Mookambika Ashtakam

Mookambika Ashtakam
[Octet on the Goddess Mookambika]
Translated by P. R.Ramachander

[Mookambika is the goddess presiding over the temple town of Kollur, 135 km from Mangalore, Karnataka. Here the goddess is in the linga form. In the smaller half of the linga, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma reside and in the bigger half (separated by a golden line) resides the mother goddesses of Durga, Saraswathi and Lakshmi. In the ancient times, it is believed that there was a saint called Kola Maharshi who did penance at the present Kollur (the place was named after him). He was troubled by a Rakshasa called Mookasura. The Adhi Prashakthi killed Mookasura and helped Kola Maharshi to do penance in peace. That is the reason why she is called Mookambika. She is a very popular goddess of Karnataka and Kerala. People of Kerala consider her as Saraswathi and make it a point to visit Kollur as often as possible. It is a dream for many of them to teach the first alphabets to their babies in the Mookambika Temple on the Vijaya Dasami day.]

Namasthe Jagad dhatri Sad Brahma roope,
Namasthe haropendradathradhi vandhye,
Namasthe prapanneshta danaika dakshe,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 1

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura,
Salutations to the mother of universe, the essence of existence,
Salutations to her who is worshipped by Siva, Indra and Brahma,
Salutations to her who fulfills wishes of surrendering devotees.

Vidhi kruthivasa harir viswamedath,
Srujath yaththipaatheethiyathad prasidham,
Krupaloka nadhe, aavadhe Shakthiroope,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 2

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura,
For it is well known that Lord Brahma creates and Lord Vishnu cares,
And Lord Shiva destroys at the end but it is you, with look of mercy,
Who is the personification of power, whom they worship.

Thwaya mayayaa vyaptha medath samastham,
Drutham leelayadevi kukshouhi viswam,
Sthithambudhi roopena sarvathra janthou,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 3

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura,
For you pervade the entire universe through your illusion,
You playfully bear in your womb, the entire universe,
And you exist in all the beings in the form of intelligence.

Yayaa bhaktha varga hi lakshyantha yethe,
Thwaya athra prakamamkrupa poorna drushtya,
Adhogeeyasedevi Lakshhmeer idhi thwam,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 4

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura,
For you are being approached by your devotees,
For getting blessed by your greatly merciful look,
Downwards to them and they call you Hey Mahalakshmi.

Punar Vak paduthwathi, heenahi mooka,
Naraiisthair nikamam kalu prardhyase yath,
Nijasyapthaye thwacha mookabika thwam,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 5

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura,
For those men without great expression and
Downgraded dumb people, pray earnestly for your grace,
And thou make them talented and wise, Oh Mookambika.

Yad advaitha roopad, para brahmana sthwam,
Samuddha punair viswa valeelodhyamastha,
ThadahurJanasthwamcha Gowri Kumari,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 6

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura
For you are the supreme spirit which stands alone,
You created the entire world as if it is a play,
And in spite of that people call you Gowri and Kumari.

Haresadhi dehotdha thyejo mayapra,
Sphurad chakra rajakya linga swaroope,
Maha yogi kolarhi hruth padma gehe,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 7

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura
Your form Sri Chakra, which is king of all known holy symbols,
Emanated from the very great splendour of Shiva and Vishnu,
And you reside in the lotus heart of the great Yogi called Kola rishi.

Nama Shanka chakra bhaya abeeshta hasthe,
Namasthe Ambike, Gowri Padmasanasthe,
Nama suvarna varne, prasanne saranya,
Namasthe Mahalakshmi, kola puresi. 8

Salutations to Mahalakshmi, who is Goddess of Kolapura
Who holds in her arm the holy conch and the holy wheel,
Who by her hand removes fear and fulfills desires,
Who is the holy mother who sits on the lotus pose,
Who is the colour of the gold and is merciful to her devotees.

Idham stotra rathnm krutham sarva devair,
Hrudhithwam samadhayalakshmyashtakam ya,
Paden nithya meva vraja yaga lakshmim,
Sa Vidhyamcha sathyam bhavathya prasadath. 9

After learning this gem of the prayer by the devas,
And fixing the mind on this octet on Lakshmi,
And reciting them in the holy temple of Lakshmi,
Would bless one with education, without any doubt.