ಮೂಕಪಂಚಶತೀ ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಂ,೨೬-೫೦

ಮೂಕಪಞ್ಚಶತೀ (ಮೂಕಕವಿ ಪ್ರಣೀತಾ)  
                             ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಮ್
           (slokas ೨೬ to ೫೦ )
Mooka Panchashati is a devotional composition by Muka Kavi dedicated to Kamakshi. The real name of the poet is not known. Legend has it that he was born dumb but regained not only his voice  by  the grace of Goddess Kamakshi but also became a poet of considerable merit. Mooka Panchashati  consists of five satakams, each Satakam containing ೧೦೦ verses. The Satakams  are Arya Satakam, Padaravinda Satakam, Stuti Satakam, Kataksha Satakam and Mandasmita Satakam.

Goddess Kamakshi is the presiding deity of Kancheepuram.  Her consort
is Ekamreshwara, an aspect of Lord Shiva.  Kanchi is the Central Peetham established by Aadi Shankaracharya who installed and consecrated the  idol of Kamakshi and established the system of worship there. The other  Peethams are at Badrinath in the North, Dwarka in theWest,  Puri in the East and Sringeri (Sringa giri) in the South.

The translation into English of a hymn of this nature is a delicate task and
readers may kindly pardon the shortcomings, though every attempt has been made to make the translation as close as possible to the intended or perceived meaning. 

ಮೋದಿತಮಧುಕರವಿಶಿಖಂ
ಸ್ವಾದಿಮಸಮುದಾಯಸಾರಕೋದಣ್ಡಮ್ | 
ಆದೃತಕಾಞ್ಚೀಖೇಲನ-
ಮಾದಿಮಮಾರುಣ್ಯಭೇದಮಾಕಲಯೇ || ೨೬|| 

I see before my mind’s eye that primordial effulgence of bright red that holds a bow which is the essence of sweetness,  whose arrows are honey-bees and whose favourite play field is Kanchi

ಉರರೀಕೃತಕಾಞ್ಚೀಪುರೀ-
ಮುಪನಿಷದರವಿನ್ದಕುಹರಮಧುಧಾರಾಮ್| 
ಉನ್ನಮ್ರಸ್ತನಕಲಶೀ-
ಮುತ್ಸವಲಹರೀಮುಪಾಸ್ಮಹೇ ಶಂಭೋಃ|| ೨೭|| 

We worship Goddess Kamakshi who abides in Kanchi, who is the nectar at the core of Upanishad-lotus ( i.e. who is the essence of the Upanishads), who has raised pot-shaped breasts and who is the source of the waves of joy for Shambhu.

ಏಣಶಿಶುದೀರ್ಘಲೋಚನ-
ಮೇನಃಪರಿಪನ್ಥಿ ಸಂತತಂ ನಮತಾಮ್| 
ಏಕಾಮ್ರನಾಥಜೀವಿತ-
ಮೇವಂಪದದೂರಮೇಕಮವಲಮ್ಬೇ || ೨೮|| 

I am totally dependant on Goddess Kamakshi who has long eyes like those of the doe, who always destroys the sins of those who prostrate before her, who is the very life of Lord Ekamranatha and who is far removed from all verbal descriptions ( i.e.beyond the reach of words)


ಸ್ಮಯಮಾನಮುಖಂ ಕಾಞ್ಚೀ-
ಮಯಮಾನಂ ಕಮಪಿ ದೇವತಾಭೇದಮ್| 
ದಯಮಾನಂ ವೀಕ್ಷ್ಯ ಮುಹು-
ರ್ವಯಮಾನನ್ದಾಮೃತಾಮ್ಬುಧೌ ಮಗ್ನಾಃ || ೨೯|| 

Seeing the smiling face of Goddess Kamakshi who has engulfed Kanchi by her divinity and who is full of mercy we are submerged in the nectarine ocean of bliss.

ಕುತುಕಜುಷಿ ಕಾಞ್ಚಿದೇಶೇ
ಕುಮುದತಪೋರಾಶಿಪಾಕಶೇಖರಿತೇ
ಕುರುತೇ ಜನೋ ಮನೋಽಯಂ
ಕುಲಗಿರಿಪರಿಬೃಢಕುಲೈಕಮಣಿದೀಪೇ || ೩೦|| 

My mind dwells on Goddess Kamakshi who is fond of Kanchi, who sports the crescent moon on her forehead and who is the jewel-lamp of the dynasty of Himavan, the chief among mountains.

ವೀಕ್ಷೇಮಹಿ ಕಾಞ್ಚಿಪುರೇ
ವಿಪುಲಸ್ತನಕಲಶಗರಿಮಪರವಶಿತಮ್| 
ವಿದ್ರುಮಸಹಚರ ದೇಹಂ
ವಿಭ್ರಮಸಮವಾಯಸಾರಸಂನಾಹಮ್ || ೩೧|| 
We see Goddess Kamakshi in the city of Kanchi with her large pot-shaped breasts making her stoop slightly and her body with wonderfully sculpted limbs and surpassing bright red corals by her complexion.



ಕುರುವಿನ್ದಗೋತ್ರಗಾತ್ರಂ
ಕೂಲಚರಂ ಕಮಪಿ ನೌಮಿ ಕಮ್ಪಾಯಾಃ
ಕೂಲಙ್ಕಷಕುಚಕುಂಭಂ
ಕುಸುಮಾಯುಧವೀರ್ಯಸಾರಸಂರಭಮ್ || ೩೨|| 

I bow to Goddess Kamakshi whose body is bright as kuruvinda  gems, who strolls on the banks of Kampa river, whose pot-like breasts rub against each other and who is the very essence of the valour of Kamadeva(Cupid)

ಕುಡ್ಮಲಿತಕುಚಕಿಶೋರೈಃ
ಕುರ್ವಾಣೈಃಕಾಞ್ಚಿದೇಶಸೌಹಾರ್ದಮ್| 
ಕೂಂಕುಮಶೊಣೈರ್ನಿಚಿತಂ
ಕುಶಲಪಥಂ ಶಂಭುಸುಕೃತಸಂಭಾರೈಃ|| ೩೩|| 

Goddess Kamakshi who has budding breasts, who is friendly with Kanchi and whose complexion is that of saffron is the auspicious fruit of the meritorious deeds (punya) of Lord Shiva.

ಅಙ್ಕಿತಕಚೇನ ಕೇನಚಿ-
ದನ್ಧಂಕರಣೌಷಧೇನ ಕಮಲಾನಾಮ್| 
ಅನ್ತಃಪುರೇಣ ಶಂಭೋ-
ರಲಂಕ್ರಿಯಾ ಕಾಪಿ ಕಲ್ಪ್ಯತೇ ಕಾಞ್ಚ್ಯಾಮ್ || ೩೪|| 

Goddess Kamakshi who is the consort of Shiva who wears the crescent moon on her head, is considered as adornment of the city of Kanchi


ಉರರೀಕರೋಮಿ ಸಂತತ-
ಮೂಷ್ಮಲಫಾಲೇನ ಲಾಲಿತಂ ಪುಂಸಾ
ಉಪಕಂಪಮುಚಿತಖೇಲನ-
ಮುರ್ವೀಧರವಂಶಸಂಪದುನ್ಮೇಷಮ್ || ೩೫|| 

I always remember in my heart Goddess kamakshi who is coddled by Lord Shiva (whose forehead is hot because of his the third eye of fire), whose play field is the bank of Kampa and who is the treasure of the dynasty of Himavan.

ಅಂಕುರಿತಸ್ತನಕೋರಕ-
ಮಙ್ಕಾಲಙ್ಕಾರಮೇಕಚೂತಪತೇಃ | 
ಆಲೋಕೇಮಹಿ ಕೋಮಲ-
ಮಾಗಮಸಂಲಾಪಸಾರಯಾಥಾರ್ಥ್ಯಮ್ || ೩೬|| 

I see the very embodiment of Beauty,  with budding bosom, adorning the (left side of) the body of Ekamreshwara (Lord Shiva),  which is the essence of the Ultimate Reality talked about in the Vedas.

ಪುಞ್ಜಿತಕರುಣಮುದಞ್ಚಿತ-
ಶಿಞ್ಜಿತಮಣಿಕಾಞ್ಚಿ ಕಿಮಪಿ ಕಾಞ್ಚಿಪುರೇ
ಮಞ್ಜರಿತಮೃದುಲಹಾಸಂ
ಪಿಞ್ಜರತನುರುಚಿ ಪಿನಾಕಿಮೂಲಧನಮ್ || ೩೭|| 

The Goddess in Kanchi(Kamakshi) is full of kindness with the tiny bells in her waist belt making a tinkling sound, with a smile like a blossom of flowers and with a tender body which is the treasure of Lord Pinaki (Shiva)

ಲೋಲಹೃದಯೋಽಸ್ಮಿ ಶಂಭೋ-
ರ್ಲೋಚನಯುಗಲೇನ ಲೇಹ್ಯಮಾನಾಯಾಮ್| 
ಲಾಲಿತಪರಮಶಿವಾಯಾಂ
ಲಾವಣ್ಯಾಮೃತತರಙ್ಗಮಾಲಾಯಾಮ್ || ೩೮|| 

I have a tender heart for Goddess Kamakshi who is lapped up by Shambhu with both of his eyes, who is coddled by Paramashiva and whose beauty is like a garland of waves of nectar.
ಮಧುಕರಸಹಚರಚಿಕುರೈ-
ರ್ಮದನಾಗಮಸಮಯದೀಕ್ಷಿತಕಟಾಕ್ಷೈಃ
ಮಣ್ಡಿತಕಮ್ಪಾತೀರೈ-
ರ್ಮಙ್ಗಲಕನ್ದೈರ್ಮಮಾಸ್ತು ಸಾರೂಪ್ಯಮ್ || ೩೯|| 

May I be blessed with sarupya (of identical form) with Goddess Kamakshi whose hairs are dark as honey-bees, whose sidelong glances cause passionate love (in Shiva),  who adorns the banks of the river Kampa  and who is the root of everything auspicious.
ವದನಾರವಿನ್ದವಕ್ಷೋ-
ವಾಮಾಙ್ಕತಟೀವಶಂವದೀಭೂತಾ | 
ಪುರುಷತ್ರಿತಯೇ ತ್ರೇಧಾ
ಪುರಂಧ್ರಿರೂಪಾ ತ್ವಮೇವ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ|| ೪೦|| 

O Goddess Kamakshi! You are the one who abides in the three gods; in the lotus mouth of Brahma as Saraswati, on the chest of Vishnu as Lakshmi and on the left side of  Shiva as Shakti

ಬಾಧಾಕರೀಂ ಭವಾಬ್ಧೇ-
ರಾಧಾರಾದ್ಯಂಬುಜೇಷು ವಿಲಸನ್ತೀಮ್ | 
ಆಧಾರೀಕೃತಕಾಞ್ಚೀಂ
ಬೋಧಾಮೃತವೀಚಿಮೇವ ವಿಮೃಶಾಮಃ || ೧.೪೧|| 

We meditate on Kamakshi, who abides in Kanchi, who is the  embodiment of the nectarine wave of Knowledge (Consciousness), who obstructs the ocean of samsara (cycle of births and deaths) and who shines in the chakras (plexuses) in the body thought of as lotuses.    [Note: The six chakras are mooladhara, swadhishthana, manipuraka, anahata, vishuddhi and aagna.  In Kundalini Yoga,  the Kundalini shakti lying coiled at mooladhara is raised successively through the six chakras to unite with Shiva located at sahasrara,  the thousand petal lotus at the crown of the head]

ಕಲಯಾಮ್ಯನ್ತಃ ಶಶಧರ-
ಕಲಯಾಙ್ಕಿತಮೌಲಿಮಮಲಚಿದ್ವಲಯಾಮ್| 
ಅಲಯಾಮಾಗಮಪೀಠೀ-
ನಿಲಯಾಂ ವಲಯಾಙ್ಕಸುನ್ದರೀಮಮ್ಬಾಮ್ || ೪೨|| 

I remember in my heart Mother Kamakshi who is the paragon of beauty, who wears bracelets,  who sports the crescent moon on her head, who is surrounded by the aura of  Absolute Consciousness, who is without dissolution and who abides in the Vedas.

ಶರ್ವಾದಿಪರಮಸಾಧಕ-
ಗುರ್ವಾನೀತಾಯ ಕಾಮಪೀಠಜುಷೇ| 
ಸರ್ವಾಕೃತಯೇ ಶೋಣಿಮ-
ಗರ್ವಾಯ ಸಮರ್ಪ್ಯತೇ ಹೃದಯಮ್ || ೪೩|| 


My heart is surrendered to Goddess Kamakshi who is propitiated by such great sadhakas as Lord Shiva, who abides in Kamakoti peetha, who takes all forms and who makes red colour proud (because her complexion is red).

ಸಮಯಾ ಸಾಂಧ್ಯಮಯೂಖೈಃ
ಸಮಯಾ ಬುಧ್ಯಾ ಸದೈವ ಶೀಲಿತಯಾ| 
ಉಮಯಾ ಕಾಞ್ಚೀರತಯಾ
ನ ಮಯಾ ಲಭ್ಯೇತ ಕಿಂ ನು ತಾದಾತ್ಮ್ಯಮ್ || ೪೪|| 

When shall I become one with Uma ( Goddess Kamakshi) who  is of the complexion of the setting sun, who is always meditated on by those with a balanced, equal mind and who is fond of Kanchi.
ಜನ್ತೋಸ್ತವ ಪದಪೂಜನ-
ಸಂತೋಷತರಙ್ಗಿತಸ್ಯ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ| 
ಬನ್ಧೋ ಯದಿ ಭವತಿ ಪುನಃ
ಸಿನ್ಧೋರಮ್ಭಃಸು ಬಮ್ಭ್ರಮೀತಿ ಶಿಲಾ || ೪೫|| 

If a human being worships your lotus feet and is immersed in the waves of joy arising out of such worship  and he is again bound in shackles of samsaara then stones will float in the waters of the sea (meaning he will not be bound in samsara again).

ಕುಣ್ಡಲಿ ಕುಮಾರಿ ಕುಟಿಲೇ
ಚಣ್ಡಿ ಚಾಚರಸವಿತ್ರಿ ಚಾಮುಣ್ಡೇ | 
ಗುಣಿನಿ ಗುಹಾರಿಣಿ ಗುಹ್ಯೇ
ಗುರುಮೂರ್ತೇ ತ್ವಾಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ || ೧.೪೬|| 

I prostrate before you O Kamakshi!  who wears ear-studs who is a kumari (pre-pubescent girl), who is slightly bent,  who is Chandi, who is the cause of moveable and immovable creation, who killed Chanda and Munda, who is rich in good qualities, who abides in the heart-caves of beings, who is secret and not visible and who takes the form of the spiritual guru (to help devotees cross the ocean of samsara)

ಅಭಿದಾಕೃತಿರ್ಭಿದಾಕೃತಿ-
ರಚಿದಾಕೃತಿರಪಿಚಿದಾಕೃತಿರ್ಮಾತಃ| 
ಅನಹನ್ತಾ ತ್ವಮಹನ್ತಾ
ಭ್ರಮಯಸಿ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಶಾಶ್ವತೀ ವಿಶ್ವಮ್ || ೪೭|| 

O Eternal Mother Kamakshi! you are deluding and confounding the worlds with your undifferentiated as well differentiated forms, Conscious as well as inert forms and egoistic and realised forms. 

ಶಿವ ಶಿವ ಪಶ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಸಮಂ
ಶ್ರೀಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷೀ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಿತಾಃ ಪುರುಷಾಃ| 
ವಿಪಿನಂ ಭವನಮಮಿತ್ರಂ
ಮಿತ್ರಂ ಲೋಷ್ಠಂ ಚ ಯುವತಿಬಿಮ್ಬೋಷ್ಠಮ್ || ೪೮|| 

Those who are blessed with the sidelong glances of Kamakshi see with an equal vision whether it be a forest, a house, a foe, a friend, a lump of clay or the full red lips of a young woman.

ಕಾಮಪರಿಪನ್ಥಿಕಾಮಿನಿ
ಕಾಮೇಶ್ವರಿ ಕಾಮಪೀಠಮಧ್ಯಗತೇ| 
ಕಾಮದುಘಾ ಭವ ಕಮಲೇ
ಕಾಮಕಲೇ ಕಾಮಕೋಟಿ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ || ೪೯|| 

O Kamakshi! consort of Shiva the enemy of Cupid!, Goddess of Love!,  One seated in the centre of Kamakoti Peetha, One who ends all desires (Kamakoti) ! O Goddess Lakshmi ! please be the wish-yielding cow for us.

ಮಧ್ಯೇ ಹೃದಯಂ ಮಧ್ಯೇ ನೀಟಿಲಂ
ಮಧ್ಯೇ ಶಿರೋಽಪಿ ವಾಸ್ತವ್ಯಾಮ್| 
ಚಣ್ಡಕರಶಕ್ರಕಾರ್ಮುಕ-
ಚನ್ದ್ರಸಮಾಭಾಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷೀಮ್ || ೫೦|| 

I bow to Kamakshi who is meditated in centre of the heart brilliant as the Sun, at the centre of the forehead (the space between the brows) with the brightness of the rainbow and in the centre of the head shining as the moon