Sri Ranganatha Ahstakam

Sri Ranganatha Ashtakam is an octet on Sri Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam with beautiful flowery by Sri Adisankarachaarya. Sri Adisankara being overwhelmed by Lord Ranganatha - incarnation of Lord Vishnu, sings in praise of the God. This Ashtakam (an octet) reveals that Adi Sankara was instantly captivated by the vision of Sri Ranganatha and he venerates the fulfilment he experiences as he stands before the deity.

Adi Sankara sings in praise of Sri Ranganatha in 8 slokas, of which 7 of them end with the words ‘Ramathaam manomay’. He is immensely captivated by the Lord and he sings by bringing out all the attributes in every word.

Sri Ranganathaswamy, Srirangam

Sri Ranganatha Ashtakam

Shree:

shreemathe nigamaanthamahadesikaaya nama:

shreeman venkatanatharya: kavitharkkikakesaree |

vedantasaaryavaryo me sannidathaam satha hruthi ||

Sri sankaraacharya virasitham

|| Sri ranganatha ashtakam ||

aananda roope nijapotha roope

brahmaswaroope sruthimoorthyroope |

sasaangaroope ramaneeyaroope

sri rangaroope ramathaam manomay ||

kaaveritheere karuna vilole 

mantharamoole thrutha saarukele |

thaithyanthakaleskila logileele 

sri rangaleele ramathaam manomay ||

lakshmeenivase jagatham nivase

hruthpadmavaase ravipimbavaase |

krubanivase gunavrundhavase

sri rangavaase ramathaam manomay ||

brahmathivanththye jagathegavanththye

vaikundaraaje suraraajaraje |

thrilokaraajyeskile lokaraaje 

sri rangaraaje ramathaam  manomay  ||

amogamuthre paripoornanithre

sriyoganithre sasamuthranithre |

shrithaiga bathre jagtheganithre

sri rangabathre ramathaam manomay  ||

sachithrasaaii bujakendrasayee

nandhaangasayee kamalaangasayee |

ksheerapthisayee vadabathrasayee

sri rangasayee ramathaam  manomay  ||

hitham hi rangam dyajadaamihaangam

punarnasaangam yathi saangamethi |

panou rathaangam saranembu kaangam

yaane vihangam sayane bujangam ||

|| pahalasruthi ||

ranganathastakam punyam

praatharuthaaya ya: padeth |

sarvand kamanavapnothi

rangisaayujyamapnuyaath ||

ithi sriranganathastakam sampoornam ||

Praising words addressed on Lord Sri Ranganatha in this ashtakam:

In the first sloka:

Aananda roopay -  cause of all happiness

nijabodha roopay  -pure consciousness

brahma swaroopay - manifestation of the ultimate truth

srutimoorthi roopay  - as the embodiment of the learnings of the Vedas

In the second sloka:

karuna vilolay  - extremely merciful

Daithyaantha kaalay  - the lord of all times

akhila loka leelay - the whole world sings in praise of Sri Ranganatha

In the third sloka:

Lakshmi nivaasay - in whom Goddess Lakshmi resides

jagathaam nivaasay -  in whom the whole world resides.

ravi bimba vaasay  – in the sunshine around him  and in the heart of every devotee

In 4^th and 5^th slokas:

A reference to the fact that Sri Ranganatha was worshipped by Brahma, Vyasa, Indra, Sanakaathi rishis and by every devotee in the world is brought out.

In the sixth sloka:

paripoorna nidray  - is in blissful sleep on the bed  Anantha or the serpent king, in the milky ocean – Paalaazhi.

srithaika bhadray - Goddess Lakshmi is at his feet   These attributes find mention in the 6^thsloka.

In the 7^th sloka:

nandaanga sayee -  References to Lord Krishna’s childhood– of sleeping on the lap of Nandagopa, his foster father.

bhujagendra sayee - who sleeps with his head resting on his right arm

vata pathra sayee - is the one who slept on Nandagopa’s lap, on the leaf of peepal tree

ksheeraabdi sayee - he is referred to as the one who sleeps in the milky ocean

In the 8^th sloka:

Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada praises Srirangam, as the place where if a devotee leaves his body, will attain nirvana.

About Srirangam:

Srirangam is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines (Swayam Vyakta Kshetras) of Lord Vishnu . It is also considered the first, foremost and the most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples (Divyadesams). This temple is also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Periyakoil, Bhoologa Vaikundam, Bhogamandabam. The temple of Sri Ranganathaswami at Srirangam boasts an historic past of great kingdom and a civilization thousands of years old. In the Vaishnava parlance the term "KOIL" signifies this temple only. The temple is enormous in size. The temple complex is 156 acres in extent. It has seven prakaras or enclosures. These enclosures are formed by thick and huge rampart walls which run round the sanctum. There are 21 magnificent towers in all prakaras providing a unique sight to any visitor. This temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon.

Legend:

The deity of Sri Ranganatha in Srirangam was first worshipped by Lord Brahma himself, before passing it onto the kings of Ikshwaku clan in which is born Lord Ram. After defeating Ravana in the war, Lord Ram thanks Vibheeshana by gifting the deity of Sri Ranganatha to him. On en route from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka, Vibheeshana stops at Srirangam on seeing river Kaveri. He places the deity of Sri Ranganatha on the banks of the river and goes for his shower. On his return he was shocked to see that the idol had turned up into a gigantic vigraha – idol of Sri Ranganatha and so he leaves for Sri Lanka as he could not carry it from Srirangam. Though Vibheeshana leaves to Srilanka, he prayed God that he should also have an eye on his country and so Sri Ranganatha is placed facing south, looking at Sri Lanka whereas in other temples, the deities face east.

As by the ‘phalasruti’ which says the benefit of singing Sri Ranganatha Ashtakam mentioned outside of the octet, the devotee who sings this in the morning will fulfil his desires and will attain the abode of Sri Ranganatha.

|| Om Namo Narayana ||

Courtesy,

http://www.srirangam.org/