Pancha Nadheeswara Ashtakam
Pancha Nadheeswarashtakam
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[This octet is about the God presiding over Thiruvayaru temple near Kumbakonam.
That small town has five rivers flowing through it and all the three Carnatic
Trinity were born there.]
1. Mahadeva Bhavakara Neelakanda trilochana,
Shiva Sankara Sarvathman, Pahi Pancha nadheepathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who is the great god, who is Lord Shiva,
The blue necked one, one with three eyes, Sankara and the soul of all beings.
2. Tripuranthaka Sarvesa, chandra shekara, dhoorjade,
Vamadeva, krathu dwamsin, Raksha Pancha nadhee pathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who destroyed Tripuras, who wears the moon,
Who has a disheveled hair, who is Vamadeva and one who destroys might.
3. Deva deva jagannatha, Parvathi Ramana prabho,
Bhoothesa Sarva koumare, Raksha Pancha nadhi pathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who is the God of gods, who is God of
universe,
Who is the Lord making Parvathi happy, who is Lord of Bhoothas and who is always
youthful.
4. Shambho, Pasupathe, Sthano, Gangadhara, Mrudavyaya,
Nagabharana Viswesa, Raksha Pancha nadhi pathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who is Shambu, who is lord of all beings,
who is the carrier of Ganga,
Who is Lord of Parvathi and lord of the universe wearing serpent ornament.
5. Pinakapane, Srikanda, Kapala krutha sekara,
Aghora Sathyojathathwam, pahi Pancha nadhi pathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who holds the bow called Pinaka, who has a
divine neck,
Who is one who collects skulls, who was born out of horrific truth, (who is
approachable by aghora Saints)
6. Soolin, Khapardhin, Gireesa, Bhavodbhava, manonmama,
Asthi bhoosha Dhaya Sindho, pahi Pancha nadhi pathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who holds trident, who has braided knotty
hair,
Who is the lord of the mountain, who destroys Karma, who is within the mind,
Who decorates himself with bones and who is the ocean of mercy.
7. Vyomakesa, thrayee naga, vedambuja Bhaskara,
Swayam prakasa chidroopa, pahi Pancha nadhi pathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who has sky as hair, who has three serpents,
Who is sun that opens the lotus of Vedantha, who shines of his own and has a
divine form.
8. Sarpa rajordhwa Sampatha, jada mandala manditha,
PInakamruga drug deva, pahi Pancha nadhi pathe.
Protect me, Oh Lord of Five Rivers, who has a long king of snakes with him,
Who has matted hair surrounding his head and who is the God who holds Pinaka and
the deer.
9. Mamashtaka midham stotram prathiyama viseshatha,
Padathe vanchitham Sarvam prayaschami dwithoma.
This octet composed by me is special in different periods of time,
And Oh Brahmin, one who reads it would get his desires fulfilled.
10. Panchapakesa Japyesa pranatharthi harethi cha.
Japen nama thrayam nithyam, punarjanmam na vidhyathe.
Those who daily chant the three names, Panchapakesa,
Pranatharthi as well as Hara, would not have rebirths.
11. Raksha Pancha nadhee nada, Dhayasindho, Maheswara,
Anadha nadha bhakthanaam abhaya pradha Sankara.
The Great God, the ocean of mercy and god of the five rivers,
That Sankara, the Lord of orphans would give protection to his devotees.