ଅରୁଣାଚଲ ଅଷ୍ଟକମ୍

• ଦର୍ଶନାତ୍ (darśanāt)by the sight of it
• ଅଭ୍ର-ସଦସି (abhra-sadasi)in the Hall of the Sky, Cidambaram
• ଜନନାତ୍ (jananāt)by being born
• କମଲ-ଆଲଯେ (kamala-ālaye)in Kamalālaya, Tiruvārūr
• କାଶ୍ଯାମ୍ (kāśyām)in Kāśī
• ତୁ (tu)but
• ମରଣାତ୍ (maraṇāt)by dying
• ମୁକ୍ତିଃ (muktiḥ)liberation comes
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)and by the mere remembering
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲେ (aruṇācale)of Aruṇācala

anvaya ଅଭ୍ରସଦସି ଦର୍ଶନାତ୍ କମଲାଲଯେ ଜନନାତ୍ କାଶ୍ଯାମ୍ ମରଣାତ୍ ତୁ ଅରୁଣାଚଲେ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ ମୁକ୍ତିଃ

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଅଭ୍ରସଦସି in the Hall of the Sky, Chidambaram — Abhra is cloud or sky and sadas a hall. The shrine at Chidambaram is called the Hall of Space, where Shiva is worshipped as the dancer.

କମଲାଲଯେ at Kamalalaya, Tiruvarur — The town is named for its lotus tank. Being born there is what the verse counts.

ଅରୁଣାଚଲେ at Arunachala — The red hill at Tiruvannamalai, worshipped as Shiva himself in the form of fire. Aruṇa is the red of daybreak.

note A saying known all over the south, set here as the opening verse. Each of the four places asks something different of a person: you must go and see Chidambaram, be born at Tiruvarur, die at Kashi. For Arunachala it is enough to remember it.

• କରୁଣା-ପୂରିତ-ଅପାଙ୍ଗମ୍ (karuṇā-pūrita-apāṅgam)whose sidelong glance brims with compassion
• ଶରଣ-ଆଗତ-ଵତ୍ସଲମ୍ (śaraṇa-āgata-vatsalam)tender toward all who come for refuge
• ତରୁଣ-ଇନ୍ଦୁ-ଜଟା-ମୌଲିମ୍ (taruṇa-indu-jaṭā-maulim)whose crown of matted hair bears the young moon
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya କରୁଣାପୂରିତାପାଙ୍ଗମ୍ ଶରଣାଗତଵତ୍ସଲମ୍ ତରୁଣେନ୍ଦୁଜଟାମୌଲିମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ [ମୁକ୍ତିଃ]

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଅପାଙ୍ଗମ୍ the outer corner of the eye — The sidelong look, which is how kindness shows in a face before anything is said.

ଶରଣାଗତଵତ୍ସଲମ୍ tender towards whoever comes for shelter — Vatsala is the feeling a cow has for its calf, used for the care a god has for those who turn up with nothing.

note From here to the end, every verse keeps the fourth pāda of the first verse as a refrain and hangs its describing words on it. The verb is the one carried over from that verse: liberation comes by remembering.

• ସମସ୍ତ-ଜଗତ୍-ଆଧାରମ୍ (samasta-jagat-ādhāram)the support of the whole world
• ସତ୍-ଚିତ୍-ଆନନ୍ଦ-ଵିଗ୍ରହମ୍ (sat-cit-ānanda-vigraham)whose form is being, consciousness and bliss
• ସହସ୍ର-ରଥସ-ଉପେତମ୍ (sahasra-rathasa-upetam)attended by a thousand chariots of the sun
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya ସମସ୍ତଜଗଦାଧାରମ୍ ସଚ୍ଚିଦାନନ୍ଦଵିଗ୍ରହମ୍ ସହସ୍ରରଥସୋପେତମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ [ମୁକ୍ତିଃ]

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ସଚ୍ଚିଦାନନ୍ଦଵିଗ୍ରହମ୍ whose form is being, awareness and joy — Sat, cit and ānanda are the three words Vedanta uses for what is finally real. Vigraha is a form or a shape, so the three are spoken of here as having taken shape.

ସହସ୍ରରଥସୋପେତମ୍ attended by a thousand — The word as printed gives no settled reading. Ratha is a chariot, so it can be read as a thousand chariots in attendance; a nearby reading is sahasra-raśmi, the thousand-rayed sun. The gloss keeps only what is certain.

note The third pāda is doubtful as printed. It has been left as it stands and glossed only as far as the words allow.

• କାଞ୍ଚନ-ପ୍ରତିମା-ଆଭାସମ୍ (kāñcana-pratimā-ābhāsam)shining like an image of gold
• ଵାଞ୍ଛିତ-ଅର୍ଥ-ଫଲ-ପ୍ରଦମ୍ (vāñchita-artha-phala-pradam)giver of the fruit of every wished-for end
• ମାମ୍ ଚ ରକ୍ଷ (mām ca rakṣa)and protect me
• ସୁର-ଅଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷମ୍ (sura-adhyakṣam)overseer of the gods
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya କାଞ୍ଚନପ୍ରତିମାଭାସମ୍ ଵାଞ୍ଛିତାର୍ଥଫଲପ୍ରଦମ୍ ସୁରାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ ମାମ୍ ଚ ରକ୍ଷ

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ସୁରାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷମ୍ the one set over the gods — Adhyakṣa is the one who oversees, the head of an assembly.

ଵାଞ୍ଛିତାର୍ଥଫଲପ୍ରଦମ୍ who gives the fruit of what is wished for — Vāñchita is the thing wanted, artha what it is wanted for, phala what comes of it.

note The third pāda steps out of the describing and asks straight out for protection. It is the only line in the hymn that does so.

• ବଦ୍ଧ-ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର-ଜଟା-ଜୂଟମ୍ (baddha-candra-jaṭā-jūṭam)with the moon bound into his coil of matted hair
• ଅର୍ଧ-ନାରୀ-କଲେବରମ୍ (ardha-nārī-kalebaram)whose body is half woman
• ଵର୍ଧମାନ-ଦଯା-ଅମ୍ଭୋଧିମ୍ (vardhamāna-dayā-ambhodhim)an ever-swelling ocean of mercy
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya ବଦ୍ଧଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଜଟାଜୂଟମ୍ ଅର୍ଧନାରୀକଲେବରମ୍ ଵର୍ଧମାନଦଯାମ୍ଭୋଧିମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ [ମୁକ୍ତିଃ]

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଜଟାଜୂଟମ୍ the coil of matted hair — Jaṭā is matted hair and jūṭa the knot it is gathered into, with the crescent moon tied into it.

ଅର୍ଧନାରୀକଲେବରମ୍ whose body is half woman — The form in which Shiva and the Goddess share one body, the right side his and the left hers. Printed कलेबर, a common spelling of कलेवर, the body.

note The kindness is called a sea that keeps rising, vardhamāna, so it is never at its highest mark.

• କାଞ୍ଚନ-ପ୍ରତିମା-ଆଭାସମ୍ (kāñcana-pratimā-ābhāsam)shining like an image of gold
• ସୂର୍ଯ-କୋଟି-ସମ-ପ୍ରଭମ୍ (sūrya-koṭi-sama-prabham)of a brilliance equal to ten million suns
• ବଦ୍ଧ-ଵ୍ଯାଘ୍ର-ପୁରୀ-ଧ୍ଯାନମ୍ (baddha-vyāghra-purī-dhyānam)held fast in meditation upon the Tiger City, Cidambaram
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya କାଞ୍ଚନପ୍ରତିମାଭାସମ୍ ସୂର୍ଯକୋଟିସମପ୍ରଭମ୍ ବଦ୍ଧଵ୍ଯାଘ୍ରପୁରୀଧ୍ଯାନମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ [ମୁକ୍ତିଃ]

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଵ୍ଯାଘ୍ରପୁରୀ the Tiger City, Chidambaram — Named after the sage Vyaghrapada, who was given tiger's feet so he could climb for flowers before the bees reached them.

କୋଟି ten million — A round figure for a number past counting.

note The first pāda repeats the opening of verse 4 word for word, as the printed text has it. The hill is described as held fast in meditation on Chidambaram, so the two shrines of the first verse are tied together.

• ଶିକ୍ଷଯା (śikṣayā)by chastisement
• ଅଖିଲ-ଦେଵ-ଅରି (akhila-deva-ari)of every foe of the gods
• ଭକ୍ଷିତ-କ୍ଷ୍ଵେଲ-କନ୍ଧରମ୍ (bhakṣita-kṣvela-kandharam)in whose throat the swallowed poison rests
• ରକ୍ଷଯା (rakṣayā)by his protection
• ଅଖିଲ-ଭକ୍ତାନାମ୍ (akhila-bhaktānām)of all his devotees
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya ଅଖିଲଦେଵାରି ଶିକ୍ଷଯା ଅଖିଲଭକ୍ତାନାମ୍ ରକ୍ଷଯା ଭକ୍ଷିତକ୍ଷ୍ଵେଲକନ୍ଧରମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ [ମୁକ୍ତିଃ]

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

କ୍ଷ୍ଵେଲ poison — A spelling of kṣveḍa. When the sea was churned the poison came up first, and Shiva drank it and held it in his throat so that it went no further.

କନ୍ଧରମ୍ the throat — Holding the poison there is what gives him the name Nilakantha, the blue throat.

note Two things are set side by side in one verse: the lesson given to the enemies of the gods, and the guard kept over his own people. Printed ଦେଵାରି; read as devārīn, the foes of the gods.

• ଅଷ୍ଟ-ଭୂତି-ସମାଯୁକ୍ତମ୍ (aṣṭa-bhūti-samāyuktam)possessed of the eight forms of manifest being
• ଇଷ୍ଟ-କାମ-ଫଲ-ପ୍ରଦମ୍ (iṣṭa-kāma-phala-pradam)giver of the fruit of every cherished wish
• ଶିଷ୍ଟ-ଭକ୍ତି-ସମାଯୁକ୍ତାନ୍ (śiṣṭa-bhakti-samāyuktān)those joined with the devotion of the good
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya ଶିଷ୍ଟଭକ୍ତିସମାଯୁକ୍ତାନ୍ [ପ୍ରତି] ଅଷ୍ଟଭୂତିସମାଯୁକ୍ତମ୍ ଇଷ୍ଟକାମଫଲପ୍ରଦମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଅଷ୍ଟଭୂତି the eight — Usually read as the aṣṭamūrti, Shiva's eight forms: earth, water, fire, air, space, sun, moon and the one who offers the sacrifice. Bhūti also means well-being, so some read the eight kinds of prosperity instead.

ଶିଷ୍ଟ the good, the well-taught — Those who keep to what has been handed down. The word also carries being trained, so it is devotion that has been schooled.

note The three pādas rhyme on -ṣṭa: aṣṭa, iṣṭa, śiṣṭa. The word play is the point of the verse as much as the meaning.

• ଵିନାଯକ-ସୁର-ଅଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷମ୍ (vināyaka-sura-adhyakṣam)overlord of Vināyaka and of the gods
• ଵିଷ୍ଣୁ-ବ୍ରହ୍ମ-ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର-ସେଵିତମ୍ (viṣṇu-brahma-indra-sevitam)served by Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Indra
• ଵିମଲ-ଅରୁଣ-ପାଦ-ଅବ୍ଜମ୍ (vimala-aruṇa-pāda-abjam)whose lotus feet are spotless and red as the dawn
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya ଵିନାଯକସୁରାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷମ୍ ଵିଷ୍ଣୁବ୍ରହ୍ମେନ୍ଦ୍ରସେଵିତମ୍ ଵିମଲାରୁଣପାଦାବ୍ଜମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ [ମୁକ୍ତିଃ]

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ଵିନାଯକସୁରାଧ୍ଯକ୍ଷମ୍ lord of Vinayaka and of the gods — Ganapati is named first among those he is lord of, then the gods as a body.

ଵିମଲାରୁଣପାଦାବ୍ଜମ୍ whose lotus feet are clear and red — Aruṇa, the red of daybreak, is the colour of the hill itself, so the feet and the hill are the same colour.

note All three pādas begin with vi, and the verse is built on that repetition.

• ମନ୍ଦାର-ମଲ୍ଲିକା-ଜାତି-କୁନ୍ଦ-ଚମ୍ପକ-ପଙ୍କଜୈଃ (mandāra-mallikā-jāti-kunda-campaka-paṅkajaiḥ)with mandāra, mallikā, jāti, kunda, campaka and lotus blossoms
• ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର-ଆଦି-ପୂଜିତାମ୍ (indra-ādi-pūjitām)worshipped by Indra and the rest
• ଦେଵୀମ୍ (devīm)the Goddess, his consort
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya ମନ୍ଦାରମଲ୍ଲିକାଜାତିକୁନ୍ଦଚମ୍ପକପଙ୍କଜୈଃ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରାଦିପୂଜିତାମ୍ ଦେଵୀମ୍ [ଚ] ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ମନ୍ଦାରମଲ୍ଲିକାଜାତିକୁନ୍ଦଚମ୍ପକପଙ୍କଜୈଃ with mandara, jasmine, jati, kunda, champak and lotus — Six flowers of temple worship, filling a whole pāda. Mallika, jati and kunda are all jasmines of different kinds.

ଦେଵୀମ୍ the Goddess — The Goddess of the same temple at Tiruvannamalai, worshipped there as Unnamulai.

note The one verse in the hymn that turns to the Goddess rather than to the hill.

• ସମ୍ପତ୍-କରମ୍ (sampat-karam)the maker of prosperity
• ପାର୍ଵତୀ-ଈଶମ୍ (pārvatī-īśam)the lord of Pārvatī
• ସୂର୍ଯ-ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର-ଅଗ୍ନି-ଲୋଚନମ୍ (sūrya-candra-agni-locanam)whose eyes are sun, moon and fire
• ମନ୍ଦ-ସ୍ମିତ-ମୁଖ-ଅମ୍ଭୋଜମ୍ (manda-smita-mukha-ambhojam)whose lotus face bears a gentle smile
• ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ (smaraṇāt)by the mere remembering of
• ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ (aruṇācalam)Aruṇācala, the red mountain

anvaya ସମ୍ପତ୍କରମ୍ ପାର୍ଵତୀଶମ୍ ସୂର୍ଯଚନ୍ଦ୍ରାଗ୍ନିଲୋଚନମ୍ ମନ୍ଦସ୍ମିତମୁଖାମ୍ଭୋଜମ୍ ଅରୁଣାଚଲମ୍ ସ୍ମରଣାତ୍ [ମୁକ୍ତିଃ]

chandas Anuṣṭubh, 8 syllables in each of 4 pādas

ସୂର୍ଯଚନ୍ଦ୍ରାଗ୍ନିଲୋଚନମ୍ whose eyes are sun, moon and fire — The right eye is the sun, the left the moon, and the third, in the forehead, is fire.

ମନ୍ଦସ୍ମିତମୁଖାମ୍ଭୋଜମ୍ whose lotus face carries a slight smile — Manda is soft or slow. The smile is a faint one rather than a broad one.

note The last verse closes on the face, after the earlier verses have gone over hair, throat, eyes and feet. The title calls the hymn an ashtakam, a set of eight, but eleven verses are printed here.