subrahmaṇya bhujaṅga stotram

Invocation of SrI Vighneshvara: Let Him who is called the giver of good things, who forever looks like a small child, crumbles mountains of great obstacles, who though having a huge elephants head, is much respected by Lord Shiva, who is being searched by gods like Brahma, and who is called the lord of Ganas, bless me with wealth.

Acharya's humility: Though I do not know words, nor the meanings of words, nor the form of prose or verse, but in my heart shines a effulgent light with luminous six faces, and wonder of wonders, words flow from my heart without a stop, and make a pretty picture using words.

Lord as the goal of Vedas: I sing the praise of that protector of the world, who rides on a peacock, who is the meaning of great Vedic sayings, who has a very pretty mien (look), who resides in the minds of great ones, who is the god of all gods, who is the tenor of the Vedas, and who is the great son of Lord Shiva.

Reason for residing on the sea shore: I sing the praise of that pure son of the great Shakthi, whose abode is near the sea shore (Thiruchendur is a coastal town) as if it is an indication that whenever a devotee takes refuge in the lord, he has crossed the ocean of painful day- to- day life.

Destroyer of devotee's difficulties: Like the waves of the sea, beating on the shore, becomes weakened and disappears. The worries of him who visits his temple, disappears in to small dusts, and so I make the great Lord Subramanya, reside in the lotus of my heart always.

Glory of Sugandha hill: “He who climbs to my mountain abode, feels that he has climbed the greatest mountain" so says the god who lives on the sandal mountain, and let him offer me perennial protection.

Glory of Lord Guha: On the shores of the great ocean which steals away the sins of the devotees, stands the Sugandha hills, the most favourable site for the sages to perform their penance! You reside there to destroy the worries of the devotees! O self-luminous Lord who is present in the cave of the heart! I adore you!

Description of Lord's abode: I always worship that lord of all devas, who was looked after by Karthika maidens, who fulfills the wishes of all people, who is covered by mountains of flowers, when he sits on his throne of gems and rubies, in his residence of gold, and looks like light of thousands of suns.

Meditation on Lord's feet: Let my mind which is like a bee, burdened with the sorrows of this life, hover round your lotus like feet, Skanda! Which are adorned by anklets, which are of pretty red colour, which steal my mind, and which are full of the nectar of prettiness.

Meditation on Lord's waist: Oh! Skanda, I meditate on your waist which is covered by a gold cloth, shining with a string of ringing bells, and which has a glittering belt, and which is by itself self-resplendent.

Meditation on Lord's Chest: Oh! conqueror of Tarakasura! By embracing Valli's (hunter's daughter) well--developed breast ornated with saffron, your chest became red colored, thereby manifesting your eternal grace towards devotees. And it is the sign of your love for them.

Meditation on Twelve Arms: Oh Lord Subramanya, I meditate on your long arms which punished Lord Brahma, which playfully carried the entire universe, which are longer than the trunk of the elephant, which are like the bolt of the god of death to your enemies, which killed the collection of asuras, which are capable of taking care of the world, and which are extremely strong.

Meditation on Lord's Six Faces: What can I compare to your six faces! If there are six full moons blemish free and ever shining on all sides, even then they would be no match to your effulgent faces.

Meditation on Lord's features: Oh! Son of Parameshwara, I see your six lotus smiling faces shining like a group of swans, having gleaming side glance ever moving like a row of bees and with red lips overflowing with nectar.

Meditation on Lord's twelve eyes: Oh! Merciful Lord! When thou hast twelve broad long eyes extending upto ears, what will you loose by casting that side glance for a moment [on me]?

Meditation on Lord's Six Heads: Oh Lord of the universe, I salute those six shining crowned heads, which are kissed by the Lord Shiva, with a joyful prayer repeated six times, that this child who is born out of him, should live forever.

Meditation on Lord Balasubrahmanya: Oh Lord who is the son of god who destroyed Tripura. Who shines with the garlands of rubies and gems, who has pretty cheeks, over which the ear studs play, who wears yellow silk on his waist. And who holds the pretty spear (vel), please appear before me.

Meditation on Somaskandar: I salute that child Subrahmanya, who rushed from his mother’s lap, to the embrace of his father Parameshwara’s extended arms, when he lovingly called to him, “Come, my darling son.”

Meditation on Lord's names to conquer passions: Oh kumara! Oh Son of Lord of the Universe! One shines in the cave of the heart as Guha! Oh Skanda! Oh Lord of the Devas Army! Oh Wielder of the weapon Vel (spear) which is the svarupa of Parashakti! One who rides on the peacock chariot! Oh beloved of the hunter's daughter (Valli)! Destroyer of the sins of your devotees! Enemy of the Tarakasura! Oh Lord protect me!

Prayer for darshan during the last moments of life: When all my senses have calmed down, when I have lost my intelligence, when I am not capable of any movement, when my throat is full of phlegm, when my body is shivering due to fear, and when my soul is preparing to depart, without any one to help me, Oh Lord of mercy, please hasten, for I want to be in your presence, Lord Guha.

Prayer to give darshan during death pangs: When the fearsome messengers of the god of death, angrily shout, “burn him, tear him in to pieces, cut”, please come swiftly riding on the peacock, armed with your holy spear, and give me consolation, Oh Lord.

Prayer for protection during last moments: Oh Merciful Lord! I am prostrating to often to secure your blessings. I offer prayers to please you. You should not be indifferent towards me during my last moments. At that time I may not have the control and energy to pray to you!

Prayer to Drive Away Mental Worries: O Lord! You slained the demon Soora who ruled the thousand universes. You destroyed the demons Tarakasura and Simhavaktra. But Lord, why have you not killed the demon called mental worry which haunts my mind? Oh Lord, What should I do, Where shall I go?

Prayer to destroy mental worries: Oh Son of Uma! I am always troubled by the mental worries. You are the friend of helpless! I request none but you for saving me. Destroy my sorrows as they interfere with my devotion towards you!

Glory of Lord's holy ash: Oh Conqueror of Taraka! Epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, lung diseases, venreal diseases, fevers, mental diseases of all types run away the moment they see your holy ash (vibhuti).

Acts of the indriyas: Let my eye always see the holy form of Skanda, let my ears hear the holy story of Skandha, let my mouth always tell the pure sacred story of Skanda, let my hand be engaged in the works of Skanda, let my body be always servant of Skanda, and let all my actions be devoted to Skanda.

Lord Guha alone is the saviour of the ordinary: For all the great sages and all great devotees, there are gods ready to satisfy their wishes. But for the lowly and ordinary devotees, I know not of any other deity to protect them except Guha!

Six faced lord is our family deity: Oh Lord Kumara! Let my wife, children, relatives, friends, other men and women in our household, worship, salute, sing your praise, and meditate on you always.

Prayer to Vel to destroy diseases: Oh! Destroyer of Krauncha mountain! Please use your holy spear with sharp point, to break and destroy those animals, birds, insects and diseases that cause harm to my body.

Prayer to father of the universe: Oh God who is the chief of the army of devas, would not a father pardon the mistakes of the son? I am like a small child and you are the father of the world, please pardon all my omissions and commissions.

Prayer to the Lord: Salutations to the peacock, Salutations to your holy spear, Salutations to the sheep, Salutations to the rooster, Salutations to the ocean,Salutations to the temple by the sea side, Salutations over and again to Skanda.

Prayer to Lord to reveal his powers: Victory to the source of happiness, Victory to your limitless light, Victory to your boundless fame, Victory to the personification of happiness, Victory to the sea of bliss, Victory to the friend of all, Victory always to you who is the son of the god, who grants salvation.

Effect of reciting these shlokas: That holy devotee, who prostrates to Lord Guha, reciting the Bhujanga stotra daily, with devotion, will be blessed with good sons, good wife, wealth and long life, and at end of his life, will attain eternal bliss with Lord Skanda.