Suprabhatam

Suprabhātam (Sanskrit: सुप्रभातम्), literally auspicious dawn is a Sanskrit poem of the Suprabhātakāvya genre. It is a collection of hymns or verses recited early morning to awaken the deity in Hinduism. The metre chosen for a Suprabhātam poem is usually Vasantatilakā.

The most well-known Suprabhātam work is the Veṅkaṭeśasuprabhātam recited at Tirupati to awaken Lord Veṅkaṭeśa. A rendition of the poem by renowned carnatic vocalist M. S. Subbulakshmi is extremely popular which is played daily in many homes and temples of South India.

History

The genre of Suprabhātakāvya traces its origin to a single verse (1.23.2) in the Bālakāṇḍa of Vālmīki's Rāmāyaṇa, where Viśvāmitra calls out to Rāma to wake up.

Devanagari
कौशल्यासुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते ।
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्त्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् ॥
IAST
kausalyāsuprajā rāma pūrvā sandhyā pravartate ।
uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla karttavyaṃ daivamāhnikam ॥

O Rāma, the noble son of Kausalyā! The Sandhyā of the East commences. O! best of men (Purushottama)! Wake up, the divine daily rituals have to be performed. ॥ 1.23.2 ॥

The Veṅkaṭeśasuprabhātam begins with this very verse.

Venkateshwara Suprabhatam

The Veṅkaṭeśasuprabhātam was composed around 1430 A.D. by Prativādibhayaṅkara Śrī Anantācārya (also known as Annangaracharyar, and P B Annan). The poet was a disciple of Swami Manavala Mamuni, who composed Sri Ranganatha Suprabhatam. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam consists of four parts: Suprabhatam, Sri Venkatesa Stothram, Prapatti, and Mangalasasanam.

Text and meaning

IAST
kausalyāsuprajā rāma pūrvā sandhyā pravartate ।
uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla karttavyaṃ daivamāhnikam ॥

O! Rama! Kaushalya's auspicious child! Sunlight is approaching in the East. O! best of men (Purushottama)! Wake up, the divine daily rituals have to be performed. ॥ 1 ॥

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha govinda uttiṣṭha garuḍadhvaja ।
uttiṣṭha kamalākānta trailokyaṃ maṅgalaṃ kuru ॥

O! Govinda, wake up! O! Garudadhvaja (one who has Garuda on his flag)! wake up. O! Kamalakanta (the husband of Kamala)! by rising, render the three worlds auspicious. ॥ 2 ॥

mātassamastajagatāṃ madhukaiṭabhāreḥ
vakṣovihāriṇi manoharadivyamūrte ।
śrīsvāmini śritajanapriyadānaśīle
śrīveṅkaṭeśadayite tava suprabhātam ॥

May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee, O! Lakshmi, the Mother of the Worlds, who dwells on the chest of Vishnu, the enemy of the demons, Madhu and Kaitabha), of attractive and divine form, with the nature of granting what is desired by those seeking refuge! ॥ 3 ॥

tava suprabhātamaravindalocane bhavatu prasannamukhacandramaṇḍale ।
vidhiśaṅkarendravanitābhirarcite vṛṣaśailanāthadayite dayānidhe ॥

May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee, O! Lakshmi, the beloved of the Lord of Vrsacala, with eyes like lotus petals, with a bright face like the Moon, who is worshipped by Vani, Girija and Pulomaja (the wives of Brahma, Sankara and Indra) and who is very compassionate. ॥ 4 ॥

atryādisaptaṛṣayassamupāsya sandhyā-
mākāśasindhukamalāni manoharāṇi ।
ādāya pādayugamarcayituṃ prapannāḥ
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

Having worshipped the morning twilight and said their morning prayers, called sandhyavandana, the seven sages like Atri, bringing the beautiful lotuses from the divine Ganges, have arrived to worship Thy feet. Lord of Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 5 ॥

pañcānanābjabhavaṣaṇmukhavāsavādyāḥ
traivikramādicaritaṃ vibudhāḥ stuvanti ।
bhāṣāpatiḥ paṭhati vāsaraśuddhimārāt
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

The Gods, like the five-headed Brahma, Subrahmanya, Shiva, and Indra are praising the deeds of your incarnation as the Trivikramavatara. Nearby is Brhaspati who is reading out the planetary position (called Panchangam) of the day. Lord of Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 6 ॥

īṣatpraphullasarasīruhanārikela-
pūgadrumādisumanoharapālikānām ।
āvāti mandamanilaḥ saha divyagandhaiḥ
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

The breeze, carrying the wonderful fragrance of the partly opened lotuses, and the beautiful trees like the Areca and Coconut, is blowing gently. Lord of Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 7 ॥

unmīlya netrayugamuttamapañjarasthāḥ
pātrāvaśiṣṭakadalīphalapāyasāni ।
bhuktvā salīlamatha keliśukāḥ paṭhanti
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

The parrots in their cages are opening their eyes, and graciously singing, after eating the remains of the plantain fruits and the payasam in the vessels. Lord Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 8 ॥

tantrīprakarṣamadhurasvanayā vipañcyā
gāyatyanantacaritaṃ tava nārado'pi ।
bhāṣāsamagramasakṛtkaracāruramyaṃ
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

The sage, Narada, is playing sweet music with his veena, and, in fine language, is singing praises of Thy endless deeds, gracefully waving his other hand. Lord of Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 9 ॥

bhṛṅgāvalī ca makarandarasānuviddhā
jhaṅkāragītaninadaiḥ saha sevanāya ।
niryātyupāntasarasīkamalodarebhyaḥ
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

The humming swarm of bees are sucking honey and emerging from the interiors of the lotuses of the adjoining pools, in order to serve Thee. Lord of Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 10 ॥

yoṣāgaṇena varadadhnivimathyamāne
ghośālayeṣu dadhimanthanatīvraghoṣāḥ ।
roṣātkaliṃ vidadhate kakubhāśca kumbhāḥ
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

While the womenfolk of the hamlet of cowherds churn the curds, the loud sounds and echoes emanating from the pots seems like as if the pots and the eight directions are quarrelling. Lord of Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 11 ॥

padmeśamitraśatapatragatālivargāḥ
hartuṃ śriyaṃ kuvalayasya nijāṅgalakṣmyā ।
bherīninādamiva bibhrati tīvranādaṃ
śeṣādriśekharavibho tava suprabhātam ॥

The swarm of bees in the lotuses are friends of the sun, and are making loud sounds with a view to surpassing the splendour of the lustrous blue lotuses. Lord of Seshachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 12 ॥

śrīmannabhīṣṭavaradākhilalokabandho
śrīśrīnivāsajagadekadayaikasindho ।
śrīdevatāgṛhabhujāntaradivyamūrte
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

One with Lakshmi! One who grants boons! Friend of all the worlds! Abode of Sri Lakshmi! The matchless ocean of compassion! One having a charming form on account of the chest which is the abode of Sri Lakshmi! Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 13 ॥

śrīsvāmipuṣkariṇikāplavanirmalāṅgāḥ
śreyo'rthino haravirañcisanandanādyāḥ ।
dvāre vasanti varavetrahatottamāṅgāḥ
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Brahma, Shiva, Sanandana and several others have bathed in purified water. They are at your doorstep eager to see you, for their own well-being, though they have been hit with canes by your gods. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 14 ॥

śrīśeṣaśailagaruḍācalaveṅkaṭādri-
nārāyaṇādrivṛṣabhādrivṛṣādrimukhyām ।
ākhyāṃ tvadīyavasateraniśaṃ vadanti
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Lord of Venkatachala! Thy abode is always called by several names, such as Sri Sesasaila, Garudachala, Venkatadri, Narayanadri, Vrsabhadri, Vrsadri. May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 15 ॥

sevāparāḥ śivasureśakṛśānudharma-
rakṣombunāthapavamānadhanādināthāḥ ।
baddhāñjalipravilasannijaśīrṣadeśāḥ
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Siva, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nairuti, Varuna, Vayu and Kubera, with folded hands placed on their heads, are desirous of offering service to thee. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 16 ॥

dhāṭīṣu te vihagarājamṛgādhirāja-
nāgādhirājagajarājahayādhirājāḥ ।
svasvādhikāramahimādhikamarthayante
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

The modes of Thy conveyance - Garuda, the Lord of Birds, the Lion, Lord of Animals, Adisesa, the Lord of Serpents, Airavata, the Lord of Elephants and Uccaissravas, the Lord of Horses - are begging Thee to grant them their respective authority and power to server Thee better, on your pleasure trips. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 17 ॥

sūryendubhaumabudhavākpatikāvyasauri-
svarbhānuketudiviṣatpariṣatpradhānāḥ ।
tavaddāsadāsacaramāvadhidāsadāsāḥ
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

The main deities of the Assembly of Gods - the nine planets - the Sun, the Moon, Mars (Angaraka), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Brhaspati), Venus (Sukra), Saturn (Sani), Rahu and Ketu are happy to serve even your servants and remain most obedient to Thee. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 18 ॥

tvatpādadhūlibharitasphuritottamāṅgāḥ
svargāpavarganirapekṣanijāntaraṅgāḥ ।
kalpāgamākalanayākulatāṃ labhante
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Lord of Venkatachala! Thy devotees, whose heads are sanctified by the dust of Thy feet, being in Thy presence, do not desire Heaven or Liberation, but are worried that another kalpa will start, when there will be no such glory to Venkatachala! Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 19 ॥

tvadgopurāgraśikharāṇi nirīkṣamāṇāḥ
svargāpavargapadavīṃ paramāṃ śrayantaḥ ।
martyā manuṣyabhuvane matimāśrayante
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

On seeing the crests of Thy temple tower, the mortals, who are attempting to attain the exalted paths of Heaven and Liberation, feel like living on in the mortal world, as it gives them the opportunity of worshipping Thee. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 20 ॥

śrībhūmināyaka dayādiguṇāmṛtābdhe
devādhideva jagadekaśaraṇyamūrte ।
śrīmannanantagaruḍādibhirarcitāṅghre
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Lord of Sridevi and Bhudevi! The ocean of nectar of compassion and other virtues! The chief of the Gods! The sole refuge of the Universe! The possessor of Sri (wealth)! One whose feet are worshipped by Ananta and Garuda! Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 21 ॥

śrīpadmanābha puruṣottama vāsudeva
vaikuṇṭhamādhava janārdana cakrapāṇe ।
śrīvatsacihna śaraṇāgatapārijāta
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Padmanabha! Purushottama! Vasudeva! Vaikunta! Madhava! Janardana! Chakrapani! Bearer of the mole Srivatsa! Celestial tree (parijata) under whom refuge is sought! Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 22 ॥

kandarpadarpahara sundara divyamūrte
kāntākucāmburuhakuḍmalaloladṛṣṭe ।
kalyāṇanirmalaguṇākara divyakīrte
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Bearer of the charming and divine form surpassing the pride of Cupid (Manmatha)! One whose sight is fondly centred on the lotus bud like breasts of His beloved! The abode of auspicious and pure virtues! The possessor of Divine fame! Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 23 ॥

mīnākṛte kamaṭhakolanṛsiṃhavarṇin
svāmin paraśvadhatapodhana rāmacandra।
śeṣāṃśarāma yadunandana kalkirūpa
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Lord in ten incarnations of Matsya (Fish), Kamatha (Tortoise), Kola (Boar), Narasimha (Man-lion) Trivikrama (Dwarf), Parasurama, Rama, Balarama, Krishna and Kalki! Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 24 ॥

elālavaṅgaghanasārasugandhitīrthaṃ
divyaṃ vihatsariti hemaghaṭeṣu pūrṇam ।
dhṛtavādyavaidikaśikhāmaṇayaḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ
tiṣṭhanti veṅkaṭapate tava suprabhātam ॥

The Brahmins, well-versed in the Vedas, are now joyfully waiting to worship you. They are carrying golden pots on their heads that are filled with the water of the Divine Ganges (Akasa Ganga), which has been rendered fragrant by mixing cardamom, cloves and camphor in it. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 25 ॥

bhāsvānudeti vikacāni saroruhāṇi
sampūrayanti ninadaiḥ kakubho vihaṅgāḥ ।
śrīvaiṣṇavāḥ satatamarthitamaṅgalāste
dhāmāśrayanti tava veṅkaṭa suprabhātam ॥

The Sun is rising; the lotuses have blossomed; the birds are twittering; the Sri Vaishnavas, always imploring auspiciousness, are waiting at Thy abode. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 26 ॥

brahmādayassuravarāssamaharṣayaste
santassanandanmukhāstava yogivaryāḥ ।
dhāmāntike tava hi maṅgalavastuhastāḥ
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Brahma,the great sages and the good Yogins as Sanandana are waiting at Thy abode, with auspicious offerings in their hands. Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 27 ॥

lakṣmīnivāsa niravadya guṇaikasindho
saṃsārasāgarasamuttaraṇaikaseto ।
vedāntavedya nijavaibhavabhaktabhogya
śrīveṅkaṭācalapate tava suprabhātam ॥

Abode of Lakshmi! Ocean of faultless and auspicious virtues! Bridge to cross the ocean of transmigration (samsara)! One whose glory is known through the Upanishads! One who is enjoyed by devotees! Lord of Venkatachala! May it be an auspicious dawn to Thee. ॥ 28 ॥

itthaṃ vṛṣācalapateriha suprabhātaṃ
ye mānavāḥ pratidinaṃ paṭhituṃ pravṛttāḥ ।
teṣāṃ prabhātasamaye smṛtiraṅgabhājāṃ
prajñāṃ parārthasulabhāṃ paramāṃ prasūte ॥

Thus here is the Suprabhatam of the Lord of Vrishachala! Within the humans who are engaged in reciting it everyday, the remembrance (स्मृति:) gives birth to superior intellect, which makes the supreme goal (of attaining moksha) easy to achieve. ॥ 29 ॥

Other Suprabhatam Works

There are many other lesser-known Suprabhātam works apart from the Veṅkaṭeśasuprabhātam. Some of these are -

• Śrīvighneśvarasuprabhātam. A Suprabhāta poem eulogizing Gaṇeśa.
• Śrīsiddhivināyakasuprabhātam. A Suprabhāta poem eulogizing Siddhivināyaka. Composed by M. Ramakrishna Bhat, retired professor of Benares Hindu University.
• Śrīkāśīviśvanāthasuprabhātam. A Suprabhāta poem eulogizing Kashi Vishwanath.
• Śrīsītārāmasuprabhātam. A Suprabhāta poem eulogizing Sītā and Rāma. Composed by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya.

Notes

References

Rambhadracharya, Svami (January 14, 2009), Śrīsītārāmasuprabhātam (PDF) (in Sanskrit), Chitrakuta, Uttar Pradesh, India: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Vikalang Vishvavidyalaya, retrieved October 25, 2012

External links

• Translation of the prayer and audio in streaming and downloadable format
• Telugu Rendering in WikiSource
• Devanagari Rendering