Sri Nakshmi Nrsimha Karavalamba
stotra
By
Adi Sankara
Bhagawat Pada
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Introduction*
“Adi
Sankara had once given his consent to a cruel Kapalika to take his head and
offer it as a sacrifice to Goddess Kali in order to win favours from her.
Kapalikas were followers of a particular Saiva sect (the left-hand order) who
always carried human skulls, wore them as garlands around their necks and even
ate and drank from these macabre vessels. Lord Siva himself is hailed as
Kapali. The Lord of the famous temple in Mylapore in Chennai is worshipped as
Kapaliswara; why is another story.
This
Kapalika had been nursing a grievance against Adi Sankara whom he viewed as a
potential threat to his faith and sect. He took the Acharya to a nearby cave,
made necessary arrangements for the sacrifice-ritual and prepared himself to
behead Adi Sankara. The Acharya was all along in a trance.
However,
when the Kapalika lifted his sword and readied himself to chop off his head
Sankara's disciple Padmapada (also known as Sanandana) envisioned this
murderous scheme in his mind. He rushed to the cave in a trice. In an 'avesa'
(possessed with divine powers) of Lord Narasimha he, verily, became the
man-lion Lord himself temporarily. He had attained Narasimha mantra siddhi and,
becoming frightfully ferocious, caught hold of the villainous Kapalika and tore
him to pieces.
Sankara
Vijaya, published by the Ramakrishna Math in Chennai, describes how Padmapada
leapt into the sky, scattering away the clouds with a slash of his mane, and
literally flew into the cave, stunning all beholders. It was a re-enactment of
the Narasimha incarnation once again when the demon Hiranyakasipu was
disembowelled by the Lord with his leonine claws.
Adi
Sankara, hearing the thunderous roars of a lion, awoke from his trance and
witnessed the gory scene. Padmapada's body was smeared with the blood of the
vile Kapalika while his face glowed with divine splendour like a galaxy of
suns. The Acharya saw before him the awesome Lord Narasimha himself and
pacified him with soothing and overflowing devotion.
On
another occasion, Adi Sankara's hands got burnt (the Amaruka episode) but he
was cured by extolling Lord Narasimha through the famous hyms, the 17-verse
Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram (also known as Lakshmi Narasimha
Karunarasa Stotram'). These hymns are so titled because each of these verses
ends with the same refrain 'Lakshmi Narasimha, mama dehi karavalambam' (O Lord
Narasimha, please lend me your helping hand).
It
is believed that fervent recitation of these hymns on Lord Narasimha (one of
the two stotras Adi Sankara composed on Him) will always help one smoothly get
over difficulties with the Lord's helping hand.
Salagrama,
the sacred stone found only in the Kandaki river in Nepal, and worshipped by
Vaishnavites in their homes, is used in the puja of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
This is said to be specially sacred to Lord Narasimha and is believed to have
been given to Adi Sankara by Lord Narasimha himself.
R
Srinivasan “
*This
masterly introduction by Mr.R.Srivasan is taken from www.chennaionline.com
Srimat payonidhi nikethana chakra pane,
Bhogeendra Bhoga mani rajitha punya moorthe,
Yogeesa saswatha saranya Bhabdhi potha,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 1
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
Who lives in the
ocean of milk,
Who holds the holy
wheel as weapon,
Who wears the
gems of the head,
Of Adhisesha as
ornaments,
Who has the form of
good and holy deeds,
Who is the permanent
protection of sages,
And who is the boat
which helps us cross,
This ocean of misery
called life,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Brahmendra, Rudra Arka
kireeta koti,
Sangattithangri kamala mala kanthi kantha,
Lakshmi lasath kucha saroruha raja hamsa,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 2
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
Whose feet is touched
by the crowns ,
Of Brahma,
Indra, Shiva and Sun,
Whose shining
feet adds to his effulgence,
And who is the royal
swan playing,
Near the breasts of
Goddess Lakshmi,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsara gora gahane charathe murare,
Marogra bheekara Mruga pravardhithasya,
Aarthasya mathsara nidha chain peedithasya,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 3
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
Oh Lord who killed
the Asura called Mura,
I have been traveling
in the dark forests of day to day
life,
Where I have been
terrified by the lion called desire,
And scorched by the
heat called competition , and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsara koopam adhi ghora
Samprapya dukha
satha sarpa samakulasya,
Dheenasya Deva krupana padamagadasya,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 4
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have reached the
very dangerous and deep,
Bottom of the well of
day to day life,
And also being
troubled by hundreds,
Of miseries which are
like serpents,
And am really
miserable and have,
Reached the state of
wretchedness and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsara Sagara vishala karala kala,
Nakra graham grasana nigraha
vigrahasya,
Vyagrasya raga
rasanormini peedithasya,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 5
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have reached this wide
unfathomable ocean of day to day life,
And I have been
caught by black deadly,
Crocodiles called time which are killing me
And I am also
afflicted by waves of passion,
And attachments to
pleasures like taste and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samasra Vrukshamagha bheeja manantha karma,
Sakha satham karana
pathramananga pushpam,
Aroohasya dukha phalitham
pathatho dayalo,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 6
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have climbed the
tree of worldly life,
Which grew from the
seed of great sin,
Which has hundreds of
branches of past karmas,
Which has leaves
which are parts of my body,
Which has flowers
which are the result of Venus,
And which has fruits
called sorrow,
But I am falling down
from it fast and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsara sarpa
Damshtra karala visha
daghdha vinashta murthe,
Naagari vahana
sudhabhdhi nivasa soure,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 7
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
Oh , Lord who rides on the enemy of snakes,
Oh, Lord who lives in
the ocean of nectar,
The serpent of family
life has opened,
Its fearful mouth
with very dangerous,
Fangs filled with
terrible venom,
Which has destroyed
me and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsara dava dahanathura Bheekaroru,
Jwala valee birathi dhighdha nooruhasya,
Thwat pada padma
sarasi saranagathasya,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 8
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have been scarred
badly by the fire of daily life,
And even every single
hair of my body,
Has been singed by
its fearful flames,
And I have taken
refuge in the lake of your lotus feet, and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsara Jala pathithasya Jagan nivasa,
Sarvendriyartha
badisartha jashopamasya,
Proth Ganditha
prachoora thaluka masthakasya,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 9
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have been caught in
this net of daily life,
And all my organs are
caught in that web,
And the five senses
which is the hook,
Tears apart my head
from me, and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsara bheekara
kareeendra karabhigatha,
Nishpishta marmma vapusha sakalarthi nasa,
Prana prayana bhava
bhhethi samakulasya,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 10
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have been struck by
the fearful king of elephants,
Which is the worldly
illusion, and my vital parts,
Have been completely
crushed,and I suffer,
From thoughts of life
and death , and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Andhasya me viveka maha danasya,
Chorai prabho bhalibhi rindriya nama deyai,
Mohanda koopa kuhare vinipathathasya,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 11
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have become blind
because , the sense of discrimination,
Has been stolen from
me by the thieves of ‘senses’,
And I who am blind , have fallen in to the deep
well of passion., and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Baddhvaa gale yamabhataa bahutarjayantah,
Karshhanti yatra bhavapaashashatairyutam maam.
Ekaakinam paravasham chakitam dayaalo
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 12
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I have been tied by
the soldiers of the God of death,
By numerous ropes of worldly attachments,
And they are dragging
me along by the noose around the neck,
And I am alone, tired
and afraid, and so Oh merciful one,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Lakshmi pathe Kamala nabha suresa vishno,
Vaikunta Krishna Madhu soodhana pushkarksha,
Brahmanya kesava janardhana
vasudeva,
Devesa dehi krupanasya karavalambam. 13
Oh king of devas,
Who is the Lord of
Lakshmi, who has a lotus on his belly,
Who is Vishnu,
the lord of all heavenly beings, who is
Vaikunta,
Who is
Who is one with lotus
eyes, Who is the knower of Brahman,
Who is Kesava,
Janardhana, Vasudeva,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Ekena chakramaparena karena shamkha-
Manyena sindhutanyaaamavalambya tishhthan,
Vaame karena varadaabhayapadmachihnam,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 14
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
Who holds Sudarshana,
the holy wheel in one hand,
Who holds the conch
in the other hand,
Who embraces the
daughter of ocean by one hand,
And the fourth hand
signifies protection and boons, and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Samsaara saagara nimajjana muhyamaanam
diinam vilokaya vibho karunaanidhe maam,
prahlaada kheda parihaara paraavataara
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 15
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
I am drowned in the
ocean of day to day life,
Please protect this
poor one, oh, Lord, Oh treasure of compassion,
Just as you took a
form to remove the sorrows of Prahlada, and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Prahlaada naarada paraashara pundariika-
vyaasaadi bhaagavata pungavah rinnivaasa ,
Bhaktaanurakta paripaalana paarijaata,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam. 16
Oh Great God Lakshmi
Nrsimha,
Who dwells in the hearts
of great sages like Prahlada,
Narada, Parashara,
Pundarika and Vyasa,
Who loves his
devotees and is the wish giving tree,
That protects them,
and so,
Please give me the
protection of your hands.
Lakshhminrisimha charana abja madhuvratena
Stotram kritam shubhakaram bhuvi shankarena ,
Ye tatpathanti manujaa haribhakti yuktaa-
Ste yaanti tatpada saroja makhandaruupam. 17
This prayer which
blesses earth with good things,
Is composed by
Sankara who is a bee,
Drinking deeply the
honey from the lotus feet of Lakshmi Nrsimha,
And those humans who
are blessed with devotion to Hari,
Will attain the lotus
feet of the Brahman.
Sri Lakshmi Nrsimha
Padarpanamasthu
Dedicated to the
feet of Lord Lakshmi Nrsimha.
(There are two more versions of this great stotra. In the one printed by Giri
Traders,
Yan mayorjitha vapu
prachura pravaha,
Magnathra mathra nivahoru karavalambham,
Lakshhminrisimha charana abja madhuvratena
Stotram kritam shubhakaram bhuvi shankarena. 13
This prayer which
provides helping hand to those in need,
Is composed by
Sankara who is a bee,
Drinking deeply the
honey from the lotus feet of Lakshmi Nrsimha,
And removes the veil
of illusion and the tides of births.
P.S. I am indebted to
Anand Hudli ahudli@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
who first posted a translation of this great stotra.