Sharada Bhujangam

सुवक्षोजकुम्भां सुधापूर्णकुम्भां
प्रसादावलम्बां प्रपुण्यावलम्बाम्।
सदास्येन्दुबिम्बां सदानोष्ठबिम्बां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

Notice how the verse presents the mother. The hymn starts with a physical description. She is like a pitcher. She holds a pot of nectar. This is the nectar of immortality. She relies on pure grace. She supports holy deeds. Her face shines like the moon. Her lips are beautifully red. I worship Mother Sharada. I pray to her constantly. She is my own mother. The physical form hides a truth. The nectar is spiritual knowledge. It cures the disease of ignorance. The moon face shows pure peace. Moonlight cools the tired mind. Her grace falls on everyone. You just need pure actions. She supports good people. She gives true wisdom. Her beauty is actually pure joy. Realizing her removes all sadness. True devotion brings inner sweetness. Her grace makes life fulfilling.

कटाक्षे दयार्द्रां करे ज्ञानमुद्रां
कलाभिर्विनिद्रां कलापैः सुभद्राम्।
पुरस्त्रीं विनिद्रां पुरस्तुङ्गभद्रां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

At this stage, the focus shifts slightly. Her side glance is full of mercy. She makes the knowledge gesture. This is the Jnana Mudra. She is awake through all arts. She wears beautiful ornaments. She is the foremost lady. She never sleeps. The Tungabhadra river flows before her. I worship Mother Sharada. I pray to her endlessly. Her compassionate look removes fear. The hand gesture shows deep wisdom. The index finger touches the thumb. This unites the soul with God. The three open fingers represent ego. They must stay away. She is the source of arts. All creativity comes from her. She is always watchful. She protects the Sringeri town. She protects the whole world. Her presence purifies everything. True knowledge always brings deep compassion. Wisdom makes a person truly watchful.

ललामाङ्कफालां लसद्गानलोलां
स्वभक्तैकपालां यशःश्रीकपोलाम्।
करे त्वक्षमालां कनत्प्रत्नलोलां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

This verse describes her face and hands. She has a mark on her forehead. She loves hearing good music. She protects her devotees alone. Her cheeks shine with great glory. She holds a rosary in her hand. She shines with ancient wisdom. I worship Mother Sharada always. She is my sweet mother. The forehead mark is pure focus. It is the eye of wisdom. Her love for music is special. Music represents the cosmic sound. It is the divine Om. She guards those who surrender. Faith brings her total protection. The rosary means constant practice. It shows the value of chanting. Spiritual life needs daily effort. The shining cheeks show inner purity. Ancient wisdom lives in her. She is the eternal truth. Regular practice leads to divine perfection. Focused devotion attracts supreme grace.

सुसीमन्तवेणीं दृशा निर्जितैणीं
रमत्कीरवाणीं नमद्वज्रपाणीम्।
सुधामन्थरास्यां मुदा चिन्त्यवेणीं
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

A deeper truth is revealed here. Her parted hair looks very beautiful. Her eyes defeat the deer. A lovely parrot speaks near her. Indra bows down to her. He holds the powerful thunderbolt. Her face moves gently with nectar. Meditating on her brings great joy. I worship my mother Sharada constantly. The hair parting shows mental balance. It represents the middle path. Her eyes are large and innocent. They show total harmlessness. The parrot is a symbol. It repeats what it hears. We should repeat divine words. Even powerful gods need her. Indra represents the human ego. The ego must bow down. Her nectar face is pure bliss. We must think of her daily. Joy comes from this simple meditation. Ego must surrender to gain wisdom. True innocence holds the greatest power.

सुशान्तां सुदेहां दृगन्ते कचान्तां
लसत्सल्लताङ्गीमनन्तामचिन्त्याम्।
स्मरेत्तापसैः सर्गपूर्वस्थितां तां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

Why does the text say this? She is completely peaceful. She has a beautiful form. Her hair reaches her eyes. Her body is like a creeper. She is truly endless. She cannot be easily understood. Sages meditate on her deeply. She existed before creation. I worship my mother Sharada forever. Peace is her basic nature. True peace has no limits. Her physical form helps us focus. But she is actually formless. The human mind has limits. It cannot grasp the infinite. Sages try to know her. They use deep meditation. She is the source of everything. She was there before the universe. Everything comes out of her. Everything goes back to her. She is the supreme reality. The highest truth exists before creation. Pure peace is beyond human logic.

कुरङ्गे तुरङ्गे मृगेन्द्रे खगेन्द्रे
मराले मदेभे महोक्षेऽधिरूढाम्।
महत्यां नवम्यां सदा सामरूढां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

After establishing the earlier idea, see this. She rides many different animals. She sits on a deer. She rides a wild horse. She mounts the fierce lion. She flies on the eagle. She uses the beautiful swan. She rides the great elephant. She sits on the huge bull. She is supreme on Navami. She rides the Sama Veda. I worship Mother Sharada constantly. The animals represent different energies. The deer is fast action. The horse is vital breath. The lion is pure courage. The eagle is sharp vision. The swan is true discrimination. The elephant is great strength. The bull is steady dharma. She controls all these forces. Navami celebrates her final victory. She is the essence of chants. Divine energy controls all natural forces. True victory requires mastering inner powers.

ज्वलत्कान्तिवह्निं जगन्मोहनाङ्गीं
भजे मानसाम्भोजसुभ्रान्तभृङ्गीम्।
निजस्तोत्रसङ्गीतनृत्यप्रभाङ्गीं
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

The description here highlights her radiance. She shines like blazing fire. Her form enchants the whole world. She is a wandering bee. She roams in the mind's lotus. Her body glows very brightly. It shines during her own praise. It glows during music and dance. I worship Mother Sharada always. The fire represents pure awareness. It burns away all ignorance. Worldly charm usually traps people. Her divine charm frees people. The human mind is a lotus. It needs to bloom fully. She is the bee inside it. She seeks the nectar of devotion. Praise and music are spiritual tools. They connect us to her. Dance shows the joy of soul. God loves pure joyful devotion. She responds to true art. Pure awareness burns away mental darkness. Devotion blooms when the mind purifies.

भवाम्भोजनेत्राजसंपूज्यमानां
लसन्मन्दहासप्रभावक्त्रचिह्नाम्।
चलच्चञ्चलाचारुताटङ्ककर्णां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

This line explains her great status. Lord Shiva adores her. Lord Vishnu worships her. Lord Brahma also prays to her. A gentle smile marks her face. Her face shines with special glow. Her ear ornaments move gently. They are very beautiful. I constantly worship Mother Sharada. She is my beloved mother. The highest gods seek her grace. This shows her supreme power. She is the cosmic mother. The gentle smile is very important. It shows total inner fearlessness. It offers comfort to all beings. The moving earrings show active grace. They reflect the moving universe. Stillness and motion exist together. She watches over everything. She is always highly approachable. Her grace is always available. The supreme power carries a smile. True greatness is perfectly accessible always.

सुवक्षोजकुम्भां सुधापूर्णकुम्भां
प्रसादावलम्बां प्रपुण्यावलम्बाम्।
सदास्येन्दुबिम्बां सदानोष्ठबिम्बां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।
कटाक्षे दयार्द्रां करे ज्ञानमुद्रां
कलाभिर्विनिद्रां कलापैः सुभद्राम्।
पुरस्त्रीं विनिद्रां पुरस्तुङ्गभद्रां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।
ललामाङ्कफालां लसद्गानलोलां
स्वभक्तैकपालां यशःश्रीकपोलाम्।
करे त्वक्षमालां कनत्प्रत्नलोलां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।
सुसीमन्तवेणीं दृशा निर्जितैणीं
रमत्कीरवाणीं नमद्वज्रपाणीम्।
सुधामन्थरास्यां मुदा चिन्त्यवेणीं
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।
सुशान्तां सुदेहां दृगन्ते कचान्तां
लसत्सल्लताङ्गीमनन्तामचिन्त्याम्।
स्मरेत्तापसैः सर्गपूर्वस्थितां तां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।
कुरङ्गे तुरङ्गे मृगेन्द्रे खगेन्द्रे
मराले मदेभे महोक्षेऽधिरूढाम्।
महत्यां नवम्यां सदा सामरूढां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।
ज्वलत्कान्तिवह्निं जगन्मोहनाङ्गीं
भजे मानसाम्भोजसुभ्रान्तभृङ्गीम्।
निजस्तोत्रसङ्गीतनृत्यप्रभाङ्गीं
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।
भवाम्भोजनेत्राजसंपूज्यमानां
लसन्मन्दहासप्रभावक्त्रचिह्नाम्।
चलच्चञ्चलाचारुताटङ्ककर्णां
भजे शारदाम्बामजस्रं मदम्बाम्।

suvakshojakumbhaam sudhaapoornakumbhaam
prasaadaavalambaam prapunyaavalambaam.
sadaasyendubimbaam sadaanosht'habimbaam
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.
kat'aakshe dayaardraam kare jnyaanamudraam
kalaabhirvinidraam kalaapaih' subhadraam.
purastreem vinidraam purastungabhadraam
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.
lalaamaankaphaalaam lasadgaanalolaam
svabhaktaikapaalaam yashah'shreekapolaam.
kare tvakshamaalaam kanatpratnalolaam
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.
suseemantaveneem dri'shaa nirjitaineem
ramatkeeravaaneem namadvajrapaaneem.
sudhaamantharaasyaam mudaa chintyaveneem
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.
sushaantaam sudehaam dri'gante kachaantaam
lasatsallataangee-
manantaamachintyaam.
smarettaapasaih' sargapoorvasthitaam taam
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.
kurange turange mri'gendre khagendre
maraale madebhe mahokshe'dhirood'haam.
mahatyaam navamyaam sadaa saamarood'haam
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.
jvalatkaantivahnim jaganmohanaangeem
bhaje maanasaambhojasubhraantabhri'ngeem.
nijastotrasangeetanri'tyaprabhaangeem
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.
bhavaambhojanetraaja-
sampoojyamaanaam
lasanmandahaasa-
prabhaavaktrachihnaam.
chalachchanchalaa-
chaarutaat'ankakarnaam
bhaje shaaradaambaamajasram madambaam.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi

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