும் நிலை கண்டாலே

kadhaRi niRkum nilai kaNdAlE

Anupallavi

சிதறி ஓட வைப்பாள் வினைகளை திருவாலி

sidhaRi Oda vaippAL vinaigaLai thiruvAli 

நகரி நித்யகல்யாணி நிற்குண சுந்தரி

nagari nithyakalyANi niRguNa sundhari

Charanam

அங்கம் யாவும் குளிர ஸ்ரீஹரியின்

angam yAvum kuLira srIhariyin

பொங்கும் சினம் தணிய வழியறியாமல்

pongum sinam thaNiya vazhiyaRiyAmal

கோடி தேவரும் மனம் வருந்தியே

kOdi dhEvarum manam varundhiyE

வாடி பாடிட பதியை நாடி ஓடி வந்தது போல்

vAdi pAdida pathiyai nAdi Odi vandhadhu pOl

Translation

Pallavi

The lotus eyed Goddess Padhmalochani will come rushing when she hears her devotees cry in despair.

Anupallavi

The ever-auspicious, beautiful, and flawless goddess of Thiruvali city will drive away all your sins.

Charanam

There was a time when crores of celestial Gods did not know how to control the anger and cool the body of Sri Hari after his killing the demon, Hiranyakasipu. They chanted and prayed in utter distress to Goddess Lakshmi. She will rush to her devotees whenever they cry in despair, just like the time she ran looking for her husband, sat on his lap, embraced and calmed him. 

Author’s Note

A ferocious Narasimhar (half-man, half-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu) could not control his anger after killing the demon, Hiranyakasipu. Lord Siva and his creation, Prithyankara devi, both fought with Hari but to no avail. Siva took the form of Sarabeswara (half-bird, half-man form) in this fight but could not control Vishnu’s anger. All of the celestials then begged Goddess Lakshmi to find alternate ways to calm down Lord Vishnu. Mahalakshmi rushed to the spot and hugged her Lord and sat on his lap, and this finally cooled him off. Vishnu in this divya kshetram in Thiruvaali appears in an alinganam, or an embracing pose, with the Goddess sitting on his lap. For details, see:

Thiruvali LakshmiNarasimhar Temple Legend

Also see:

Azagiyasinger Temple Sthalapuranam

Back To Top

chandra bimbamO

சந்திர பிம்பமோ

Pallavi

சந்திர பிம்பமோ அன்றி தண்மையின் உருவோ

chandra bimbamO andRi thaNmaiyin uruvO

இந்திர லோகத்து மந்திர ரூபமோ மோக வடிவோ

indhra lOgatthu mandhira rUpamO mOga vadivO

Anupallavi

மையல் தந்திடும் கனியிதழ் காமன் கணையோ

maiyal thandhidum kaniyidhazh kAman kaNaiyO

தையல் இவளை படைத்த நாயகன் ஒருவனோ

thaiyal ivaLai padaittha nAyagan oruvanO

Charanam

கயல் விழிதனிலே கனிந்த காதலும்

kayal vizhidhanilE kanindha kAdhalum

கடை விழிதனிலே காருண்யமும் நிறைந்து

kadai vizhidhanilE kAruNyamum niRaindhu

பரிவுடன் பதம் வருடிடும் பாங்கினில் நெகிழ்ந்து

parivudan padham varudidum pAnginil negizhndhu

அறிதுயில் புரிந்திடும் என்முன் அமர்ந்த எழிலிவள் 

aRithuyil purindhidum enmun amarndha ezhilivaL

Translation

Pallavi

Is she the reflection of the moon, or the embodiment of cool serenity? Is she a celestial princess of Indra’s heaven, or the manifestation of enchantment itself?

Anupallavi

Are her lips the bow of love’s own Cupid, whose arrows kindle desire? Is there only a single divine creator that fashioned this damsel?

Charanam

In her pretty fish-like eyes ripens tender love, and in the corner of her gaze dwells gentle compassion. With affection she caresses my feet, and I melt in the grace of this radiant beauty, who is seated in front of me as I remain in constant conscious awareness.

Author’s Note

This song extols the beauty and grace of Mahalakshmi, as though Vishnu himself were attempting to compose a few verses of a sequel to Soundarya Lahari, this time with his consort as the focus. He wonders whether Brahma alone could have created her. Even for one well-versed in conscious awareness, he says, her charm, grace, compassion, and devotion lie beyond the reach of comprehension.

Back To Top

lOka rakshaki

லோக ரக்ஷகி

Pallavi

லோக ரக்ஷகி சகல ஐஸ்வர்ய சகித

lOka rakshaki sakala aiswarya sakitha

போக தாயினி சோக ஹாரிணி அகில

bOga dhAyini sOga hAriNi akila

Anupallavi

ஆனந்த ரூபிணி திக்கெட்டும் புகழ்

Anandha rUpiNi dhikkettum pugazh

அனந்த பத்மநாபன் மனோஹரி ஈரேழ்

anantha padhmanAbhan manOhari IrEzh

Charanam

ஆழியிடை துயின்றாலும் தீனர் குரல் கேட்டு

Azhiyidai thuyindRAlum dhInar kural kEttu

நாழியும் செய்யாமல் விரையும் நாயகன்

nAzhiyum seyyAmal viraiyum nAyakan

வையமும் மையலில் மேவிட மலர்க்கணை

vaiyamum maiyalil mEvida malarkkaNai

பையவே கொய்திடும் தனயன் புடை சூழும்

paiyavE koydhidum thanayan pudai sUzhum

Translation

Pallavi

Goddess Lakshmi, you are the protector of the entire universe. You offer prosperity and even luxury to your devotees. You also annihilate all suffering.

Anupallavi

You are the personification of eternal joy. You are the darling consort of Lord Vishnu whose fame spread in all eight directions. You are the savior of all fourteen worlds.

Charanam

Your consort sleeps in the milky ocean. He hurries as soon as he hears a call from the destitute. You have a son who delicately shoots flower arrows so that the entire world will enjoy romantic love. You are surrounded by this family that cares for the universe.

Back To Top

madhusUdhanan manOgari

மதுசூதனன் மனோகரி

Pallavi

மதுசூதனன் மனோகரி மார ஜனனீ

madhusUdhanan manOgari mAra jananI

மதுரவதனி மஹாலக்ஷ்மி மாதே

madhuravadhani mahAlakshmi mAthE

Anupallavi

மனதினில் மகிழ்வும் மாசறு நினைவும்

manadhinil magizhvum mAsaRu ninaivum

மங்கா வளமும் மாண்பும் வழங்கிடும்

mangA vaLamum mANbum vazhangidum

Charanam

மதியும் மாவலியும் துணையாய் மதம் நிறை மூகனை

madhiyum mAvaliyum thuNaiyAy madham niRai mUkanai

மாய்த்தவள் நீயே மாரி போல மாநிதியொடு

mAytthavaL nIyE mAri pOla mAnidhiyodu

மங்களமருளிடும் மலர்மகளே மகேஸ்வரி

mangaLamaruLidum malarmagaLE magEswari

மூடனெந்தன் மறுமை நீக்கி மேன்மை தருவாய்

mUdanendhan maRumai nIkki mEnmai tharuvAy

Translation

Pallavi

Dear mother Mahalakshmi, you are the darling of Vishnu (Madhusudhanan). The god of love, Manmatha, is your son. Your face is as sweet as nectar.

Anupallavi

You offer happiness to my mind and a thought process free of imperfections. You offer an immutable treasure, a source of enduring greatness and repute.

Charanam

Oh Supreme Goddess seated on a lotus flower, you used your intellect and strength to annihilate the ego-centered demon Mookasura. Like rain, you offer prosperity and auspiciousness to devotees. Please remove this ignorant soul’s birth cycle and offer salvation. 

Author’s Note

Lines 1 and 2 of the charanam describe the  Goddess Mookambika who caused the death of the evil demon, Kamasura (Mookasura) domiciled in a huge temple in Kollur, Karnataka near Mangalore. There, the deity is visited by large crowds each day.

Per ancient legend, from his guru, Sukhracharya , a demon named Kamasura got wind of his imminent death at the hands of a woman. He performed severe penance to obtain immortality from Lord Siva. Pleased by his austerity, Siva appeared before him. Apprehensive of the outcome, Adiparasakthi (a blend of Goddess Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, and Parvathy) blocked the boon by taking away the demon’s ability to speak. Thus, Kamasura could not ask for what he wanted from Siva and became Mookasura (a demon without speech).  The deity eventually killed him and relieved the devas, and the entire universe, from the demon’s atrocities. For more reading, see:

Story of Goddess Mookambika

Mookambika Temple At Kollur

When Goddess Saraswathi took away Mookasura’s ability to speak, she left him with only his ego. Humiliated but unbroken in spirit, the asura faced off with her. He fell at last before the Supreme Goddess, who, together with her two divine co-equals, delivered a final blow. For details, see:

Goddess Lakshmi as Adi Parasakthi kills Mookasura 

Back To Top