Raghavendra stotra
Sri Raghavendra decided to enter the Brindavana on Shraavana Krishna Paksha Dwiteeya i.e.in 1671 A.D.Friday and sent Appanacharya for Madhwa Sanchara away from Mantralaya. If Appanacharya would have been on that day he will never allow Rayaru to Enter Brindavana. So Aparokshagnyani Gururaya thinking all this purposely sent this Devotee Appanacharya away from Mantralaya and immediately planned the Brindavana Pravesha and asked Diwan Venkanna to make all the preparations. Appanacharya somehow came to know the news. Received a great shock.Returned to Bichchali, decide to go to Mantralaya. But the river Tungbhadra was in full spate, overflowing. Appanacharya never cared for this. Decided to cross the Tungabhadra, as he loved Rayaru too much went on crying, tears rolled on his cheeks. As He knew Rayaru completely out of Devotional Ecstasy started “Gurustotra Sripurnabodha Guruteertha Payobdhipaara” from JAPADAKATTE, Tungamma paved the way, by the time Appanacharya reached`Mantralaya the last stone of the Brindavana was placed at the Brindavana. His Ashukavitva Stotra Pathana immediately stopped after:
YoBhaktyaGuruRaghavendraCharanaDwandam Smaran YahaPathaet StotramDivyamidamsadaNahiBhavaettasyaAsukhamKinchan KimtvishtarthaSamruddhirevaKamalaNathaPrasadodayaat KeertiDigviditaVibhutiratula..
Could not speak anything more. Rayaru Sitting in the`Brindavana has
listened the Gurustotra fully, and completed the Stotra by saying
SAAKSHIHAYASTOTRAHI from the Brindavana. At that time Rayaru
was Chanting Hayagreeva Mantra, said Hayagreeva Roopi Sri Hari is the
witness for all this what has been told in the Gurustotra.
How great he was? What an amount of Affection had Rayaru towards
Appanacharya. Appanacharya composed this Stotra Gurustotra on the
day of Rayara Brindavana Pravesha, so it is famous, popular and called as
Stotra Raja. It has come out fluently, spontaneously and with Devotional
Ecstasy.This is the unforgettable contribution of Bichchali Appanacharya
to the Devotees of this Universe. Hats off to this great Chetana. So we
must CHANT:
Raghavendra Stotra:
1)Sripoornabodha guruteertha payobdhipara
Kaamarimaksha vishamaksha shiraha sprushantee
Poorvottaramitataranga charatsuhamsa
Devalisevita paranghri payojalagna
2)Jeeveashabhedhagunapoorti jagatsu satva Neechochchabhava mukhanakraganaihi sameata Doorvadyajapatirgilairgururaghavendra Vagdevataasaridamum vimalee karotu
Translation: In these two slokas, the utterances of Sri Raghavendra Swamy are compared to the Holy River Ganga that is washing the feet of Sri Maha Vishnu. The author, by his extraordinary descriptive skill, has rendered devotional praise in favour of Sri Narayana, Sri Madhwacharya, Sri Saraswati, Sri Rudra, Ganga and Sri Raghavendra Swamy. (1 \ 2)
3)Sri raghavendraha sakalapradaataa svapadakanjadvayabhakti madbhyaha Aghadrisambhedanadrushtivajraha kshamasureandrovatu mam sadaayam
Translation: All their desires will be fulfilled for those who devote themselves unto the lotus-like feet of Sri Raghavendra Swamy. His merciful grace will destroy mountainous sins. May Sri Raghavendra Swamy of such fame protect us always!
4)Sri raghavendro haripadakanjanisheavanaallabdha samasta sampath Devasvabhavodivijedrumoyamishtapradomeasatatam sabhooyaat
Translation: He who has attained all wealth by devotion unto the lotus-like feet of Sri Narayana; who is himself divine; and who is akin to the wish-fulfilling divine tree (Kalpavriksha): May Sri Raghavendra Swamy of such immense fame, always grant fulfillment of all our desires.
5)Bhavyasvaroopo bhavadhukhatoola sanghagnicharyaha sukhadhairyashali Samastadushtagrahanigrahesho durastya yo plava sindhu setuhu
Translation: He posses a personality that begets auspicious effects always. He is like fire for the bundles of cotton, namely miseries of the world. He has welfare and courage in full measure. He excels in removing all the planetary effects. He is as a bridge to cross the world that is like an ocean full of misery.
6)Nirastadhosho niravadyaveashaha
pratyarthimookatvanidhanabhashaha
Vidvatparigneaya mahavisheasho vagvaikhari
nirjitabhavyasheashaha
Translation: He is of blameless nature; He is capable of completely silencing the opposition in debates; His special attainments can only be understood by the learned; He has conquered all by the felicity of his debating skills. (6)
7)Santanasampatparishudhabhakti
vignanavagdehasupatavaadeen
Datvaa shareerothasamastadoshan hatva sanovyad
gururaghavendra
Translation: Let Sri Raghavendra Swamy of such repute destroy all bodily defects and diseases and grant us desired progeny, wealth, intense devotion to God, special knowledge and immense energy of speech and body. (7)
8)Yatpaadodakasanchayaha suranadee makhyaapagaasaadita Sankhyaanuttamapunyasanghavilasat prakhyatapunyaavaha Dustaapatrayanaashano bhuvi mahavandyaasuputraprado Vyangasvangasamrudhido grahamaha paapaapahastaam shrayae
Translation: This sloka describes the blessings from the ablution water flowing from the feet (padodaka) of Sri Raghavendra Swamy.
9)Yatpadaadakanjarajasaa paribhooshitaanga Yatpaadapadmamadhupayitamaanasaayea Yatpaadapadmaparikeertana jeerna vachah Tatdarshanam durita kananadevabhutam
Translation: Here the blessings from the dust of Sri Raghavendra Swamy.s feet (mritika) are described.
10)Sarvatantra swatantro asau sri madhva matvardhanah Vijayeendrakabjotsa sudheendravaraputrakaha
11)Sri raghaveandro yetirat gururmea syadbyaparah Gnyanabhakti suputraahyuhuyashahasripunyavardhanaha
Translation: Sri Raghavendra Swamy has progressed the Madhwa philosophy. He grants or improves divine knowledge, intense devotion to God, desired progeny, long life, fame, wealth and blessings from good deeds. May Sri Guru Raghavendra, the foremost among sanyasis, remove our fear of samsara (the world or the constantly repeating cycle of birth and death)!
12)Prativaadijayasvantabheadachinhaadaro guruhu
Sarvavidyaapraveen anyo raghaveandraanavidyatea
Translation: PROWESS IN ALL LEARNED ARTS: His sole aim in debates is to silence the opposition and to eradicate all their doubts without any trace. This Guru is adept not only in his own Madhwa doctrines but in all others as well. In such prowess in all learned arts, there is none other who excels Sri Raghavendra Swamy.
13)Aparokshikrutasreeshaha samupeaksitabhavajaha
Apeaksitapradata anyo raghaveandraanna vidyatea
Translation: LIBERALITY IN GRANTING WISHES: He has personally experienced the omnipresence of God, the consort of Sri Lakshmi. He has conquered sensuality and other undesirable qualities. He fulfils the wishes of his devotees quickly and in full. In these attributes, there is none other who excels Sri Raghavendra Swamy.
14)Dayadaakshinya vairagya vakphatavamukhankitaha
Shapanugrahashakto anyo raghaveandraanna vidyatea
Translation: CAPABILITY IN BLESSINGS OR PUNISHMENT: Mercy, cleverness, detachment arising out of firm faith in God, excellent debating skills, capability in granting desires or in punishing offenses . in these abilities, there is none other who excels Sri Raghavendra Swamy. (
15)Agyan vismruti bhranti sanshayapsmruti kshayah tandraakampavachahakwontyamukhaa yea cheandriyodbavaah Doshastea naashamaayannti raghveandraaprasaadataha
Translation: Disabilities such as stage fright etc. and bodily diseases will be completely destroyed by the grace of Sri Guru Raghavendra.
16)Om sri raghaveandraaya namaha yityashtaaksharamantrataha Japitaadbhavitaa nityam istartaahasyur nasamshayaha
Translation: THE MANTRA: By always meditating upon with devotion or by always reciting with devotion the eight letters (when written in the Sanskrit script), Om Sri Raghavendraya Namaha, (our obeisance to Sri Guru Raghavendra), one.s desired results will always happen; (In this matter), there is no doubt at all.
17)Hantunaha kaayajaan doshaan aatmaatmeeya samudbhavaan Sarvanapipumartanscha dadaatu gururaatmavit
Translation: Sri Guru Raghavendra has awareness of self (soul). May He destroy our own sins or those caused by our relations or the physical defects in our bodies! And may He also grant us the four human ideals, consisting of dharma (conduct), artha (wealth), kama (sensual pleasures) and moksha (liberation)!
18)Eti kalatrayae nityam praartanaam yaha karoti saha Ehaamutraptasarveasto modatea naatra samshayaha
Translation: He, who prays thrice (morning, midday and evening) daily in this manner, will attain the fulfillment of all his desires in this world and in the world to come (after death), and will be happy. In this matter, there is no doubt at all.
19)Agamyamahimaalokea raghaveandro mahaayeashaaha Srimadhvamatadugdaabdi chandro avatu sadanagaha
Translation: May the great and highly reputed Sri Raghavendra Guru, who contributed much to the growth of the Madhwa philosophy, always protect us!
20)Sarvayaatraaphalaavaptai yatashaktipradakshinam Karomi tava sidhasya vrundaavanagatam jalam Shirasa dhaarayaamyadhya sarvateerta phalaaptayea
Translation: O! Revered Guru! I shall go round, up to my strength, your Vrindavanam (the symbolic structure where mritika is kept in a place of worship) for the benefits equal to all pilgrimages: I shall bear on my head the water from the ablution of the Vrindavanam for benefits equal to bath in all the holy springs.
21)Sarvaabheestaarthasidhyartham namaskaram karomyaham Tava sankeertanam veada shastraarthagnyanasidhayea.
Translation: O! Revered Guru! I shall make obeisance to you to obtain the fulfillment of all desires. I shall repeat many times with devotion your holy name to attain fully the knowledge of the meaning of all Vedas and Sastraas.
22)Samsaarea akshayasagarea prakrutito agadhea
sadaa dustarea Sarvaavadya jalagrahairanupamai
kamaadibhangakulea Nanavibhrame durbhrame
mitabhyayastamadiphenotkate Dukhotkashtavishe
samuddhara guromagna roopam sadaa
Translation: O! Revered Guru! Kindly rescue me from samsara which is like the ocean that is difficult to cross. (There is in this sloka elaborate comparison between the ocean and samsara.)
23)Raghavendragurustotram yahapathedbhaktipoorvakam Tasya kushthadiroganam nivrutti starayabhavet
Translation: For one who recites with intense devotion Sri Raghavendra Stotram, diseases such as leprosy, gets cured quickly.
24)Andhopi divyadrushti syadedamookapivakpateth Poornayu poornasampattihi stotrasyasya japadhveth
Translation: (The phrase .with intense devotion. is implied in each of the seven slokas that follow.) Further result of reciting with intense devotion Sri Raghavendra Stotram: A person, if blind, will regain eyesight; if deaf, will regain hearing; and if dumb, will regain speech. He will live up to the full human age of 100 and will gain immense wealth.
25)Yaha pibeajjalameateana stotreanaivaabimanritam
Tasya kukshigataa doshaaha sarvea nashyanti
tatkshanaat
Translation: If a person imbibes the water that has been sanctified with Sri Raghavendra Stotram, he will get instant relief from all diseases of the stomach.
26) Yad vrundaavanamaasaadya panguhu khanjo api va janaha Stotreanaaneana yaha kuryaat pradaksinanamaskuti Sa janghalo bhaveadeava gururaajaprasaaditaha
Translation: Anyone who is lame or otherwise unable to walk should go round the Vrindavanam reciting Sri Raghavendra Stotram and make obeisance with intense devotion; He will thereby attain the full use of his legs by the grace of Sri Raghavendra Swamy.
27)Somasooryo parageacha pushyarkaadi samaagamea Yeonuttamamidam stotram astottarashatam jeapat Bhootapreatapishaachadi peedaa tasya najayatea
Translation: Anyone who recites this holy Sri Raghavendra Stotram 108 times with intense devotion, on the occasion of solar/lunar eclipse or the combination of Sunday with the star Pushya, will be relieved of all evil influence, e.g., haunting etc.
28)Yeatat strottam samuchaarya gururovrundaavanaantikea Deepasayyojanaat gnyanam putralaabho bhaveaddruvam
Translation: Recital of Sri Raghavendra Stotram with intense devotion and lighting lamps near the Vrindavanam will lead to spiritual (divine) knowledge and the person doing these acts will have suitable progeny. This is certain.
29)Parivaadijayeo divya gnyana bhaktyadivardhanam Sarvaabheeshtapravrudhihi syaannaatra karyaa vichaaranaa
Translation: Success in debates, spiritual (divine) knowledge, intense devotion, and achievement of desires in full . all these will result by the above acts.
30)Raajachoramahaavyaaghra sarpanakraadipeedanam Na jayatea asyastrotrasya prabhaavaannaatra samshayaha
Translation: Due to the good influence of Sri Raghavendra Stotram, adverse acts of the royalty, bandits, wild life, snakes, crocodiles etc. will lose effect.In this matter there is no doubt at all.
31)Yo bhaktyaa gururaaghaveandra charanadvandam smaran yahapatheat Stotram divyamidam sadaa nahi bhaveat syaasukham kinchana Kintvishtaarta samrudhireava kamalaanaathaprasaadodayaat Keertihi digviditaa vibhootitula saaksee hayaasyo atra hi
Translation: Anyone who with intense devotion, meditating upon the two feet of Sri Guru Raghavendra recites this divine Stotram, for him, even a little unahappiness will not at all happen. Moreover, by the grace of Sri Hari (who is the consort of Sri Lakshmi), fulfillment of one.s desires, universal fame, and boundless wealth, will undoubtedly generate. For this assurance, .Sri Hayagriva (one of the manifestations of Sri Hari) Himself is the witness..
32)Eti sri raghaveandraarya guraaja prasaadataha Krutam stotramidam punyam srimadbhiryappanaabhidaihi
Translation: By the grace of Sri Guru Raghavendra, thus runs this divine stotram rendered by Sri Appannaacharya who is gifted with spiritual knowledge, devotion and detachment.
1)Poojyaaya raghaveandraaya satyadharmaratayacha Bhajataam kalpavrukshaaya namataam kaamadheanuvea
I bow to Sri Raghavendra Swamy of the following reputation:Revered; he guides us in the straight path of truth and good conduct; He fulfils the prayers of devotees completely just like the divine tree (kalpavrisksha) and the holy cow (kamadenu). (I)
2)Aapaadamauliparyatam guroonaamakrutim smareat Teana vighnaha pranashyanti sishayaticha manorataha
Translation: If one reminiscences on Sri Raghavendra Guru.s figure from his feet to his head, then all obstructions will be removed and desires fulfilled. (II)
3)Doorvaadidvaantaravaea vaishnaveandeevareandavea Sri raghaveandraguruvea namotyantadayaluvea
Translation: He is like the sun in removing the darkness of propagation of untruth; He is like the moon in causing the flowering up of the devotees of Sri Vishnu; He is merciful to the greatest extent. I bow to Sri Guru Raghavendra. (III)
Eti sri raghaveandra stotram sampoornam