Vatha Pura Nadha Ashtakam

Vatha Pura Nadha Ashtakam
[Octet on Lord of Guruvayur]
By Ganapathi Sastrigal
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[This extremely musical sounding prayer was composed by Sri Ganapathi Sastrigal, a disciple of Mannargudi Raja Sastrigal, when he was at Guruvayur. Though I wanted to translate it long back, I did not attempt it as it was difficult to understand. Fortunately I could find a brief translation at: sanskritdocuments.org/sites/snsastri/vatapuranatha.pdf. I completely depended on that for arriving at a translation of my own. Author's name is not mentioned in that web site. My deep sense of gratitude to him.]

1. Kundha sama vrunda sama manda hasi thasyam,
Nandakula a nanda bara thundulana kandham,
Pootha nija geetha lava dhootha duritham tham,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Who has a slow pretty smile resembling bunch of jasmine flowers,
Who as a little baby filled up the home of Nanda Gopa with joy,
And who removes the sufferings of his devotees who sing a little about his life.

2. Neela Thara, jala dhara bhala hari ramyam,
Lola thara sheela yutha bala jana leelam,
Jaalanathi sheelamaopi palayithu kamam,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Whose divine splendour is like the blue water rich clouds
Who loves the ever changing pranks of the children,
Who likes to even protect those who bow with evil conduct before him.

3. Kamsa rana himsamiha samsa rana iatha,
Klanthi bhara, Shanthi kara Kanthi jjahara veetham,
Vatha mukha dathu ja nipatha bhaya datham,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Who killed Kamsa who troubled him, in a fight,
Who fills with peace the world filled by fatigue and sprinkles light there,
And who eradicates fear of onset of arthritis occurring due to imbalances.

4. Jathu duri pathu kamiha athura janam drak,
Soka bhara mookamapi thoka mive pantham,
Brunga ruchi sangaraakrutha anga lathikam tham,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Who hastens up to protect the suffering people who makes offering to him,
Who protects those who are dumb with sorrow as one protects his child,
And the splendour of whose body defeats the group of black bees.

5. Papa bhava thapa bhara kopa samanartham,
Aaswasakara bhasa mrudu hasa ruchi rasyam,
Roga chaya bhoga bhaya vega haram yekam,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Who with a shining soft smile cheers up the devotee,
By removing the suffering and anger caused past sins,
And quickly removes the fear in their minds that they may suffer from diseases.

6. Ghosha kula dosha hara vesham upaayantham,
Poosha satha bhoosha kavi bhooshana ganadyam,
Bhukthim api mukthi mathi bhakthishu dadanam,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Who took the form of a cowherd for removing all evils,
Who wears ornaments which shines more than hundred suns,
And who confers salvation and enjoyment to those who show devotion.

7. Papaka durapam athi thapa hara shobha,
SWapa Ghana mapathad umapathi sametham,
Dhoona thara dheena sukha dhana krutha deeksham,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Who keeps away from sinners and removes great pain and sorrow,
Like a heavy rain bearing cloud, Who is with the consort of Uma,
Who has taken a resolve to grant pleasures to those greatly distressed.

8. Pada pathada dharana modha paripoornam,
Jeeva mukha deva jana sevana phalangrim,
Rooksha bhava, moksha krutha deeksha naja veeksham,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Whose happiness become completely full when he sees that his foot is worn,
Who rains his grace on all those who are devoted to him including devas,
And who is determined to give salvation to those having terrible past Karmas.

9. Bruthya ganapath yudi thanuthya uchitha modham,
Spashta midham ashtaka madushta karanaarham,
Aadha datha madhara dhamadilya soonyam,
Vatha pura Nadha mima mathanu Hrudabje.

Place in your lotus like heart, the Lord of Guruvayur,
Who hearing this octet composed by his servant,
Ganapathi which confers joy on people,
Would shower his grace all without exception.