Foreword
Sri Natesan has gone to the wrong man for a foreword to his collection of Prayers, Praises and Psalms. For I am no Sanskrit scholar. I have not read much of the translations of the originals. Never the less the collection presented in this volume does enable even one like me to know how our ancestors prayed to the One Supreme Lord of the Universe and in what words they derived solace in the hour of their trial or gave praise in the hour of their so-called mph. May this collection help the reader to dispel his unbelief or strengthen his belief.
Translator’s Note
The Stotras form a vast branch of Sanskrit Literature. Indeed our knowledge of Sanskrit opens only with Stotras, for the Rgveda, the earliest of the literary remains in this language, is a collection of hymns. The Itihas and the Purana which followed and popularised Hindu religion and philosophy form the next great store- house of hymns. The poets gave us prayers and praises dominated by literary charm, both as part of their poetic compositions and as separate Stotras. The great founders and exponents of Hindu philosophy and theology left us a rich legacy of devotional lyrics. Then followed the great saints, devotees and leaders of new Bhakti movements, and the exuberant outpourings of their God- filled heart have enriched Sanskrit Literature with numberless Stotras.
There is scarcely any Hindu, man or woman, young or old, who does not recite every day some prayer or other. The young used to imbibe select Stotras from their parents while yet on their parents’ knees, even as they did epic legends or folk-songs.
Heaps of Sanskrit Stotras lie in the manuscript libraries. A good number of the more important of them has seen the light of publication in the several cosmopolitan and sectarian collections of Stotras published in Devanagari by the Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay, the Gujarathi Printing Press, Bombay, Vavilla Ramaswami Sastrulu & Sons, Madras, the Vani Vilas Press,
rtrangam and others. Numerous collections of Stotras have appeared also in the Grantha and the South Indian scripts. For the use of modern readers, there have appeared, from time to time, collections of Sanskrit Stotras with English translation, ‘The Aryan Prayer Book’, ‘Altar Rowers’, ‘Universal Prayers’ etc. But the present publication “Prayers, Praises and Psalms” is the first, biggest and most representative collection of Sanskrit hymns with English Translation.
Publisher’s Note
It has been a long time ambition of all of us in the family of Dr. V. Raghavan, to reprint this invaluable compilation by our revered father. The first edition in , 1938 and the second in 1948 were brought out by G.A. Natesan & Co., well known publisher of those times, and were sold out in no time.
For quite some years now, students and lovers of Sanskrit and admirers of Dr. Raghavan who have known about this timeless work of the scholar, have been enquiring with great interest about reprinting it. The Centre is sure that this print would also receive the same or even more overwhelming response, with its rich content and authentic translation by Dr. V. Raghavan, who is regarded as the by word on aspects of Indian Religion, Culture and Heritage. Generations of readers are bound to benefit from this Compact Classic Collection that continues to stand the test of times.
As Managing Trustee of Dr. V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts [Regd.], I acknowledge gratefully the perennial support of my mother Smt. Sarada Raghavan and my elder brother Sri. R. Kalidas who has funded this production fully and wished that it should be brought in this year (2008), which happens to be the Centenary Year of our father (1908-2008). I also acknowledge the firm support of my second brother, Dr. R. Charudattan and sister Smt. Priyamvada, all of whom provide ample strength and encouragement to all the activities of the Centre.
I wish to thank Dr. C.S. Sundaram, a close associate of Dr. Raghavan, for giving vital support for this work. I acknowledge the services of Smt. Revathy of Chengamalam Enterprises and Sri Venkatesh of K.V.K. Letter Prints for their care and involvement in reprinting the work, with all the necessary improvements incorporated therein.
This first print of the work has had the unique privilege of having the foreword from none other than the Father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi, who has been acknowledged by Sri G.A. Natesan, for his kindness to write the same inspite of being in the sick bed.
Let every reader of this book get noble thoughts coming from all quarters and let each of them live in peace and tranquility.
Contents
iii-iii
Translator’s note
iv-vii
An appreciation
viii-ix
Publisher’s note
x-xiii
THE VEDAS
Rgveda
1
“Khila
3
Krsnayajurveda samhita
14
Taittiriyaranyaka
16
Suklayajurveda samhita
24
Atharvaveda
25
THE UPANISADS
Isavasya
33
Kena and chandogya
34
Prasna
Taittiriya
35
Brhadaranyaka
36
Svetasvatara
Maitrayani
38
Devi
Ganapati
40
Gopalapurvatapani
42
Sarasvatirahasya
44
Ramottaratapani
46
Rudrahrdaya
47
THE RAMAYANA
Valmiki ramayana
50
Praise of rama’ s character
Kaikeyi’s
55
Mandodari
56
Hanuman
Tara’s
Aditya hrdaya
62
Adhyatmaramnanyana
70
Vasista ramayana (yogavasista)
73
Ramacaritamanasa [tulasidas]
76
Parayanakrama [valmiki ramayana]
79
THE MAHABHARATA
Draupadi’s stotra (sabhaparva)
86
(Yanaparva)
90
Dhrtarastra’ s stotra (udyogaparva)
92
Bhisma’ s stotra (santiparva)
94
Bhisma’ s stavaraja (santiparva)
96
Daksa’s prayer [santiparva]
106
THE BHAGAYAD GITA
Arjuna’s visvarupa stuti
108
THE SRIMAD BHAGAVATA
Kunti’s Stotra
118
Bhisma’ s stotra
120
Suka’s Stotra
122
Dhruva’s stotra
124
Vetra’s stotra
128
Prahlada’s stotra
130
Gajendra’s stotra
138
Brahma’s stotra
Rantideva’s stotra
140
Devaki’s stotra
141
Akrura’s stotra
142
Mucukunda’s stotra
144
THE PURANAS
Visnupurana (on laksmi)
145
(On sun)
146
Markandeyapurana (on devi)
148
Brahmapurana (on visnu)
150
Padmapurana (on visnu)
152
Kurmapurana (on siva)
154
Varahapurana (on dharma)
156
Sambapurana (on sun)
158
Brahmavaivartapurana (on sarasvati)
160
Skanda - sutasamhita (on siva)
162
Devibhagavata (on devi)
164, 174
Naradiyapurana (on visnu)
164
(On siva)
166
Visnudharottara (on visnu)
172
Brhannaradiyapurana
(On the supreme being)
174
Ganesapurana (on ganesa)
175
Garudapurana (on visnu)
176
Vamanapurana (on visnu)
178
Narasimhapurana (on visnu)
179
THE AGAMAS AND THE TANTRAS
Mahanirvanatantra
181
Pancaratra
183-, 188
Ahirbudhnyasamhita
184
Kumaratantra
185
Tripurarahasya
186
Isvarasamhita
188
Brahmasamhita
189
Prapancasaratantra
Kulacudamanitantra
190
Matrkabhedatantra
191
Kalivilasatantra
192
CLASSICAL KALIDASA POETRY
Raghuvamsa
193
Sakuntala
198
Vikramorvasiya
199
Malavikagnimitra
201
Bharavi
Kiratarjuniya
202
Magha
Sisupalavadha
204
Bhatrhari
Subhasitatrsati
206
Mayura
Suryasataka
207
Bana
Harsacarita
Subandhu
Vasavadatta
208
Bhavabhuti
Mahaviracarita
Malatimidhava
209
Krsnamisra
Prabodhacandrodaya
210
Sri harsa
Naisadhiyacarita
Vaidya gadadhara
214
Bhavananda
215
The acaryas
Sankaaacarya
Sivanandalahari
216
Anandalahart
218
Saundaryalahari
Sivabhujanga stotra
219
Subrahmanyabhujanga stotra
220
Ramabhujanga stotra
221
Devibhujanga stotra
Devyaparadhaksamapana stotra
222
Dasasloki stotra
224
Sivaparadhaksamapana stotra
Annapurnastaka
225
Tripurasundarl vedapada stotra
Laksminrisimha stotra
226
Kanakadhara stava
227
Vagisvari stotra
Satpadi stotra
Mohamudgara
230
Sadacaranusandhana
232
Pratassmarana stotra
Kasipancaka
Daksinamurti stotra
234
UTPALADEVACARYA
Sivastotravali
235
Srikanthacary a
Brahmasutra bhasya
244
Yamunacarya
Stotraratna
246
Ramanujacarya
Gadyatraya
252
Srivatsankamlsra
Atimanusastava
254
Parasarabhatta
Srigunaratnakosa
256
Vedacarya
Ksamasodasi
258
Vedantadesika (venkatanatha)
Nyasadasaka
260
Bhustuti
262
Varadarajapancasat
Astabhujastaka
263
Kamasikastaka
Acyutasataka
266
Dayasataka
VENKATADHVARIN
Laksmiahasra
268
Vallabhacarya
Madhurastaka
272
Gopijanavallabhastaka
Vitthalesvara
Vinjapti
274
Haridasa
Srikrsnasarantaka
276
Pancaksaramantragarbha stotra
27 6
Madhv acarya [anandatirtha]
Dvadasa stotra
278
Vadiraja
Prarthanadasaka stotra
282
Krsnastuti
284
Haryastaka
Caitanyadeva
Siksastaka
286
Jagannathastaka
288
Ropagosvamin
Pranamapranaya stava
289
Karpanypafijika stotra
290
Govindabirudavali
Other stotras
The siva pancastavi
Puspadanta’s mahimnasstava
292
Malhana’s stotra
294
Bilhana’s stotra
296
Dandin’s anamayastava
298
Halayudha’s stotra
300
DURVASAS
Saktimahimnasstuti
302
THE DEVI PANCASTAVI
Carcastava
303
Ghatastava
304
Sakalajananistava
306
THE PANCASATI OF MOKA
Aryasataka
308
Padaravindasataka
310
Stutisataka
312
The mukundmala (kulasekhara)
314
Krsnkarnamrta (lilasuka)
320
Dinakrandana stotra (lostadeva)
332
Stutikusumanjali (jagaddhara)
336
Kuvalayananda (appayya diksita)
342
Aradarajastava
344
Atmarpana stuti
346
Manasollasa
352
Sivotkarsamanjari (nilakantha diksita)
354
Anandasagarastava
356
Karunalahari (jagannatha)
360
Dayasataka (ayyaval)
364
Akhyasasti
366
Narayaniya (narayana bhatta)
369
Kirtanas (sadasiva brahmendra)
370
Varnamala
372
Ramastavakarnarasayana
(Ramabhadra dikshita)
374
Ramaprasadastava
376
Visvagarbhastava
378
Bhaktimanjari (h.h. Svati tirunal)
380
Avimuktatattva (balambhatta)
384
Sri krsnastaka (nrsimhabharatiswami]
386
Vanipanyavalambastava
[Nrsimhabharatiswami]
388
Nrsimhasaptaka (nrsimhabharatiswami)
390
Daksinasyanaka tramala
392
Matripadpankajastaka
(Nrsimhabharatiswarni)
394
Vivekananda (on ramakrisna)
396
Bhairava stotra (abhinavagupta)
398
Sivastuti [ravana]
400
Adyadadi mahalaksmi hridaya
402
Pandava gita
404
Bhagavaccharana stotra
(Brahmananda)
406
Madhusodana stotra (sukadeva)
408
Anonymous
410
Notes on works & authors
417
Index to works & authors
461
Index to deities
472
Index to ideas
480
Sample Pages
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Vedas (1279)
Upanishads (477)
Puranas (740)
Ramayana (892)
Mahabharata (329)
Dharmasastras (162)
Goddess (475)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1292)
Gods (1284)
Shiva (334)
Journal (132)
Fiction (46)
Vedanta (324)
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