ಮೂಕಪಂಚಶತೀ ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಂ ೧-೨೫

ಮೂಕಪಂಚಶತೀ (ಮೂಕಕವಿ ಪ್ರಣೀತಾ)
                             ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಂ
           (slokas ೧ to ೨೫ )
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.

  ಕಾರಣಪರಚಿದ್ರೂಪಾ
ಕಾಂಚೀಪುರಸೀಮ್ನಿ ಕಾಮಪೀಠಗತಾ |
ಕಾಚನ ವಿಹರತಿ ಕರುಣಾ
ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರಸ್ತಬಕಕೋಮಲಾಂಗಲತಾ  ||  ೧||
The effulgence of the nature of Absolute Consciousness, the First Cause of the Universe, has taken the form (of Kamakshi), soft and tender as a cluster of Kashmira flowers,  embodiment of grace and compassion and occupies  the Kamakoti Peetha in the city of Kanchi for her playful activities.

ಕಂಚನ ಕಾಂಚೀತಿಲಕಂ
ಕರಧೃತಕೋದಂಡಬಾಣಸೃಣಿಪಾಶಂ|
ಕಠಿನಸ್ತನಭರನಮ್ರಂ
ಕೈವಲ್ಯಾನಂದಕಂದಮವಲಂಬೇ || ೨||

I put my faith in One who adorns Kanchi (like the tilak on the forehead of a woman), who carries in her hands bow, arrows, goad and the rope,  who is slightly bent by the weight of her breasts and who is the very essence  of Supreme Bliss.
ಚಿಂತಿತಫಲಪರಿಪೋಷಣ-
ಚಿಂತಾಮಣಿರೇವ ಕಾಂಚಿನಿಲಯಾ ಮೇ|
ಚಿರತರಸುಚರಿತಸುಲಭಾ
ಚಿತ್ತಂ ಶಿಶಿರಯತು ಚಿತ್ಸುಧಾಧಾರಾ || ೩||

May Goddess Kamakshi whose abode is Kanchi, who fulfils the desires  (of devotees) like the wish-yielding Chintamani,  who can be easily reached by one who has an unbroken record of good conduct for a long time,  make my heart cool by the stream of nectarine Consciousness (which is her real nature).


ಕುಟಿಲಕಚಂ ಕಠಿನಕುಚಂ
ಕುಂದಸ್ಮಿತಕಾಂತಿ ಕುಂಕುಮಚ್ಛಾಯಂ|
ಕುರುತೇ ವಿಹೃತಿಂ ಕಾಂಚ್ಯಾಂ
ಕುಲಪರ್ವತಸಾರ್ವಭೌಮಸರ್ವಸ್ವಂ || ೪||
Goddess Kamakshi who is the darling of Himavan the king of mountains,  who has curly hair, firm breasts, smile bright as jasmine flowers and complexion of saffron has made Kanchi her playground

ಪಂಚಶರಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಬೋಧನ-
ಪರಮಾಚೇರ್ಯೇಣ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾತೇನ|
ಕಾಂಚೀಸೀಮ್ನಿ ಕುಮಾರೀ
ಕಾಚನ ಮೋಹಯತಿ ಕಾಮಜೇತಾರಂ || ೫||

Within the city of Kanchi, a teenage girl(kumari) with her glances which, like a great teacher,  teaches the science of erotic love,  captivates the heart of Shiva the conqueror of Kama (Cupid)
.
ಪರಯಾ ಕಾಂಚೀಪುರಯಾ
ಪರ್ವತಪರ್ಯಾಯಪೀನಕುಚಭರಯಾ |
ಪರತಂತ್ರಾ ವಯಮನಯಾ
ಪಂಕಜಸಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚಾರಿ ಲೋಚನಯಾ || ೬||

The highest Sakti (Goddess Kamakshi), abiding in Kanchipura, with her ample bosom and eyes beautiful and wide as lotus petals, has enslaved us and captivated our hearts.
.ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯಮಿಂದುಮೌಲೇ-
ರೈಕಾತ್ಮ್ಯಪ್ರಕೃತಿ ಕಾಂಚಿಮಧ್ಯಗತಂ|
ಐಂದವಕಿಶೋರಶೇಖರ-
ಮೈದಂಪರ್ಯಂ ಚಕಾಸ್ತಿ ನಿಗಮಾನಾಂ || ೭||

Goddess Kamakshi who is the treasure of Lord Shiva, who is of identical nature with Him, who sports the crescent moon on her head, who is the meaning and purport of the Vedas,  shines in the middle of Kanchi.

ಶ್ರಿತಕಂಪಾಸೀಮಾನಂ
ಶಿಥಿಲಿತಪರಮಶಿವಧೈರ್ಯಮಹಿಮಾನಂ|
ಕಲಯೇ ಪಾಟಲಿಮಾನಂ
ಕಂಚನ ಕಂಚುಕಿತಭುವನಭೂಮಾನಂ || ೮||

I meditate on Kamakshi who abides in the proximity of Kampa river, who has the reputation of loosening the courage and determination of Shiva (in the matter of passionate love), whose complexion is red and who shields all the worlds from destruction.


ಆದೃತಕಾಂಚೀನಿಲಯಾ-
ಮಾದ್ಯಾಮಾರೂಢಯೌವನಾಟೋಪಾಂ|
ಆಗಮ ವತಂಸಕಲಿಕಾ-
ಮಾನಂದಾದ್ವೈತಕಂದಲೀಂ ವಂದೇ || ೯||

I salute Kamakshi who abides in the famed city of Kanchi, who is the very first one, who celebrates her freshly ascending youth, who shines on the head of the Upanishads and who is of the essence of non-dual bliss.

ತುಂಗಾಭಿರಾಮಕುಚಭರ-
ಶೃಂಗಾರಿತಮಾಶ್ರಯಾಮಿ ಕಾಂಚಿಗತಂ|
ಗಂಗಾಧರಪರತಂತ್ರಂ
ಶೃಂಗಾರಾದ್ವೈತತಂತ್ರಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತಂ || ೧೦||

I take refuge in Goddess Kamakshi who is adorned by pretty raised breasts, who abides in Kanchi, who  has put herself in the hands of Gangadhara (Shiva) and who is the embodiment of the science of non-dual erotic love.


ಕಾಂಚೀರತ್ನವಿಭೂಷಾಂ
ಕಾಮಪಿ ಕಂದರ್ಪಸೂತಿಕಾಪಾಂಗೀಂ |
ಪರಮಾಂ ಕಲಾಮುಪಾಸೇ
ಪರಮಶಿವವಾಮಾಂಕಪೀಠಿಕಾಸೀನಾಂ|| | ೧೧||

I meditate on the supreme effulgence(Kala) that occupies the left side of the body of the most auspicious one (Shiva), that adorns Kanchi like a diamond and whose sidelong glances arouse passionate love (in Lord Shiva)

ಕಂಪಾತೀರಚರಾಣಾಂ
ಕರುಣಾಕೋರಕಿತದೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾತಾನಾಂ|
ಕೇಲೀವನಂ ಮನೋ ಮೇ
ಕೇಷಾಂಚಿದ್ಭವತು ಚಿದ್ವಿಲಾಸಾನಾಂ || ೧೨||
May my mind be the play ground  for the divine play of Goddess Kamakshi who strolls on the banks of river Kampa and from whose glances drip mercy (kindness)

ಆಮ್ರತರುಮೂಲವಸತೇ-
ರಾದಿಮಪುರುಷಸ್ಯ ನಯನಪೀಯೂಷಂ|
ಆರಬ್ಧಯೌವನೋತ್ಸವ-
ಮಾಮ್ನಾಯರಹಸ್ಯಮಂತರವಲಂಬೇ || ೧೩||

I meditate, in my heart,   on (Goddess Kamakshi) who is nectar for the eyes of Lord Shiva, the very First purusha who dwells under the mango tree. Her flowering youth is cause for celebration as a festival and She is the secret which the Vedas seek to unveil.

ಅಧಿಕಾಂಚಿ ಪರಮಯೋಗಿಭಿ-
ರಾದಿಮಪರಪೀಠಸೀಮ್ನಿ ದೃಶ್ಯೇನ|
ಅನುಬದ್ಧಂ ಮಮ ಮಾನಸ-
ಮರುಣಿಮಸರ್ವಸ್ವಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯೇನ || ೧೪||
My mind is bound to (Goddess Kamakshi) who reveals herself on the ancient peetha (throne, Kamokoti Peetha) of Kanchi to great yogis and who appears as an effulgence of red.

ಅಂಕಿತಶಂಕರದೇಹಾ-
ಮಂಕುರಿತೋರೋಜಕಂಕಣಾಶ್ಲೇಷೈಃ
ಅಧಿಕಾಂಚಿ ನಿತ್ಯತರುಣೀ-
ಮದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಂ ಕಾಂಚಿದದ್ಭುತಾಂ ಬಾಲಾಂ || ೧೫||

I saw in Kanchi that wonderful ever-young baalaa (teenage girl) who left marks of her budding breasts and of her bangles on the body of Sankara (while embracing Him).

ಮಧುರಧನುಷಾ ಮಹೀಧರ-
ಜನುಷಾ ನಂದಾಮಿ ಸುರಭಿಬಾಣಜುಷಾ
ಚಿದ್ವಪುಷಾ ಕಾಂಚಿಪುರೇ
ಕೇಲಿಜುಷಾ ಬಂಧುಜೀವಕಾಂತಿಮುಷಾ || ೧.೧೬||

I delight in that effulgence of pure Consciousness, that holds in its hand a sweet bow (of sugarcane), that is born of the mountain (Himavan), that has sweet-smelling arrows (of flowers), that  plays in the city of Kanchi and steals the beauty of the hibiscus flower by its bright red brilliance.

ಮಧುರಸ್ಮಿತೇನ ರಮತೇ
ಮಾಂಸಲಕುಚಭಾರಮಂದಗಮನೇನ |
ಮಧ್ಯೇ ಕಾಂಚಿ ಮನೋ ಮೇ
ಮನಸಿಜಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯಗರ್ವಬೀಜೇನ || ೧೭||

My mind is delighted by the sweet smile of Goddess Kamakshi abiding in Kanchi, by her slow gait on account of the weight of her heavy breasts and by her putting the seed of pride in the empire of Kama (Cupid)

ಧರಣಿಮಯೀಂ ತರಣಿಮಯೀಂ
ಪವನಮಯೀಂ ಗಗನದಹನಹೋತೃಮಯೀಂ|
ಅಂಬುಮಯೀಮಿಂದುಮಯೀ-
ಮಂಬಾಮನುಕಂಪಮಾದಿಮಾಮೀಕ್ಷೇ || ೧೮||

I see before my eyes, on the banks of the Kampa River, the very First Mother who has manifested herself as the Earth, the Sun, the Air, the Sky, the Fire and the Hota (the one who  offers ghee into the sacrificial fire).

ಲೀನಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಮುನಿಹೃದಯೇ
ಧ್ಯಾನಸ್ತಿಮಿತಂ ತಪಸ್ಯದುಪಕಂಪಂ|
ಪೀನಸ್ತನಭರಮೀಡೇ
ಮೀನಧ್ವಜತಂತ್ರಪರಮತಾತ್ಪರ್ಯಂ || ೧೯||

I sing praises of Goddess Kamakshi who dwells in the hearts of sages in a state of complete merger, who is   completely still in a state of meditation, who is doing penance on the banks of Kampa,  who is bent by the weight of her ample bosom and who is the very essence of the science of erotic love (Kamatantra).  

ಶ್ವೇತಾ ಮಂಥರಹಸಿತೇ
ಶಾತಾ ಮಧ್ಯೇ ಚ ವಾಙ್ಮನೋಽತೀತಾ|
ಶೀತಾ ಲೋಚನಪಾತೇ
ಸ್ಫೀತಾ ಕುಚಸೀಮ್ನಿ ಶಾಶ್ವತೀ ಮಾತಾ || ೨೦||

The eternal Mother has a bright white smile, has a slim middle, is beyond the reach of mind and speech, cools the one on whom her glances fall and is broad in the region of her breasts.

ಪುರತಃ ಕದಾ ನು ಕರವೈ
ಪುರವೈರಿವಿಮರ್ದಪುಲಕಿತಾಂಗಲತಾಂ |
ಪುನತೀಂ ಕಾಂಚೀದೇಶಂ
ಪುಷ್ಪಾಯುಧವೀರ್ಯಸರಸಪರಿಪಾಟೀಂ || ೨೧||

When shall I have the vision of Her (Kamakshi) who has a tender and slender body like a creeper, whose hairs  stand on end when she is embraced by Puravairi (Shiva), who purifies the city of Kanchi and who is a good target for the Cupid to test the strength of his flower-arrows.

ಪುಣ್ಯಾ ಕಾಪಿ ಪುರಂಧ್ರೀ
ಪುಂಖಿತಕಂದರ್ಪಸಂಪದಾ ವಪುಷಾ|
ಪುಲಿನಚರೀ ಕಂಪಾಯಾಃ
ಪುರಮಥನಂ ಪುಲಕನಿಚುಲಿತಂ ಕುರುತೇ || ೨೨||

A holy young female with a body endowed with all the riches of Cupid, wandering on the banks of the river Kampa makes the destroyer of the three cities (Lord Siva) covered with hair which stand on end (overcome by passionate love)

ತನಿಮಾದ್ವೈತವಲಗ್ನಂ
ತರುಣಾರುಣಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯತನುಲೆಖಂ|
ತಟಸೀಮನಿ ಕಂಪಾಯಾ-
ಸ್ತರುಣಿಮಸರ್ವಸ್ವಮಾದ್ಯಮದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಂ || ೨೩||

I saw on the banks of the river Kampa Goddess Kamakshi, the very essence of youth, with a slender middle and with a bright red complexion like the colour of the rising sun

ಪೌಷ್ಟಿಕಕರ್ಮವಿಪಾಕಂ
ಪೌಷ್ಪಶರಂ ಸವಿಧಸೀಮ್ನಿ ಕಂಪಾಯಾಃ|
ಅದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಮಾತ್ತಯೌವನ-
ಮಭ್ಯುದಯಂ ಕಂಚಿದರ್ಧಶಶಿಮೌಲೇಃ || ೨೪||
I saw in the vicinity of river Kampa the result of the good work of Kama (Cupid) and the fortune of Shive who wears the half-moon on his head,  in the form of Kamkshi in   her freshness of youth.


ಸಂಶ್ರಿತಕಾಂಚೀದೇಶೇ
ಸರಸಿಜದೌರ್ಭಾಗ್ಯಜಾಗ್ರದುತ್ತಂಸೇ|
ಸಂವಿನ್ಮಯೇ ವಿಲೀಯೇ
ಸಾರಸ್ವತಪುರುಷಕಾರಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯೇ || ೨೫||

I merge myself in Goddess Kamakshi whose nature is Absolute Pure Consciousness, who is the divine kingdom of knowledge, who abides in Kanchi and who wears on her head the crescent moon which is not good for the lotus