Sri Subramanya Bhujangam is a stotra sung under inspiration by Sri Adi Shankara at Thiruchendur (presently located in Tamil Nadu, India ). When he meditated upon Sri Subramanya, he became aware of a Self Luminous light shining in his Heart and words came out of his mouth in extempore in bhujanga meter. It is also said that Sri Shankara actually saw the AdiSesha worshipping the Lord and adopted the bhujanga meter
Invocation of Lord Ganesha:
sadA bAlaroopApi vighnAdhi hanthri
mahAdanthi vaktrApi panchAsyamAnyA
vidheendhrAdhi mrigyA gaNeshAbhidhAme
vidhatthAm shriyam kApi kalyANamurthi:
Meaning: Though He always sports the appearance of a child, He can crumble the mountains of obstacles. Though He is elephant-faced, He is honoured even by his five-faced father Shiva (sadyojaatam, vaamadevam, aghoram, tatpurusham and iishaanam). Lord Brahma, Indra and the other Devas seek him to fulfil their aspirations. He is known as Ganesha and He is endowed with boundless glory. May He bless me with prosperity!.
Sri Sankara’s humility
na jAnAmi padhyam, na jAnAmi gadhyam
na jAnAmi shabdam, na jAnAmi chArttham
chidekA shadAsyA hridhi dhyothathe me
mukhAnis saranthe giraschApi chitram
Meaning: I know not the science of musical sounds, I know not the meanings of complex texts either, I know not the nature of shlokas made of four types of padaas, nor do I know the intricacies of the gadhyam style! But in my heart, shines an effulgent light with six luminous faces, and because of that, from my mouth, amazing phrases with musical tone and meanings pour out in extempore.
This shloka brings out the humility of Sri Sankara, who is considered as the greatest Jnani, poet and yogi who walked the face of the earth. Meditating on this verse will bring wisdom to the aspirant.
Lord as the essence of the Vedas
mayUrAdhiroodam mahAvAkyagUdam
manohArideham mahachittageham
mahIdevadevam mahavedabhAvam
mahadevabAlam bhaje lokapAlam
Meaning: O! Son of Mahadeva! Seated on the peacock chariot, being the essence of the great maha vaakyaas, having wonderfully attractive body, dwelling in the heart of great sages, O the quintessence of four Vedas! Thou are indeed the Lord of the Universe.
It is said that when Sri Shankara sang this verse, Lord Subramanya gave him darshan.
Reason for the Lord residing on the sea shore
yadhA sannidhAnam gathA mAnavA me,
bhavAm bodhipAram gathAsthe thadhaiva
ithi vyanjayan sindhutheere ya aaste,
thameede pavitram parAshaktiputram
Meaning: O Lord Subramanya! Son of spotless Parashakti [the Mother of the Cosmos], Thou have taken your abode near the sea shore Tiruchendur as if it is an indication that whenever the devotees take refuge in Thee, they can easily cross the ocean of samsara (the eternal cycle of life and death) and reach the other side of the shore safely!.
Destoyer of Devotees’s difficulties
yathAbdhes tharangA layam yAnthi thungA,
thatthaivA padha sannidhou sevyamAne
itheevormi panktheer nrinAm darshayantham,
sadA bhAvaye hrithsaroje guham tham
Meaning: The waves of worries that haunt the minds of the devotees get destroyed like the waves of the ocean when they hit the shore; Thou stands on the sea-side town of Tiruchendur exemplifying this truth that the mental worry-waves get destroyed when the devotees surrender themselves at Thy feet. O Lord Guha (one who resides in the cave of the heart)! I meditate on you always!.
Glory of the Sugandha hill
girou mannivAse narA yedhi rUdA,
thadhA parvathe rAjathe thedhirUdA:
itheeva bruvan gandha shailAdhirUdah: ,
sadevo mudhe me sadA shanmukhostu
Meaning: O Lord Shanmukha! Thou stands on the top of the Sugandha hill, proclaiming that whenever the devotees climb this hill it will give the same benefit as climbing the king of mountains (Kailas)! May the six-faced Lord on the Sugandha hills remain there to bless me!.
Glory of Lord Guha
mahAmbodhitheere mahApApachore,
muneendrAnukoole sugandhAkhya shaile
guhAyAm vasantham svabhAsA lasantham,
janArthim harantham shrayAmo guham tham
Meaning: 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! Thou resides there to destroy the worries of the devotees! O self-luminous Lord who is present in the cave of the heart! I adore Thee!.
Description of Lord’s Bedroom
lasat swarna gehai nrinAm kAmadohe,
sumasthoma sanchanna mANikya manche
samudyath sahasrArka thulyaprakAsham,
sadA bhAvaye kArtikeyam suresham
Meaning: In a radiant golden bedroom, on a cot set with rubies and covered on all sides with sweet smelling flowers, Thou art seated with the effulgence of a thousand suns! Thou art the answer to every desire of the heart and Thou fulfils the righteous desires of Thy devotees! Thou art the Lord of Devas and son of the Lord of the universe! O Kartikeya I meditate on Thee!.
Meditation on Lord’s Feet
raNat hamsake manjuleth yanthashoNe,
manohAri lAvaNya peeyusha poorNe
manash: shatpadho me bhava klesha taptha: ,
sadA modathAm skanda te pAda padme
Meaning: Let the mind (like a bee) which is burdened with domestic troubles become happy by hovering around Thy lotus feet which is adorned with the jingling ringlets made of rings and beads, red in color indicating grace, filled with the nectar of beauty which attracts the minds of the devotees.
Meditation on Lord’s Waist
suvarnAbha divyAm barodh bhAsa mAnam,
kvaNath kinkiNi mekhalA shobha mAnam
lasad dhemapattena vidhyotha mAnam,
katim bhAvaye Skanda te deepya mAnam
Meaning: O! Skanda, I meditate on Thy waist which is covered by a gold coloured cloth, shining with a string of ringing bells and beads, wearing a shining gold belt over the golden silk cloth, and which is by itself self-resplendent.
Meditation on Lord’s Chest
pulindesha kanyA ghanA bhoga thunga,
sthanA linganA saktha kAshmeera rAgam
namasyAmyaham tArakAre tavorah: ,
svabhaktA vane sarvadA sAnurAgam
Meaning: O! conqueror of Tarakasura! By embracing Valli's (hunter's daughter) well-developed breast ornated with saffron, Thy chest became red coloured, thereby manifesting your eternal grace towards devotees. And such a chest I adore.
Meditation on Twelve Arms
vidhou kluptha dhandAn svaleelA dhri thAndAn,
nirasthebha shundAn dvishath kAladhandAn
hathendhrAri shandAn jagatrAna shoundAn,
sadA te prachandAn shraye bAhu dhandAn
Meaning: O Shanmukha! Thy arms punished Brahma, Thy arms govern the world as Thy play, Thy arms killed Soorapadma and other demons who are enemies of Indra, Thy arms are matchless in protecting the Universe, and Thy arms are a terror to Thine enemies. I worship Thy twelve arms which do all these things effortlessly.
Meditation on Lord’s Six Faces
sadA shAradA : shan mrugAngkA yadhisyu: ,
samudyantha eva stthithAsh cheth samanthAth
sadApoorna bimbA: kalankaishcha heenA: ,
tadA tvan mukhAnAm bruve Skanda sAmyam
Meaning: What can I compare to Thy six faces! If there be six full moons free from blemishes and if those moons be ever shining on all sides, even then they would be no match to your effulgent faces.
Meditation on Lord’s Facial Features
sphuran mandahAsai : sahamsAni chanchath,
katAkshA valeebhringa sanghojvalAni
sudhAsyandhi bimbA dharANi shasoono,
tavA lokaye shanmukhAm bhoruhANi
Meaning: O! Son of Parameshwara, I see Thy six smiling faces shining like a group of swans, having gleaming side glances ever moving like a row of bees and with red lips overflowing with nectar.
Meditation on Lord’s Twelve Eyes
vishAleshu karNAntha dheergesh vajasram,
dayAs yandhishu dvAdha shas veekshaNeshu
mayeeshath katAkshas : sakruth pAthi tashcheth,
bhavethe dayAsheela kA nAma hAni:
Meaning: O! Son of Parameshwara! Oh Merciful Lord! When Thou hast twelve broad long eyes extending up to ears, what will Thou lose by casting that side glance for a moment (on me)? .
Meditation on Lord’s Six Heads
suthAngodhbhavo mesi jeevethi shad dhA,
japanmantra meesho mudhA jigrathe yAn
jagad bhAra bhridbhyo jagannAtha thebhya: ,
kireeto jvalebhyo namo mastakebhya
Meaning: O! Lord of the Universe! I offer my prostration to Thy six heads wearing crowns with brilliant rubies which protect the welfare of creatures, which were smelt by Parameshwara with joy uttering six times the mantra "Child Thou were born of me, May Thou live long".
Meditation on Lord BalaSubramanya
sphuradh ratna keyoora hArAbhi rAma,
chalath kuNdala shri-lasadh kandabhAga
katou peethavAsA kare chArushakti,
purasthAn ma mAsthAm purAres thanooja
Meaning: O Kumara! Son of Lord Parameshwara (who destroyed Tripura)! With garlands of brilliant rubies on Thy shoulders and chest, with bright cheeks shining with pendants dangling from Thy ears, wearing silk garment around Thy waist, and with Vel in Thy hand, Oh! Lord appear before me (It is said that Lord appeared before Sri Sankara when he sung this stotra)! .
Meditation on SomaSkanda
ihAyAhi vatsethi hasthAn prasArya,
aah-vayath-yAdha-rAch-shankare mAthu rankAth
samuthpathya thAtham shrayantham kumAram,
harAshlishta gAthram bhaje bAlamoorthim
Meaning: When Lord Shankara called Thee affectionately with arms extended, Thou hurriedly rose from Mother's lap and rushed into Shankara's arms who embraced Thee affectionately. I meditate on such a Lord Kumara.
Meditation on Lords’ Eleven Names to Conquer Passions
kumAresha soono Guhaskanda senA,
pathe shaktipAne mayUrAdhirUda
pulindhAthmajA kAntha bhakthArthi hArin,
prabho tArakAre sadA raksha mAm tvam
Meaning: O Kumara! Oh Son of Lord of the Universe! One who 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 Tarakasura! Oh Lord protect me!.
Prayer for Darshan of Lord during the Last Moments of Life
prashAn thendriye nashta samngnye vicheshte,
kaphod kArivaktre bhayoth kampi gAthre
prayANon mukhe mayyanAthe thadhAneem,
drutham me dhayALo bhavAgre guham tham
Meaning: Hail Guha, Dayalo (The compassionate one). During the last moments of my life, when I will have lost control of my senses, when I will have lost consciousness, when I will be unable move my limbs, when I will be emitting foam of phlegm, when my body will be trembling with fear of death, when I will have none to protect me, Thou must hasten to give me darshan then.
Prayer for Darshan During Death Pangs
krithAn thasya dhooteshu chandeshu kopAth,
daha chindhi bhindheethi mAm tharja yatsu
mayUram samAruhya mAbhairi thitvam,
purash shakti pAnir mamAyAhi sheegram
Meaning: O! Lord, when ferocious messengers of the God of Death come to torture me angrily shouting, "Burn him, Kill him", Oh! Lord Thou must hasten to appear before me, riding on your peacock, carrying Shaktivel, to encourage me not to be afraid.
Prayer for Protection During Last moments
praNam yAsa kruth pAda yosthe pathitvA,
prasAdya prabho prArthaye (a)nekavAram
na vaktum kshamoham thadhAneem krupApdhe,
na kAryAnthakAle manA gapyu pekshA
Meaning: O! Merciful Lord! I am prostrating to Thy feet often to secure Thy blessings. O! treasure house of mercy! I offer prayers to please Thee. Thou should not be indifferent towards me during my last moments. At that time I may not have the control and energy to pray to Thee!.
Prayer to Drive Away Mental Worries
sahasrAnda bhokthA tvayA ShooranAmA,
hathas tArakas simhavaktrascha dhaitya
mamAnthar hridhistham manaklesha mekam,
na hamsi prabho kim karomi kva yAmi
Meaning: O Lord! Thou hast slain the demon Soora who ruled the thousand universes! So were the demons Taarakasura and Simhavaktra. But Lord,why have you not killed the demon called mental worry which haunts my mind? When it is afflicting me, what will I do? And where will I go [other than you for help] ?
Prayer to Destroy Mental Worries
aham sarvadA dukkha bhArA vasanno,
bhavAn deenabandhus tva dhanyam na yAche
bhavadh bhaktirodham sadA kluptha bAdham,
mamAdhim drutham nAsha yo mAsuta tvam
Meaning: O! Son of Uma! I am always troubled by the mental worries. Thou art the friend of helpless! I approach none but you for saving me. Quickly destroy my mental worries as they interfere with my devotion towards Thee!.
Glory of Lord’s Holy Ash
apasmAra kushta kshayArsha prameha,
jvaronmAdha gulmAdhi rogA mahAntha
pishAchAshcha sarve bhavatpatra bhoothim,
vilokya kshanAth tArakAre dravanthe
Meaning: O Conqueror of Taraka! Severe epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, lung diseases, venereal diseases, fevers, mental diseases of all types, they run away the moment they see Thy vibhuti contained in a leaf.
Acts of the Indriyas
drishi skandamoorthih shrutou skandakeerthih,
mukhe me pavitram sadA tach-charitram
kare tasya krityam vapus tasya bhrutyam,
guhe santu leenA mamA shesha bhAvA
Meaning: Always may I have before my eyes the murthi of Lord Skanda! Always let my ears hear only the praises of Lord Skanda! Always let my mouth sing the praise of Lord Skanda! Always let my hands be of service to the Lord! Always let my body be a servant to the Lord! Let my limbs, thoughts and actions be devoted to Skanda!.
Lord Guha Alone is the saviour of the Ordinary
muneenA muthAho nriNAm bhakti bhAjAm,
abheeshta pradhA santhi sarvatra devA
nriNA manthya jAnAm api svArtha dhAne,
guhA devam anyam najAne najAne
Meaning: In all the worlds there are Devas to grant the boons of sages and great bhaktas. 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
kaLathram suthA bandhuvarga pashurvA,
naro vAtha nAree gruhe ye madheeyA
yajantho namanthah stuvantho bhavantham,
smaran thascha te santu sarve kumAra
Meaning: O! Lord Kumara! Let my wife, children, relatives, friends, other men and women in our household, venerate Thee! Praise Thee! And always be absorbed in Thy thoughts!.
Prayer to Lord to Destroy Diseases
mrigA pakshiNo dhamshakA ye cha dushtAs,
tathA vyAdhayo bhAdha kA ye madhange
bhavacchakti teekshnAgra bhinnAs sudhoore,
vinashyantu te choorNitha krouncha shaile
Meaning: O! Destroyer of Krauncha Shaila! Let every thing that troubles my body, birds, beasts, insects, severe diseases, be pierced by Thy powerful weapon Vel and taken far away and destroyed.
Prayer to Lord as Father of the Universe
janithri pithA cha svaputrA parAdham,
sahethe na kim devasenAdhi nAtha
aham chAthibAlo bhavAn loka thAtha,
kshamasvAparAdham samastham Mahesha
Meaning: Do the parents not overlook the faults of their children? O! Chief of the army of Devas! I am a small child. Thou art the Father of the Universe. O! Mahesha! Forgive all my faults.
Prayer to the Lord
namah kekine shaktaye chApi tubhyam,
namah chhaga tubhyam namah kukkutAya
namah sindhave sindhu deshAya tubhyam,
punah skanda moorthe namaste namostu
Meaning:
I bow to Thee, O Peacock (the symbol of Vedas)!
I bow to Thee, O Shakti Weapon (Vel is Parashakti herself),
I bow to Thee, O Sheep (the symbol of maya tattvam),
I bow to Thee, O Rooster (the symbol of Ego),
I bow to Thee, O Ocean (the symbol of ananda),
I bow to Thee, O Tiruchendur Shrine,
I bow to Thee, O Lord Skanda!
I bow to Thee again and again!
Let all my prostrations reach Thee!.
Prayer to Lord to Reveal His Powers
jayA nanda bhooman jayA pAra dhAman,
jayA mogha keerthe jayA nanthamoorthe
jayA nanda sindho jayA shesha bandho,
jaya tvam sadA mukti dhAnesha soono
Meaning:
O Source of ananda, reveal Thyself!
O Embodiment of boundless effulgent light, reveal Thyself!
O Lord! who has all pervading glory, reveal Thyself!
O Embodiment of bliss, reveal Thyself!
O Lord, Thou art the ocean of bliss, reveal Thyself!
O Lord who is the friend of all creatures, reveal Thyself!
O Lord, Son of Parameshwara, Bestower of liberation, reveal Thy Glory to me and protect me!.
Phalshruti
bhujangAkhya vritthena kluptham sthavam yah,
pateth bhakti yuktho guham sam pranamya
suputrAn kaLathram dhanam dheergamAyuh,
labheth Skanda sAyujya manthe narrassah.
Meaning: 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.
Thus Ends the Subramanya Bhujangam by Sri Adi Shankara
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