Sreeh

Srimate Ramanujaya Namaha

Sree Stava

                                               by Sri Koorattalvan

Sri Stava is  one  of   the  “Pancha   Stavas”  written  by  Sri Koorattalvan also known as Srivatsa chinha Mishra.  He   was   the   immediate   disciple  of   Sri  Ramanuja  and  his  Acharya Bhakti  is  described unparalleled.

In   this   stotra   consisting   of    eleven    slokas,  the   Acharya   has  eulogised   the  kalyana  gunas  of Goddesses  Lakshmi  or  Sri  who  is  the  consort  of  Mahavishnu  and  now  she helps the jeevaatma in attaining Moksha.

Sloka: 1.

Swasti sriridishataad asheshajagataam sargopasarga sthiti

Swargam durgatimapavargika padam sarvajna cha kurvan harih||

Yasyaa veekshya mukham tadingita paraadheeno  vidattekhilam

Kreedeyam khalu nanyadaasya rasadaa syadaikarasyaat tayaa || One ||

The  act  of  creation,  protection  and  destruction of  the  entire  universe, creation of swarga (pleasure), Naraka  (pain)  and  all   that  is being activated  in this world by Sri Mahavishnu according to the wishes  of Sri Mahalakshmi  only  after  seeing  Her  face. Since Vishnu is having loving disposition towards Her,  this enjoyable   sport   takes   place. Otherwise   it   is   not.  Mahalakshmi   bestows   all  benefits to Her devotees.

Sloka: 2.

Hey Sridevi samasta loka janani tvaam stotu meehaamahe

Yuktaam bhaavaya bhaarateem pragunaya premapradhaanam dhiyam|

Bhaktim bhandhaya nandayaasrithaamimam daasam janam taavakam

Lakshyam lakshmi kataakshaveechivisrute stesyaama chaameevayam || Two ||

Oh  Mahalakshmi! You  being  the  mother  of  all  worlds, is being praised by us in a deserving language pleased  to You. Please  give  us  knowledge  and Bhakti towards You. Good things should happen to all those including  creatures  who  take  refuge in You. Make me happy Oh Lakshmi! Ourselves and others should fall under the graceful benign glances of You divine eyes and be swept by You pointed grace.

Soka: 3.

Stotram naama kimaamananti kavayo yadyanyadeeyaan gunaah

Anyatra tvasatho adhiropya phanithih ssaa tarhi vandhyaa tvayi|

Samyak satya gunaabhivarnamatho brooyuh katham taadrishi

Vaagvaachaspatinaapi shakyarachanaa tvatsadgunaarnonidhou | Three ||

Oh Mahalakshmi!  Poets  who praise You are telling what? The qualities which are not there in others are being  told  about  You. All  these  words  of  praise  become  useless  before  You  as  the  sea of  Your auspicious qualities  are  beyond  the reach of  Sri Hayagreeva himself who is the Lord of speech. How is it possible for others to praise You?

Sloka: 4.

Ye vaachaam manasaam cha durgrahatayaa khyaataa gunaastaavakaah

Taaneva prati saambhujihva muditaa hai maamikaa bhaarati |

Haasyam tat tu na manmahe na hi chakoryekaakhilam chandrikaam

Naalam paatumiti pragrihya rasanaa maaseetha satyaam trishi || Four ||

Loving consort of Vishnu! Your great popular qualities are beyond the reach of my speech and mind. Still i  try  to  praise  You,  which  is  in  my  tongue  thus  becoming a laughing stock before others. Just like a Chakora  bird  seeing  the  twilight  cannot keep quiet and sings, i am not able to control my tongue in not praising You.

Sloka: 5.

Kshodeeyaanapi dustabuddhirapi nisnehopyanihopi te

Keertim devi lihannaham na cha bibhemyajno na jihremi cha|

Dooshye  staa tu na taavata nahi shunaa leedhaapi bhaageerathi

Doosyochchapi na lajjate nahi cha bibhetyaati sthu shaamyechchunah || Five ||

Oh  Devi ! i being  an  illiterate and also a bad man having vulgar intentions without any responsibility, am trying to praise  Your  glories  without  any  fear  or  shame;  however Your glories will never be lessened because i praise You. If the Ganges water is licked by a dog, it will not become dirty, even the dog which drinks  the  Ganges  water  will  not feel ashamed or not get frightened. Instead its thirst will be quenched. Similar is my prayer to You.

Sloka: 6.

Aishwaryam mahadeva vaalpamathavaa drushyeta pumsaam hi yato

Tallakshmyaas samudeekhsyanaat tava yatah sarvatrikam vartate|

Tenaitena na vishmayemahi jagannaathopi Narayanoh

Dhanyam manyata eekshanaat tava yatah swaatmaanamaatmae svarah || Six ||

Oh  great  consort of Vishnu! People, who enjoy wealth and other pleasures everywhere whether in great measure or  little  which is visible to others get them only by the benign grace of the glances of Your eyes. This  is  not  at all a surprise. Because even the great Sriman Narayana who is the Lord of entire universe Himself, feels blessed by the loving glances of Your eyes.

Sloka: 7.

Aishwaryam yadasheshapumsi yadidam soundaryalaavanyayoh

Roopam yachcha hi mangalam kimapi yalloke sadityuchyate |

Tat sarvam twadadheenameva yadatah sriritya bhedena vaa

Yadvaa srimaditee drushena vachasaa devi prathaamashnute || Seven ||

Oh  Lakshmi!  The  wealth,  beauty,  good  features,  handsomeness  all  these  are  possessed by people because all  auspicious  things  which  are  being  recognised  in  this  universe  belong  to You. Therefore everything  auspicious  in  this  world  is  nothing but You. The words which glorify You are also obtained from You alone; is not it?

Sloka: 8.

Devi twam mahimaavadhirna harinaa napi tvayaa jnaayate

Yadyapyevam athaapi naiva yuvayoh sarvajnataa heeyate

Yennaastyeva tadajnataa manugunaam sarvajnataayaa vidhuh

Vyomaambhoja midantayaa kila vidan bhraantoya mityuchyate || Eight ||

Hey Devi! The  boundaries of  Your greatness and glory is not known even to Hari nor to You. However by  this, the  greatness  of  both  the  divine  couple  is  not  reduced. An  item which is not at all available anywhere  if   told  by  a  person that this is that item. It is like showing a lotus in the sky. The knower will be  called  a  mad  man   in  the  society. Like  wise  Your greatness cannot be gauged by anyone. Those who say they know, are mad (illusioned).

Sloka: 9.

Loke vanaspati brihaspati taaratamyam

Yasyaah prasaada parinaama mudaaharanti |

Saa bhaaratee bhagavatee tu yadeeyadaasi

Taam devadeva mahisheem sriyamaashrayaamah || Nine ||

In  this  world, the difference between  ordinary vegetation and devaguru Brihaspati is all due to the grace of Saraswati  who  is  the  Goddesses  of   learning. But  that  Saraswati  does service to the devotees of the consort of  Mahavishnu namely Sri Mahalakshmi. You are  so great and we take refuge in You.

Sloka: 10.

Yasyaah kataaksha mriduveekshana deekshitena

Sadhyah samullasita pallavam ullalaasa|

Vishwam viparyaya samuttha viparyayam praak

Taam deva deva mahisheem sriya maashrayaamah || Ten ||

Even  if You neglect  us, our sufferings in the world make You to bestow Your benign grace on us, which are  always  cool  and  soft. Your desire to protect us immediately with pleasure makes us freed from this samsaara and we become happy. Such loving and merciful Devi of Sri Vishnu! We take refuge in You.

Sloka: 11.

Yasyaah kataaksha veekshaakshana lakshyam lakshitaa maheeshaa syuh

Sri Rangaraaja mahishee saa maamapi bhiveekshataam Lakshmeeh || Eleven ||

The glances of   Lakshmi  even  for  a moment bestows great wealth including kainkarya Lakshmi (loving  service  to  God), such  loving  consort  of  Sri  Rangaraja (Lord  of  Sri Rangam) should  also  see me to bestow Her grace. 

Sree Stava Samaaptam