Vagarthaviva Sampruktau वागर्थाविव सम्प्रुक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तयेजगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ vāgarthāviva sampruktau vāgarthapratipattayejagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatīparameśvarau I worship Parvati and Parameshwara, the parents of the world, who are inseparable, just like a word and its sense, in order to guide me in acquiring the right understanding of words and their meanings. Alternate meaning when Parvathi Paramaeshvarau is considered as Parvathipa Rameshvaru: Kalidasa is praying to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu who are ‘Pitharau’ (fathers) to this Jagath who are inseparable like the word and the meaning. Description This is the opening sloka in divine poet Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsam, a sanskrit epic (Mahākāvya) consisting of 1,564 stanzas describing the lineage of kings of the Raghu dynasty (ancestors of Sri Rama). The literal interpretation of this Shloka is that it is a prayer by Kalidasa, addressed to deities Lord Shiva and Parvathi, seeking their blessings for proficieny in literature as he begins the epic Raghuvamsa. i.e. For the correct grasping of words and their sense I bow to Parvati and Parameshvara who are the parents of the universe and are inseperable like words and their meaning. vāgarthāviva – This compound splits as ‘vaak arthau iva’ . vaak is ‘word’ and artha is ‘meaning’ in this context. The word iva means ‘like’. The meaning of the phrase would be ‘just like the word and its meaning’ samprukthau – sampruktha is ‘blended into one’ or ‘attached’ (to each other) vaagartha – vaak and artha, the word and its meaning prathipaththaye – means ‘in order to acquire’ jagatha – jagath is the world. The Lord (naatha, pathi) of jagath is Jagannaatha or Jagathpath. pitharau – pitha is father. pitharau in this context would be parents vandhe – to salute paarvathi parameshvarau – Paarvathi is Goddess Uma and Parameshwara is Lord Shiva To summarize, Kalidasa prays to the divine parents Paarvathi & Parameshwara who are inseparable like the word and its meaning, in order to guide him in acquiring the power of words and their meanings (literature) as he embarks on the Mahakavya, Raghuvamsa. There is another interpretation at work here in terms of whom Kalidasa was actually praying to. If the final phrase is rearranged a bit, we get the below: paarvathipa rameshvarau Now pa: in Sanskrit can indicate ‘Lord of/Husband of’. Thus paarvathipa can mean Lord Shiva (Husband of Paarvathi). Rameshvara can be split as Ramaa- Ishvara, meaning, the Lord of Ramaa (Goddess Lakshmi) who is Lord Vishnu. Thus this can also mean that Kalidasa is praying to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu who are Pitharau (fathers) to this Jagath who are inseparable like the word and the meaning. The audio (click play at the top of the page) renders both these versions!

Uma Usha Ca Vaidehi उमा उषा च वैदेही रमा गंगेति पंचकम् ।प्रातरेव स्मरेन्नित्यं सौभाग्यं वर्धते सदा ।। umā uṣā ca vaidehī ramā gaṃgeti paṃcakam .prātareva smarennityaṃ saubhāgyaṃ vardhate sadā .. Meditate upon the five devis- Uma, Usha, Vaidehi, Ramaa, Ganga at dawn and prosperity will grow for ever.

Bhavani Bhujangam षडाधारपङ्केरुहान्तर्विराजत्सुषुम्नान्तरालेऽतितेजोल्लसन्तीम् ।सुधामण्डलं द्रावयन्तीं पिबन्तींसुधामूर्तिमीडेऽचिदानन्दरूपाम् ॥ १॥ṣaḍādhārapaṅkeruhāntarvirājatsuṣumnāntarāle’titejollasantīm .sudhāmaṇḍalaṃ drāvayantīṃ pibantīṃsudhāmūrtimīḍe’cidānandarūpām .. 1..I bow to that embodiment of ambrosia which is Consciousness and Bliss incarnate. It melts the orb of the moon and drinks (the moon-light). It shines with its profuse lustre inside the sushumná located in the lotus of shadádhára.Sushumná : a vein of the body supposed to be one of the passages for the breath.Shadádhára : one of the mystical circles in the body.ज्वलत्कोटिबालार्कभासारुणाङ्गींसुलावण्यशृङ्गारशोभाभिरामाम् ।महापद्मकिञ्जल्कमध्ये विराजत्त्रिकोणे निषण्णां ं भजे श्रीभवानीम् ॥२॥jvalatkoṭibālārkabhāsāruṇāṅgīṃsulāvaṇyaśṛṅgāraśobhābhirāmām .mahāpadmakiñjalkamadhye virājattrikoṇe niṣaṇṇāṃ ṃ bhaje śrībhavānīm ..2..I worship that Goddess Bhavánè who is seated on the triangle which shines in the midst of the filaments of the white lotus. She is extremely beautiful with lovely and charming grace. She has a shining red body similar to that of innumerable rising suns.क्वणत्किङ्किणीनूपुरोद्भासिरत्नप्रभालीढलाक्षार्द्रपादाब्जयुग्मम् ।अजेशाच्युताद्यैः सुरैः सेव्यमानंमहादेवि मन्मूर्ध्नि ते भावयामि ॥ ३॥kvaṇatkiṅkiṇīnūpurodbhāsiratnaprabhālīḍhalākṣārdrapādābjayugmam .ajeśācyutādyaiḥ suraiḥ sevyamānaṃmahādevi manmūrdhni te bhāvayāmi .. 3..Oh! Great Goddess! I contemplate your lotus feet on my head as being served by the celestials such as Brahmá, Achyuta (Vishnu) and others. These feet are wet due to red dye and dazzling with the gems of the anklets jingling with bells.सुषोणाम्बराबद्धनीवीविराजन्महारत्नकाञ्चीकलापं नितम्बम् ।स्फुरद्दक्षिणावर्तनाभिं च तिस्रोवली रम्यते रोमराजिं भजेऽहम् ॥ ४॥suṣoṇāmbarābaddhanīvīvirājanmahāratnakāñcīkalāpaṃ nitambam .sphuraddakṣiṇāvartanābhiṃ ca tisrovalī ramyate romarājiṃ bhaje’ham .. 4..Oh! Mother! I worship your streak of hair on the three folds on the belly, as also the shining naval circling to the right. (I also worship your) hip having the red garment tied around the waist, adorned by the girdle studded with gems and tinkling.लसद्वृत्तमुत्तुङ्गमाणिक्यकुम्भो-पमश्रीस्तनद्वन्द्वमम्बांबुजाक्षीम् ।भजे दुग्ध पूर्णाभिरामं तवेदंमहाहारदीप्तं सदा प्रस्नुतास्यम् ॥ ५॥lasadvṛttamuttuṅgamāṇikyakumbho-pamaśrīstanadvandvamambāmbujākṣīm .bhaje dugdha pūrṇābhirāmaṃ tavedaṃmahāhāradīptaṃ sadā prasnutāsyam .. 5..Oh! Lotus-eyed Mother! I worship your two radiant breasts, round in shape comparable to lofty gem-studded pitchers. They are beautiful and are full with milk. Shining with a breast-lace and oozing at the top, they are beautiful and are full of milk.शिरीषप्रसूनोल्लसद्बाहुदण्डैर्-ज्वलद्बाणकोदण्डपाशाङ्कुशैश्च ।चलत्कङ्कणोदारकेयूरभूषाज्वलद्भिः लसन्तीं भजे श्रीभवानीम् ॥ ६॥śirīṣaprasūnollasadbāhudaṇḍair-jvaladbāṇakodaṇḍapāśāṅkuśaiśca .calatkaṅkaṇodārakeyūrabhūṣājvaladbhiḥ lasantīṃ bhaje śrībhavānīm .. 6..I worship Goddess Bhavánè who glitters with (four) arms delicate like the Sirisha flowers, and which carry arrow, bow, noose and goad and which shine with bangles and bracelets.शरत्पूर्णचन्द्रप्रभापूर्णबिम्बाधरस्मेरवक्त्रारविन्दं सुशंताम्।सुरत्नावलीहारताटङ्कशोभामहा सुप्रसन्नां भजे श्रीभवानीम् ॥ ७॥śaratpūrṇacandraprabhāpūrṇabimbādharasmeravaktrāravindaṃ suśantām.suratnāvalīhāratāṭaṅkaśobhāmahā suprasannāṃ bhaje śrībhavānīm .. 7..I worship Goddess Bhavani who is extremely graceful and tranquil, who has her lotus-face shining like the autumnal full-moon smiling with red bimbha-like lips. She is lustrous with ear-ornaments studded with gems.सुनासापुटं पद्मपत्रायताक्षंयजन्तः श्रियं दानदक्षं कटाक्षम् ।ललाटोल्लसद्गन्धकस्तूरिभूषो- ज्ज्वलद्भिःस्फुरन्तीं भजे श्रीभवानीम् ॥ ८॥sunāsāpuṭaṃ padmapatrāyatākṣaṃyajantaḥ śriyaṃ dānadakṣaṃ kaṭākṣam .lalāṭollasadgandhakastūribhūṣo- jjvaladbhiḥsphurantīṃ bhaje śrībhavānīm .. 8..Oh Mother! I praise your lotus-face which bears musk on the cheeks and forehead, and the nostrils, the beautiful eye-brows and forehead, the lips and the graceful side-glance capable of conferring rewards.चलत्कुण्डलां ते भ्रमद्भृङ्गवृन्दांघनस्निग्धधम्मिल्लभूषोज्ज्वलन्तीम् ।स्फुरन्मौलिमाणिक्यमध्येन्दुरेखाविलासोल्लसद्दिव्यमूर्धानमीडे ॥ ९॥calatkuṇḍalāṃ te bhramadbhṛṅgavṛndāṃghanasnigdhadhammillabhūṣojjvalantīm .sphuranmaulimāṇikyamadhyendurekhāvilāsollasaddivyamūrdhānamīḍe .. 9..I praise your head which is radiant with the crest-jewel and the digit of the moon. It has the swarms of bees swinging inside the moving braids and is shining with the densely set white jasmine flowers.स्फुरत्वम्ब बिम्बस्य मे हृत्सरोजेसदा वाङ्मयं सर्वतेजोमयं च ।इति श्रीभवानिस्वरूपं तदेवंप्रपञ्चात्परं चातिसूक्ष्मं प्रसन्नम् ॥ १०॥sphuratvamba bimbasya me hṛtsarojesadā vāṅmayaṃ sarvatejomayaṃ ca .iti śrībhavānisvarūpaṃ tadevaṃprapañcātparaṃ cātisūkṣmaṃ prasannam .. 10..May this smiling form of yours, Oh! Bhaváni! which is beyond the Universe, very subtle and peaceful shine forth the lotus heart of mine, your child! May the literature in the form of all effulgence also dawn upon me!गणेशाणिमाद्याखिलैः शक्तिवृन्दै-र्स्फुरच्छ्रीमहाचक्रराजोल्लसन्तीम् ।परां राजराजेश्वरीं त्वा भवानींशिवाङ्कोपरिस्थां शिवां भावयेऽहम् ॥ ११॥gaṇeśāṇimādyākhilaiḥ śaktivṛndai-rsphuracchrīmahācakrarājollasantīm .parāṃ rājarājeśvarīṃ tvā bhavānīṃśivāṅkoparisthāṃ śivāṃ bhāvaye’ham .. 11..I contemplate on you Oh! Rajarajeshwari! Traipurè, who are seated on the lap of Lord shiva. You are the highest, are shining in the radiant cakra and are surrounded by all groups of shaktis led by Lord Ganeshá.त्वमर्कस्त्वमग्निस्त्वमिन्दुस्त्वमाप-स्त्वमाकाशभूर्वायवस्त्वं चिदात्मा ।त्वदन्यो न कश्चित्प्रकाशोऽस्ति सर्वंसदानन्दसंवित्स्वरूपं तवेदम् ॥ १२॥tvamarkastvamagnistvamindustvamāpa-stvamākāśabhūrvāyavastvaṃ cidātmā .tvadanyo na kaścitprakāśo’sti sarvaṃsadānandasaṃvitsvarūpaṃ tavedam .. 12..I worship you. You are of the form of blissful knowledge. There is none else in the universe superior to you. You are the sun, the moon, the fire, the water, the sky, the earth, the wind and the mahat.गुरुस्त्वं शिवस्त्वं च शक्तिस्त्वमेवत्वमेवासि माता पिताऽसि त्वमेव ।त्वमेवासि विद्या त्वमेवासि बुद्धि-र्गतिर्मे मतिर्देवि सर्वं त्वमेव ॥ १३॥gurustvaṃ śivastvaṃ ca śaktistvamevatvamevāsi mātā pitā’si tvameva .tvamevāsi vidyā tvamevāsi buddhi-rgatirme matirdevi sarvaṃ tvameva .. 13..Oh! Goddess! You are my preceptor. You are Lord shiva. You are the shakti. You are my mother and father. You are the knowledge. You are my kith and kin. You are my only refuge, thinking and indeed all in all.श्रुतीनामगम्यं सुवेदागमाद्यैर्-महिम्नो न जानाति पारं तवेदम् ।स्तुतिं कर्तुमिच्छामि ते त्वं भवानिक्षमस्वेदमम्ब प्रमुग्धः किलाहम् ॥ १४॥śrutīnāmagamyaṃ suvedāgamādyair-mahimno na jānāti pāraṃ tavedam .stutiṃ kartumicchāmi te tvaṃ bhavānikṣamasvedamamba pramugdhaḥ kilāham .. 14..Oh! Mother Bhavánè! I wish to praise you; Oh! Knower of the Vedas and Ágamas! You are unattainable through scriptures. People do not know the extent of your greatness. You please forgive this act of mine! I am indeed foolish.शरण्ये वरेण्ये सुकारुण्यपूर्णेहिरण्योदराद्यैरगम्येऽतिपुण्ये ।भवारण्यभीतं च मां पाहि भद्रेनमस्ते नमस्ते नमस्ते भवानि ॥ १५॥śaraṇye vareṇye sukāruṇyapūrṇehiraṇyodarādyairagamye’tipuṇye .bhavāraṇyabhītaṃ ca māṃ pāhi bhadrenamaste namaste namaste bhavāni .. 15..Oh! Bhaváni! Salutations to you again and again. Oh! Auspicious one! Oh! my refuge! Oh! Compassion-incarnate! Protect me from the fear of the forest of mundane existence.इमामन्वहं श्रीभवानीभुजङ्ग-स्तुतिर्यः पठेच्छ्रोतुमिच्छेत तस्मै ।स्वकीयं पदं शाश्वतं चैव सारंश्रियं चाष्टसिद्धिं भवानी ददाति ॥ १६॥imāmanvahaṃ śrībhavānībhujaṅga-stutiryaḥ paṭhecchrotumiccheta tasmai .svakīyaṃ padaṃ śāśvataṃ caiva sāraṃśriyaṃ cāṣṭasiddhiṃ bhavānī dadāti .. 16..Whoever reads this meritorious hymn on Bhavánè with devotion, Goddess Bhaváni confers on him prosperity, the eight perfections and her own eternal abode.भवानी भवानी भवानी त्रिवारम्- उदारम् मुदा सर्वदा ये जपन्ति । न शोकम् न मोहम् न पापं न भीतिः कदाचित्कथंचित्कुतश्चज्जनानाम् ॥ १७॥bhavānī bhavānī bhavānī trivāram- udāram mudā sarvadā ye japanti . na śokam na moham na pāpaṃ na bhītiḥ kadācitkathañcitkutaścajjanānām .. 17..Whoever joyfully repeats the name ‘Bhaváni’ thrice will have no grief, no confusion, no sin and no fear at any time.इति श्रीमच्छङ्कराचार्यविरचितं भवानीभुजङ्गप्रयातस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥iti śrīmacchaṅkarācāryaviracitaṃ bhavānībhujaṅgaprayātastotraṃ sampūrṇam ..Parvathy Description Bhavani Bhujanga Stotra is composed by Shri Adi Shankaracharya. He praises the glorious beauty of Bhavani (Goddess Parvati) from head to toe. Bhavānī means the deity who always helps

Bhavani Ashtakam न तातो न माता न बन्धुर्न दातान पुत्रो न पुत्री न भृत्यो न भर्ता ।न जाया न विद्या न वृत्तिर्ममैवगतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥१॥ṇa ṭaato ṇa ṃaataa ṇa Bandhur-ṇa ḍaataaṇa Putro ṇa Putrii ṇa Bhrtyo ṇa Bhartaa |ṇa ñaayaa ṇa Vidyaa ṇa Vrttir-ṃama-īvaṅatis-ṭvam ṅatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkaa BhavaaniNeither the mother nor the father, Neither the relation nor the friend, Neither the son nor the daughter, Neither the servant nor the husband, Neither the wife nor the knowledge, And neither my sole occupation, Are my refuges that I can depend, Oh, Bhavani. So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरुपपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः ।कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहंगतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥२॥Bhavaabdhaav-āpaare ṃahaa-ḍuhkha-BhiiruPapaata Prakaamii Pralobhii Pramattah |ḵu-ṣamsaara-Paasha-Prabaddhah ṣada-[ā]hamṅatis-ṭvam ṅatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkaa BhavaaniI am in this ocean of birth and death, I am a coward, who dare not face sorrow, I am filled with lust and sin, I am filled with greed and desire, And tied I am, by the this useless life that I lead, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगंन जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् ।न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगंगतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥३॥ṇa Jānāmi ḍānam ṇa Ca ḍhyāna-ẏogamṇa Jānāmi ṭantram ṇa Ca Stotra-ṃantram |ṇa Jānāmi Pūjām ṇa Ca ṇyāsa-ẏogamġatis-ṭvam ġatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkā BhavāniNeither do I know how to give, Nor do I know how to meditate, Neither do I know thanthra, Nor do I know stanzas of prayer, Neither do I know how to worship, Nor do I know the art of yoga, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थन जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित् ।न जानामि भक्तिं व्रतं वापि मातर्गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥४॥ṇa Jānāmi Punnyam ṇa Jānāmi ṭīrthaṇa Jānāmi ṃuktim l̤ayam Vā k͟hadācit |ṇa Jānāmi Bhaktim Vratam Vāpi ṃātar-ġatis-ṭvamġatis-ṭvam ġatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkā BhavāniKnow I not how to be righteous, Know I not the way to the places sacred, Know I not methods of salvation, Know I not how to merge my mind with God, Know I not the art of devotion, Know I not how to practice austerities, Oh, mother, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासःकुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः ।कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहंगतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥५॥k͟hu-k͟harmī k͟hu-Sanggī k͟hu-Buddhih k͟hudāsahk͟hula-[āa]cāra-ḥīnah k͟hadācāra-l̤īnah |k͟hu-ḍrssttih k͟hu-Vākya-Prabandhah Sada-[ā]hamġatis-ṭvam ġatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkā BhavāniPerform I bad actions, Keep I company of bad ones, Think I bad and sinful thoughts, Serve I bad masters, Belong I to a bad family, Immersed I am in sinful acts, See I with bad intentions, Write I collection of bad words, Always and always, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशंदिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित् ।न जानामि चान्यत् सदाहं शरण्येगतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥६॥Praje[a-īs]śam ṟame[a-īs]śam ṃahe[a-īs]śam Sure[a-īs]śamḍine[a-īs]śam ṇiśīthe[a-ī]śvaram Vā k͟hadācit |ṇa Jānāmi Cānyat Sada-[ā]ham ṣarannyeġatis-ṭvam ġatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkā BhavāniNeither do I know the creator, Nor the lord of Lakshmi, Neither do I know the lord of all, Nor do I know the lord of devas, Neither do I know the god who makes the day, Nor the god who rules at night, Neither do I know any other gods, Oh, goddess to whom I bow always, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासेजले चानले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये ।अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहिगतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥७॥Vivāde Vissāde Pramāde PravāseJale Ca-[ā]nale Parvate ṣatru-ṃadhye |ārannye ṣarannye Sadā ṃām Prapāhiġatis-ṭvam ġatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkā BhavāniWhile I am in a heated argument, While I am immersed in sorrow, While I am suffering an accident, While I am traveling far off, While I am in water or fire, While I am on the top of a mountain, While I am surrounded by enemies, And while I am in a deep forest, Oh goddess, I always bow before thee, So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तोमहाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः ।विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रनष्टः सदाहंगतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥८॥ānātho ḍaridro Jarā-ṟoga-ẏuktoṃahā-k͟hssīnna-ḍīnah Sadā Jāddya-Vaktrah |Vipattau Pravissttah Pranassttah Sadāhamġatis-ṭvam ġatis-ṭvam ṭvam-ĕkā BhavāniWhile being an orphan, While being extremely poor, While affected by disease of old age, While I am terribly tired, While I am in a pitiable state, While I am being swallowed by problems, And while I suffer serious dangers, I always bow before thee, So you are my refuge and only refuge, Bhavani. Description Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Bhavani Ashtakam is a popular hymn on Goddess Bhavani, who is known for her protection and merciful nature. The Lyrics of this hymn have an in-depth meaning that which explains, I don’t have anyone or anything other than you, the divine mother Bhavani to protect in all difficult situations. Tuljapur is a famous pilgrimage of Devi Bhavani (popularly called as Tulja Bhavani).

Ahalya Draupadi Sita Tara अहल्या द्रौपदी सीता तारा मंडोदरी तथा ।पंचकन्याः स्मरेन्नित्यं महापातकनाशनम् ।। ahalyā draupadī sītā tārā maṃḍodarī tathā .paṃcakanyāḥ smarennityaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam .. Meditate upon the five virtuous devis eternally – Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara and Mandodari – and all atrocities and sins will be destroyed Description Prayer to Five Devis