Bhajan Bhakti Words

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An opening Vedic chant to Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles, and to Guru:

 
shuklaambara dharam vishnum, shashi varnam chaturbhujam
prasanna vadanam dhyayet sarva vignopa shantaye
agaja anana padmarkhum gajananam aharnishun
anekadam tham bhaktanam
ekadhantam upasnahe ekadhantam upasnahe

He who is attired in white and is all pervading, who has the complexion of the moon, who has four arms and a smiling face so pleasing, upon him we meditate for removing all obstacles.
To the elephant-faced one, with trunk and lotus body and eyes, to that Gajanana we pray day and night. To the one with the single tusk who grants boons to his many devotees do we pray day and night.

gurur brahma gurur vishnu gurur devo maheshwara
guru sakshat parabrahma tasmai shri gurave namaha
akhanda mandalakaram vyaptam yena charaacharam
tat padam darshitam yena tasmai shri gurave namaha

Guru is Brahma. Guru is Vishnu. Guru is Shiva. The true guru is the Highest, formless god. I prostrate before the holy guru. The unbounded is the endless canopy of the sky, the omnipresent in all creation, both animate and inanimate, I bow to Sri Guru who reveals to us the ultimate reality.

Collection A

mahaganapate

shri mahaganapate gajanana
mushika vahana gajanana
omkara rupa gajanana
kunja rasura bunjana

Great lord of the ganas, the elephant adorned one (gajanana). The rat (mushika) is your vehicle (vahana). You are the form of the creative power of Om (omkara). You are the destroyer of the demon (rasura) Kunjara.

shiva yogideva ravela

shivayogi deva ravela, mahayogi deva ravela, ravela, jagela, ravela, jagela
[jai maharaja, shiva maharaja yogi swaroopa ravela]
shivayogi deva ravela, mahayogi deva ravela, ravela, jagela, ravela, jagela
niratamu nee nama smarane, mari mari jeseda o deva
adivarapupeta nivasa
[abhaya swaroopa ravela]
neelakanta ninnera apadbandhava, ravera
apada mokkula swami rava
[abhaya swaroopa vegame rava]
jagat jatadhara gangadhara, jagamula nele o deva
nee padabhaktula mora vina rava
[abhaya swaroopa vegame rava]

Lord Shivayogi come, great Lord Yogi come, come , awaken, come awaken. [Hail great king, Shiva great king, in the form of yogi come] Again and again I always remember your name, O lord. Native of Adivarapupeta, form of protection, come. Blue-throated one [reference to Shiva who drank the poison of the ocean, causing His throat to turn blue, “nila kanta”] it’s you, come O releaser-of-troubles You who free us from troubles [or you who grants boons], come Swami. You who are the form of protection, speedily come. You wear the world as your hair [“jata”], you bear the Ganges, the ruler of the world, O lord. Devotees pray at your feet, hear and come.

godavari tera shivabalayogi

godavari teera shivabalayogi
shankara darshana balya tapasvi
uma maheshwara karuna sagara
shivabalayogi omkareshwara
(kailasa pati shiva omkareshwara)

On the banks (teera) of the River Godavari, Lord Shankara gave darshan to Shivabalayogi in childhood and he became a tapasvin. Uma (Goddess Parvati), Lord Shankara, ocean (sagara) of kindness (karuna). Shivabalayogi is Lord of the word Om.

shivaya parameshwaraya

shivaya parameshwaraya chandra shekharaya namah om
bhavaya guna sambhavaya shiva tandavaya namah om
(shivaya parameshwaraya nandi vahanaya namah om)

Worship Shiva, Great Lord, Who holds the crescent moon on His forehead (whose vehicle is Nandi, the bull). He both creates and destroys the tendencies of nature by His tandava dance.

jaya shiva shankara

jay shiva shankara voom voom hara hara
hara hara hara hara voom voom hara hara

"Voom voom" is the sound Shiva makes when he does the tandava dance.

gangajatadhara

(hara) gangajata-dhara gauri shankara girija mana ramana
(shiva) mrityunjaya mahadeva maheshwara mangala shubha charana
(jaya) nandi vahana naga bhushana
nirupama guna sadana
(jaya) natana manohara nila kantha shiva
niraja dala nayana

Shiva with the Ganges in His matted hair, Bestower of Joy, Lord of Fair One and Mountain Born (Parvati), Conqueror of death, Great-God, auspicious and favorable are Your holy feet. Your vehicle is the sacred bull Nandi, You wear serpents and are the source of incomparable Divine qualities. Lord Shiva, You hold the poison in Your blue throat. You dance charmingly.

nataraja

nataraja, nataraja, nartana sundara nataraja
shivaraja, shivaraja, shiva kami priya shivaraja
chidambaresha nataraja
adi purishwara shivaraja

(Nataraja means King of Dance, Shiva in the Divine dance of creation and annihilation.) Beautiful Nataraja, King Shiva, beloved of His wife, Who resides in Chidambaram, first Lord of the world.

murali krishna

murali krishna, mukunda krishna, mohana krishna krishna krishna
gopi krishna, gopala krishna, govardana-dhara krishna krishna
radha krishna, bala krishna, rasa vilola krishna krishna
gopi krishna, gopala krishna, shiva bala yogi krishna krishna

Murali (Krishna’s flute), Mukunda (Liberator from Life and Death, Krishna), mind-intoxicator Krishna. Gopi (a woman who tends cows), Gopala (Krishna), bearer of Govardana mountain. Radha (Krishna’s beloved), boy Krishna, dancing ecstatically in circles with the Gopis.

jaya durga devi sharanam

jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya durga devi sharanam, jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya jaya durga devi sharanam

amba parameshwari akhilandeshwari adi parashakti sharanam, shri bhuvaneshwari raja rajeshwari ananda rupini sharanam
veenapani vimala saraswati vedanta rupini sharanam, manjula bhashini mangala karini madhura meenakshi sharanam
nada swarupini shri chakra vasini ananda dayini sharanam karuna chupave anna purneshwari amba bhavani sharanam

surrender and hail to Goddess Durga
mother (amba) and transcendent (param) goddess (ishwari), queen of the universe (akhilandeshwari), the first (adi) transcendent power (shakti), queen of creation (bhuvaneshwari), queen (rajeshwari) of kings (raja), the embodiment (rupini) of bliss (ananda)
veena in hand (pani), steady (vimala) Saraswati, embodiment of the Vedas, your speech (manjula) is beautiful (bhashini), creator (karini) of auspiciousness (mangala), Meenakshi of Madhura
the embodiment of sound (nada), you roam (vasini) in the Sri Chakra yantra (yantra is a sacred design), giver (dayini) of bliss (ananda), show me (chupave) compassion (karuna), Annapurna (the goddess of plenty), mother (amba) of creation (bhavani).

jaya bhagavati devi

jaya bhagavati devi namo durge tapasya manasa vasa priye
shumbha nishumbha kapaladhare andhaka daitya vishoshakare
mahishavimardini shuladhare
(bhagavati devi daya jaladhe)
chandra devakara netradhare paavaka bhushita vaktravare
bhairava deva vilina pare
(devi samashta shariradhare)
vindhya himachala shrungasthite saagare gamini shambho nute
mantra swarupini mantra nute
(manjula bhashini veda nute)
sakala chara chara deva munishwara maanava vandita daitya nute
loka samasthata paapa hare
(dukha daridra vinashakare)

Collection B

parvati thanaya

parvati thanaya ganapati deva paraguna ravemaya o deva, paraguna ravemaya
munduga nee namambu dalachada mukti margamu nosagu maya
bhakta daya maya maa puje gaikon munduge mamu gapadu maya
ishwara nandana vighneshwara maa moralak inchaya ravemaya
mushika vahana munduga vediti davu chupuma dayamaya
gaja mukha varada ganapati deva bhaktula palete dayamaya
pada daruni sevakuralanu munduga mamu gapadu maya

Lord Ganapati son (thanaya) of Parvati, of great character, why don’t you come, O lord, of great character, why don’t you come. First I will think of your name, grant me the path of liberation. Devotees worship our benefactor first, save us. Vigneshwara, son of Ishwara (Shiva), listen to our pleading and come. The rat your vehicle first pleaded kindness; show the epitome of your kindness. Elephant-faced Lord Ganapati grant the boon of kindness your devotees.

shivayogi sharanam

shivayogi sharanam, balayogi sharanam
shivayogi sharanam, balayogi sharanam
sharanam sharanam shri shivayogi sharanam
ardhanarishwara shivayogi sharanam
avatara purusha, shivayogi sharanam
sadgurudeva shivayogi sharanam
balayogishwara nee divya sharanam

We surrender (sharanam) to Shiva Yogi, Balayogi, both male and female (ardhanarishwara), the incarnation of a divine soul (avatara purusha), the true guru (sadgurudeva). We surrender to your divine (nee divya) protection (sharanam) or feet (charanam).

sri balayogisha

shri balayogeesha, mamu kapadu darahasa
nee momu chooda nityanandamu ra
ma janma phalamera
shanti swaroopa satya niroopa
mamu brova ravela balayogeesha
padirendu endlu nee tapamu chooda
paramatma neevera
kali badha teerchi kapada rava
dari jercha jaagela shree balaeesha
parameshwara priya bhaktavadheeya
bhavaharana ravera
sugyana deepa ma janma kalpa
v. surya rao nu ehamandu brova

Shri Balayogisha, protect us, great soul. Your face seeing ever happiness [?] brings good karma to our lives. Form of peace, the formless truth embrace us, come O Balayogisha. For twelve year your tapas, only you seeing great soul [?]. The pain of kali [yuga] save and relieve us, take us to the shore and awaken us, Shri Balaisha. Great Ishwara, endeared by devotees in the power[?], _____ come. Good knowledge, creator of light of our lives, from now take me, V. Surya Rao [who wrote the bhajan].

shivaya namah shiva lingaya

shivaya namah shiva lingaya namah om
bhavaya namo bhava lingaya namah om
rudraya namo rudra lingaya namah om
sarvaya namo sarva lingaya namah om
atmaya namo atma lingaya namah om
namah om, namah om, namah om

We worship the Lingam of Shiva, Existence (Bhava), Rudra (the remover of pain, an ancient name of Lord Shiva), Sarva (the All), the Soul (these are all names of Lord Shankara). The Lingam is an ovoid shaped stone which represents the Soul or Shiva. The mystics describe the soul as a thumb-sized round shape in the heart cave. This is God’s presence in each of us, the soul Lingam.

namah shivaya

namah shivaya, namah shivaya, namah shivaya

shambho hara hara shambho

shambho, hara hara hara shambho

Shambo is a name of Shiva meaning “abode-of-peace.”

himagiri shringa vihari (vihari)
umanatha shiva gangadhari (gangadhari)
chandra chuda charmambara-dhari (charmambara-dhari)
easha girisha purari shambhu, shambho
hara hara hara shambhu

You roam (vihari) the peaks of the Himalayas (himagiri); lord of Uma (Devi) whobears the Ganges (gangadhara); the moon adorns your head (chandra chuda) one who weras skins (charma); lord of Girija who destroyed the cities (purari — reference to the cities of the three sons of Tarakasura)
shiva shiva akshaya linga (akshaya linga)

maha linga smara garva vibhanga (garva vibhanga)
bhakta shubhankara karuna panga (karuna panga)
vrishabha turanga shubhanga shambhu, shambhu
hara hara hara shambhu

Indestructible (akshaya) lingam; great lingam who destroyed (vinhanga) the pride (garva) of the god of love (smara); you create good (shubankara) for the devotees (bhakta), your hands (panga) are compassion (karuna); the bull (vrishaba) is the vehicle (turanga) for your holy body (shubanga)

hari narayana

hari narayana hari narayana hari narayana hari ram ram ram
ayodhya vasi, shri rama chandra, ananda rupa, jai jai ram

Hari, Narayana (names of Vishnu), Ram. Resident of Ayodhya, holy Rama Chandra, form of bliss, hail Ram.

jai ambe jagadambe

jai ambe jagadambe mata bhavani jai ambe
durgati nashini durga jai jai kala vinasini kali jai jai
uma rama brahmani jai jai radha rukmini sita jai jai

Glory to the Queen of the World, giver of Existence, Mother. Goddess beyond Reach, you are the energy of time. Glory to Peace of the Night (Uma) the charming one. Glory to Radha, Rukmini and Sita.

mangala maye durge bhagavati
mangalamaye durge bhagavati
darpa vinashini bhava bhaya harini
sundara rupini uma maheshwari
palayamam shankari palayamam ishwari
durge om (kali om)

Auspicious mother (mangalamaye) goddess (bhagavati) Durga; bride (darpa), destroyer (harini) of fear of this world (bhava bhaya); the embodiment (rupini) of beauty (sundara), goddess Uma, rule me (palayamam)

Collection C

vinayaka

vinayaka, vinayaka
vishwadhara vinayaka
siddhi vinayaka bhava bhaya nasa
sura muni vandita shri ganesha
vishwadhara vinayaka

Remover of obstacles, you maintain the universe and are worshipped by great sages and demigods.

gajanana he shubanana

gajanana he shubanana
gauri manohara priya nandana
pashupati thanaya gajanana
paramani ranjana shubanana

Elephant-faced, whose face bestows good fortune; enchanter of Gauri (Shiva’s spouse), love child; lord of animals (Shiva), elephant-faced (thanaya); great jewel, giver of joy,

jaya gurudeva shivabalayogi

jaya gurudeva shivabalayogi sharana thumare agayaji prahbu sharana thumare agaya

Great god-guru Shivabalayogi, I surrender to you (sharana thumare), come lord (agayaji prahbu).

viagrambara dhara singha simasana
para shiva shankara parvati rupa

You wear tiger cloth (viagrambara dhara), the lion is your throne (singha simasana, i.e Devi). You are the Shiva that is beyond this world (para) and the manifestation of Parvati (parvati rupa).

jaya jagadishwara jagado dwaraka
ardhanareeshwara avatara purusha

Lord of the universe (jagadishwara), you elevate the universe (jagado dwaraka). Both male and female (ardhanareeshwara), an incarnated divine soul (avatara purusha).

guru parameshwara gaurangadhari
gangajata dhara chandra viraje

Supreme lord and guru, your body is white in color (gaurangadhari; i.e. Shiva whose body is smeared with white ash, vibhuti). You wear the River Ganges in your matted hair (gangajata dhara) and the moon as an ornament (chandra viraje).

bambam hara hara bhava bhaya hari
gyana data guru shantih pradata

“Bam bam” is the sound of Shiva dancing. You destroy the fear of this material world (bhava bhaya hari). You bestow knowledge (gyana data) and give peace (shanti pradata).

shankara shankara

shankara, shankara, shankara
(prahbu) shankara abhayankara

Shankara, Lord Shankara who gives protection (abhayankara)

natana manohara shankara
girija ramana shankara

your dance (natana) [is so beautiful that] it steals our herats (manohara), husband (manohara) of Girija.

kailasa vasa shankara
kashi visheshwara shankara

you reside in Kailash, lord of Kashi the universe (visheshwara is the name of the famous Shivalingam in Kashi)

karicharmambara shankara
sambhadigambara shankara

you wear an elephant skin (karicharmambara), you are the naked (gigambara) Shiva (sambha)

trinetradhari shankara
trishuladhari shankara

three-eyed (trinetradhari), who carries the trident (trishuladhari).

shivabalayogi shankara
shri gurudeva shankara

dhimita dhimi

dhimita dhimita dhimi, dhimita dhimita dhimi, nache bola nath
vina bole shiva shiva shankara
mridanga bole hara shiva shankara
dhamaru bole jaya shiva shankara
(nache bola nath)

“Dhimita dhim” says and dances Lord Shiva. His drum says Shiva Shiva Shankara, His vina (a stringed instrument) says Hara Shiva Shankara.

naagaya naagappa

naagayya naagappa naagaraja
maa korikalani teerchavayya naagaraja

sacred cobra, father cobra, king of cobra, you have fulfilled (teerchavayya) our wishes (maa korikalani)

shivuni medalo unnavayya naagaraja
neevu paadagavippi aadavayya naagaraja

you decorate the neck of Lord Shiva, open your hood and dance for us

nada swaramu oodamayya naagaraja
neevu busa koti aadavayya naagaraja

we are playing the nada swaramu (large reed flute), dance and hiss for us.

vittala hari vittala

vittala hari vittala
panduranga vittale hari narayana
hari narayana sathya narayana
sriman narayana lakshmi narayana

nallani vada

nallani vada namalu gala vada
challani deva shri venkateshwara

dark complexioned (nallani vada) who wears the naama (namalu gala vada — naama is a sacred design worn between the eyebrows); cool (challani — in the Indian heat, cool is desirable) god Venkateshwara.

edukandala vada o venkateshwara
vaddikasula vada vandanamidigora

he resides on seven hills (edukandala), paying interest on his loan (vaddikasula vada — Venkateshwara went into debt for his wedding, and his devotees to this day donate to help him repay that debt)

ammavu neevamma alivelu mangamma
ammalagannamma amma bangaru bomma

you are our mother, Mangamma (Venkateshwara’s consort), mother of all mothers (ammalagannamma), golden doll (bangaru boma — i.e. beautiful)

hari narayana govinda
apadbhandava govinda
anadharakshaka govinda
srinivasa govinda
srivenkateshwara govinda
venkataramana govinda
sankata harana govinda
purana purusha govinda
pundareekaksha govinda
govinda (gopala)

Hari, Narayana and Govinda are names of Krishna and Vishnu, who protects in difficulties (apadbhandava), protector of the orphaned or helpless (anadharakshaka), destroyer of difficulties (sankata harana)

kali maheshwari

kali maheshwari parvati shankari sharanam sharanam sharanam amma
durgati nashini durga jaya jaya
kala vinasini kali jaya jaya
uma rama brahmani jaya jaya
(uma rama sarvani jaya jaya)
radha sita rukmini jaya jaya
jaya om maha kali, jagadamba ma kali

Kali, Great Goddess, Parvati bestower of peace, we worship You Queen. Glory to Durga Nashini, the destroyer of miseries. Glory to Kali, the destroyer of time. Glory to Uma, Rama, and Brahmani. Glory to Radha, Sita, and Rukmini.

chaumundaye / amma taye
chaumundaye kali ma, kali ma, kali ma, kali ma
amma amma taye, akhilandeshwari niye, annapurneshwari taye o adiparashakti niye

Adivarapupeta arthi

A closing Vedic chant:

om om om
asato ma — sadgamaya
tamaso ma — jyotirgamaya
mrityor ma — amritangamaya
om shantih, shantih, shantih

From the untruth lead me to truth, from the darkness lead me to light, from death lead me to the eternal, Om peace peace peace.

mangalam gurudevaya
mahaniya gunatmane
sarva loka sharanyaya
sadhu rupaya mangalam
shri shivabalayogishwaraya
parabrahmane namaha
hari om tat sat

All auspiciousness and good for the Guru who has all the greatest spiritual qualities. All the worlds worship and take refuge in you, you who are in the form of a holy saint. I bow before the greatest lord, Shri Shivabalayogi. God is Om, that alone is.
shri shri shri shivabalayogi maharajaya namaha (jai)

Puja CD

Shiva Panchaaksharee Sthothram

naagendra haaraaya, thrilochanaaya
bhasmaanga raagaaya, maheshwaraaya;
nithyaaya, shuddhaaya, digambaraaya
thasmai na kaaraaya - namah shivaaya
mandaakini salila chandhana charchithaaya
nandeeshwara pramadha nadha maheshwaraaya
mandaara mukhya bahu pushpa supoojithaaya
thasmai ma kaaraaya namah shivaaya
shivaaya gauri vadanaaravinda sooryaaya
dakshaadhwara naashanaaya
shri neelakanthaaya vrishadhwajaaya
thasmai shi kaaraaya namah shivaaya
vashishtha, kumbhodhbhava, gautamaadi
muneendra devaarchitha sevithaaya
chandraarka vaishwannara locahanaaya
thasmai va kaaraaya namah shivaaya
yagnya swaroopaaya, jathaa dharaaya
pinaaka hasthaaya sanaathanaaya
sudivya dehaaya, digambaraaya
thasmai ya kaaraaya namah shivaaya
panchaaksharee mantramidham sthothram yah pateh shiva sannidhau
shivalokamavaapnothi, shivena saha modhathe

This is a poem in praise of Lord Shiva. It is called the panchaaksharee sthothram because it has five verses each of which begin with the Sanskrit letters in the salutation to Shiva – ‘Na’, ‘Ma’, ‘Shi’, ‘Va’ and ‘Ya’.
Oh one who wears the king of cobras as a garland, who has three eyes, whose body is decorated with ash, the great lord, who is eternal and pure, who is undressed – to you Shiva the form of ‘Na’ we salute.
One who is anointed with the sandal paste that is cool like the waters of the Ganges, who is the leader of Nandi and other Pramadhas, great lord, who is worshipped with several flowers such as the hibiscus, to such Shiva who is the form of ‘Ma’ we salute.
The pure one, who is like the sun to the lotus face of Gauri (Just as the lotus blooms at sun rise, Gauri’s face beams with joy at the sight of Shiva). , who destroyed the homa of Daksha, whose sacred neck is colored blue, who is mounted on the bull, to such Shiva who is the form of ‘Shi’ we salute.
The one who is worshipped by the best of sages like Vashishtha, Dronaacharya, Gautama, who is prayed and served by the gods, who has the moon, sun, fire and a human being’s - one of Lord Shiva’s greatest devotees, a hunter by the name of Kannappa’s - eye for His eyes, to such Shiva in the form of ‘Va’ we salute.
The one who is the very form of the homa, who wears matted hair, who carries the bow Pinaaka, who is the ancient one, who has a divine body and is undressed, to such Shiva who is the form of ‘Ya’ we salute.
Whoever recites this five lettered chant in the presence of Lord Shiva attains the world of Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva will also be pleased.
Word by word meaning
Pancha = five, akshara = letters of the alphabet, Stotram = poem or song in praise of
Nagendra = king of cobra snakes, haaraya = garlanded, thri-lochanaaya = three eyed; bhasma = ash, anga = limbs or body, raagaaya = decorated, Maheshwaraaya; Nityaaya = eternal; shuddhaaya = pure, digambaraaya = naked or undressed, thasmai = to such, NA kaaraaya = the form of Na, Namah  = salute, Shivaaya = to Shiva.
Mandaakini = a name of Goddess Ganga, salila = water; chandhana = sandal; charchitaaya = anointed with; Nandeeshwara, pramadha = a sect of divine beings who are devotees of Shiva, nadha = leader, Maheshwaraaya, Mandaara = Hybiscus flower, mukhya = main, bahu = several, pushpa = flowers, supoojitaaya = worshipped; thasmai MA kaaraaya = the form of Ma Namah Shivaaya
Shivaaya, Gouri = A name of Paarvathi, vadana = face, aravinda = lotus, Sooryaaya = sun; Daksha = Sati Devi’s father, adhwara = homa, Naashanaaya = destroyer; Shri = auspicious, Neela = blue, kanthaaya = necked, Vrisha = bull, dhwajaaya = mount or vehicle; thasmai SHI-kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
Vashishtha, Kumbhodbhava = one who is born from a pot - Dronaacharya the teacher of Arjuna in Mahaabhaaratha, Gautama = another muni (the husband of river Godaavari), adi = such as, muneendra = the best among sages, Deva = gods, architha = prayed (by), sevithaaya = served (by), Chandra = moon, arka = sun, Vaishwan = fire (the third eye of Shiva the one on His forehead is considered the fire), nara = human being refers to a hunter by the name of Kannappa, lochanaaya = eyes; thasmai VA-kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya
Yagnya = homa, Swaroopaaya = the form of, Jataa dharaaya = wearing matted hair, Pinaaka = name of Lord Shiva’s bow, hasthaaya = holding, Sanaathanaaya = ancient, Su divya = very divine, dehaaya = bodied, Digambaraaya = naked or undressed, thasmai YA-kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya.
Panchaaksharee = five lettered, mantram = chant, idham = this, sthothram = poem sung in praise of, yah = whoever, pateh = recites, Shiva Sannidhau = in the presence of Shiva, Shivalokam = the world of Shiva, avaapnothi = attains, Shivena = Shiva, saha = too modhathe = pleased.