ಮೂಕಪಂಚಶತೀ ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಂ ೭೬-೧೦೧

ಮೂಕಪಞ್ಚಶತೀ (ಮೂಕಕವಿ ಪ್ರಣೀತಾ)  
                             ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಮ್
           (slokas ೭೬ to ೧೦೧ )
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. 

ಕುಟಿಲಂ ಚಟುಲಂ ಪೃಥುಲಂ
ಮೃದುಲಂ ಕಚನಯನಜಘನಚರಣೇಷು | 
ಅವಲೋಕಿತಮವಲಂಬಿತ-
ಮಧಿಕಂಪಾತಟಮಮೇಯಮಸ್ಮಾಭಿಃ || ೭೬|| 

Goddess Kamakshi, who is immeasurable,  was seen by me on the banks of the Kampa river with her curly hair, fleeting glances,  ample hips and soft, tender feet.

ಪ್ರತ್ಯಙ್ಮುಖ್ಯಾ ದೃಷ್ಟ್ಯಾ
ಪ್ರಸಾದದೀಪಾಙ್ಕುರೇಣ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಃ | 
ಪಶ್ಯಾಮಿ ನಿಸ್ತುಲಮಹೋ
ಪಚೇಲಿಮಂ ಕಿಮಪಿ ಪರಶಿವೋಲ್ಲಾಸಮ್ || ೭೭|| 

Turning my glance inward I see  the incomparable ripe joy of Paramasiva when Kamkshi’s face lights up indicating that she is pleased.


ವಿದ್ಯೇ ವಿಧಾತೃವಿಷಯೇ
ಕಾತ್ಯಾಯನಿ ಕಾಲಿ ಕಾಮಕೋಟಿ ಕಲೇ
ಭಾರತಿ ಭೈರವಿ ಭದ್ರೇ
ಶಾಕಿನಿ ಶಾಂಭವಿ ಶಿವೇ ಸ್ತುವೇ ಭವತೀಮ್ || ೭೮|| 

O Kamakshi ! who is the knowledge of creation in Brahma, who is the daughter of sage Katyayana, who is Kali the dark one, who is the end(Koti) of all desires, who is all fine art forms, who is Goddess of learning, who is the terrible Bhairavi, who is the most auspicious,  who is shakini, who is consort of Shambhu and who is shivaa, I sing praises of You.

ಮಾಲಿನಿ ಮಹೇಶಚಾರಿಣಿ
ಕಾಞ್ಚೀಖೇಲಿನಿ ವಿಪಕ್ಷಕಾಲಿನಿ ತೇ | 
ಶೂಲಿನಿ ವಿದ್ರುಮಶಾಲಿನಿ
ಸುರಜನಪಾಲಿನಿ ಕಪಾಲಿನಿ ನಮೋಽಸ್ತು || ೭೯|| 

May our prostrations be dedicated to You O Kamakshi! who wears a garland, who seeks out Siva, who plays in Kanchi, Who is the death of enemies, who carries the trident,  who wears a chain of corals, who protects the devas and who is the  consort of Kapali (Shiva)

ದೇಶಿಕ ಇತಿ ಕಿಂ ಶಙ್ಕೇ
ತತ್ತಾದೃಕ್ತವ ನು ತರುಣಿಮೋನ್ಮೇಷಃ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಶೂಲಪಾಣೆಃ
ಕಾಮಾಗಮತನ್ತ್ರಯಜ್ಞದೀಕ್ಷಾಯಾಮ್ || ೮೦|| 





O Kamakshi!  In Lord Shiva’s deeksha (vow) to perform the yagna invoking Kamadeva, the God of Love, there is no doubt that You, with your flowering youth, can be a competent teacher (aachaarya).


ವೇತಣ್ಡಕುಮ್ಭ ಡಮ್ಬರ-
ವೈತಣ್ಡಿಕಕುಚಭರಾರ್ತಮಧ್ಯಾಯ | 
ಕುಙ್ಕುಮರುಚೇ ನಮಸ್ಯಾಂ
ಶಙ್ಕರನಯನಾಮೃತಾಯ ರಚಯಾಮಃ || ೮೧|| 

Our prostrations to Kamakshi who is nectar for the eyes of Shiva( i.e Shiva is filled with joy on seeing her), whose complexion is of the colour of saffron and whose ample bosom challenges the bulging forehead of the elephant and exerts pressure on her waist.

ಅಧಿಕಾಞ್ಚಿತಮಣಿಕಾಞ್ಚನ-
ಕಾಞ್ಚೀಮಧಿಕಾಞ್ಚಿ ಕಾಂಚಿದದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಮ್| 
ಅವನತಜನಾನುಕಮ್ಪಾ-
ಮನುಕಮ್ಪಾಕೂಲಮಸ್ಮದನುಕೂಲಾಮ್ || ೮೨||    

I saw on the banks of the river Kampa in Kanchi Goddess kamakshi who wears a gem-studded beautiful waist-band (girdle), who is kind to those who bow to her and who is favourably disposed towards me.

ಪರಿಚಿತಕಮ್ಪಾತೀರಂ
ಪರ್ವತರಾಜನ್ಯಸುಕೃತಸಂನಾಹಮ್| 
ಪರಗುರುಕೃಪಯಾ ವೀಕ್ಷೇ
ಪರಮಶಿವೋತ್ಸಙ್ಗಮಙ್ಗಲಾಭರಣಮ್|| ೮೩|| 

.
By the grace of the supreme guru I see (before my mind’s eye) Kamakshi who is familiar with the banks of Kampa, who is the
fruit of the meritorious deeds (sukritam) of Himavan and who is the
auspicious ornament on the lap of Paramashiva.

ದಗ್ಧಮದನಸ್ಯ ಶಂಭೋಃ
ಪ್ರಥೀಯಸೀಂ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯ ವೈದಗ್ಧೀಮ್| 
ತವ ದೇವಿ ತರುಣಿಮಶ್ರೀ
ಚತುರಿಮಪಾಕೋ ನ ಚಕ್ಷಮೇ ಮಾತಃ || ೮೪|| 

O Mother!  The superb beauty of your youth could not tolerate the famed obstinacy of the celibacy of Shiva who had burnt Kamadeva (Cupid) in the fire of his third eye.
ಮದಜಲತಮಾಲಪತ್ರಾ
ವಸನಿತಪತ್ರಾ ಕರಾದೃತಖನಿತ್ರಾ| 
ವಿಹರತಿ ಪುಲಿನ್ದಯೋಷಾ
ಗುಞ್ಜಾಭೂಷಾ ಫಣೀನ್ದ್ರಕೃತವೇಷಾ || ೮೫|| 


Goddess Kamakshi revels in the form of the hunter woman given to her by her consort Lord Shiva,  applies tilak on her forehead using juice from the leaves of plants, wears a dress made of leaves, carries in her hand a tool for digging the earth and wears a garland of gunja berries as ornament. 

ಅಙ್ಕೇ ಶುಕಿನೀ ಗೀತೇ
ಕೌತುಕಿನೀ ಪರಿಸರೇ ಚ ಗಾಯಕಿನೀ| 
ಜಯಸಿ ಸವಿಧೇಽಮ್ಬ ಭೈರವ-
ಮಣ್ಡಲಿನೀ ಶ್ರವಸಿ ಶಙ್ಖಕುಣ್ಡಲಿನೀ || ೮೬|| 

You have a parrot on your lap, you are interested in music, you are surrounded by musicians and also by bhairavas and you wear Kundalas (globe-shaped ear-studs) made of conch shell in your ears. Victory to you always O Mother Kamakshi ! 

ಪ್ರಣತಜನಾಪವರ್ಗಾ
ಕೃತರಣಸರ್ಗಾ ಸಸಿಂಹಸಂಸರ್ಗಾ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಮುದಿತಭರ್ಗಾ
ಹತರಿಪುವರ್ಗಾ ತ್ವಮೇವ ಸಾ ದುರ್ಗಾ || ೮೭|| 

O Goddess Kamakshi! You grant mukti to those who prostrate before you, create(fight)  battles (to kill asuras), keep company with lions (on whom you ride), delight the heart of Lord Shiva, kill the horde of enemies and You alone are Durga

ಶ್ರವಣಚಲದ್ವೇತಣ್ಡಾ
ಸಮರೋದ್ದಣ್ಡಾ ಧುತಾಸುರಶಿಖಣ್ಡಾ
ದೇವಿ ಕಲಿತಾನ್ತ್ರಷಣ್ಡಾ
ಧೃತನರಮುಣ್ಡಾ ತ್ವಮೇವ ಚಾಮುಣ್ಡಾ || ೮೮|| 

O Kamakshi! You alone are Chamunda  with your ear-globes oscillating, terrible in war, cutting off and tossing the heads of asuras, wearing the intestines of the asuras as garland and holding their chopped-off heads in your hands.  
ಉರ್ವೀಧರೇನ್ದ್ರಕನ್ಯೇ
ದರ್ವೀಭರಿತೇನ ಭಕ್ತಪೂರೆಣ| 
ಗುರ್ವೀಮಕಿಞ್ಚನಾರ್ತಿಂ
ಖರ್ವೀಕುರುಷೇ ತ್ವಮೇವ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ|| ೮೯|| 

O Kamakshi! Daugher of Himavan! You are the one who as Annapoorna  removes the great suffering of the poorest of the poor with ladle-fulls of cooked food.

ತಾಡಿತರಿಪುಪರಿಪೀಡನ-
ಭಯಹರಣನಿಪುಣಹಲಮುಸಲಾ| 
ಕ್ರೋಡಪತಿಭೀಷಣಮುಖೀ
ಕ್ರೀಡಸಿ ಜಗತಿ ತ್ವಮೇವ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ || ೯೦|| 

O Kamakshi ! You are the one with the frightening face of a boar as Varahi  who plays in this world, removes the fear of torture by the enemies by striking at them and  who is skilled in using the plough and the mace as  weapons

ಸ್ಮರಮಥನವರಣಲೋಲಾ
ಮನ್ಮಥಹೇಲಾವಿಲಾಸಮಣಿಶಾಲಾ| 
ಕನಕರುಚಿಚೌರ್ಯಶೀಲಾ
ತ್ವಮಮ್ಬ ಬಾಲಾ ಕರಾಬ್ಜಧೃತಮಾಲಾ || ೯೧|| 

O Mother Kamakshi! You are desirous of marrying Shiva, the destroyer of Kama.  You are the hall of gem-studded walls for the Cupid to play and show his magic, you steal the brightness of gold by your lustre, you are a young girl with a garland in your hands (ready to put it around Lord Shiva’s neck)

ವಿಮಲಪಟೀ ಕಮಲಕುಟೀ
ಪುಸ್ತಕರುದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಶಸ್ತಹಸ್ತಪುಟೀ| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷೀ ಪಕ್ಷ್ಮಲಾಕ್ಷೀ
ಕಲಿತವಿಪಞ್ಚೀ ವಿಭಾಸಿ ವೈರಿಞ್ಚೀ || ೯೨|| 

O Kamakshi! You are the who shines as Goddess Sarawati, consort of Bhrama, who is attired in bright white clothes, who abides in the lotus, who carries the book and rudrakaha in her hands, who has dense eye-lashes and who holds a Veena, Vipanchi in her hands

ಕುಂಕುಮರುಚಿಪಿಙ್ಗಮಸೃ-
ಕ್ಪಙ್ಕಿಲಮುಣ್ಡಾಲಿಮಣ್ಡಿತಂ ಮಾತಃ| 
ಜಯತಿ ತವ ರೂಪಧೇಯಂ
ಜಪಪಟಪುಸ್ತಕವರಾಭಯಾಬ್ಜಕರಮ್ || ೯೩|| 

Victory to your form which has the complexion of saffron, which wears a garland of severed heads dripping blood, which holds a rosary and book and which displays  abhaya ( protection from fear) and varada (dispensing boons) mudras (signs) by hands

ಕನಕಮಣಿಕಲಿತಭೂಷಾಂ
ಕಾಲಾಯಸಕಲಹಶೀಲಕಾನ್ತಿಕಲಾಮ್| 
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಶೀಲಯೇ ತ್ವಾಂ
ಕಪಾಲಶೂಲಾಭಿರಾಮಕರಕಮಲಾಮ್ || ೯೪|| 

O Kamkshi! I meditate on you who are adorned with gem-studded golden ornaments, whose complexion is dark as iron and who carries the trident and the skull in her beautiful lotus hands.

ಲೋಹಿತಿಮಪುಞ್ಜಮಧ್ಯೇ
ಮೋಹಿತಭುವನಂ ಮುದಾ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷನ್ತೇ| 
ವದನಂ ತವ ಕುಚಯುಗಲಂ
ಕಾಞ್ಚೀಸೀಮಾಂ ಚ ಕೋಽಪಿ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ || ೯೫|| 

O Kamakshi! very few can have the vision of you, who have captivated the whole world, in the centre of effulgence of red and see your face, your breasts and your waist. 


ಜಲಧಿದ್ವಿಗುಣಿತಹುತವಹ-
ದಿಶಾದಿನೇಶ್ವರಕಲಾಶ್ವಿನೇಯದಲೈಃ | 
ನಲಿನೈರ್ಮಹೇಶಿ ಗಚ್ಛಸಿ
ಸರ್ವೋತ್ತರಕರಕಮಲದಲಮಮಲಮ್|| ೧.೯೬|| 

O the greatest of goddesses ! from the Mooladhara lotus at the base, You rise as Kundalini, the serpentine power,  and passing through swahishthana, manipura, anahata, Vishuddhi and Aagna lotuses,  reach and merge in the thousand petal lotus uniting with Shiva.
ಸತ್ಕೃತದೇಶಿಕಚರಣಾಃ
ಸಬೀಜನಿರ್ಬೀಜಯೋಗನಿಶ್ರೆಣ್ಯಾ| 
ಅಪವರ್ಗಸೌಧವಲಭೀ-
ಮಾರೋಹಯನ್ತ್ಯಂಬ ಕೇಽಪಿ ತವ ಕೃಪಯಾ || ೯೭|| 
O Kamakshi! those who revere and worship the lotus feet of the guru, climb the mansion of Mukti (liberation),  by your grace,  using the steps of sabeeja and nirbeeja yoga.

ಅನ್ತರಪಿ ಬಹಿರಪಿ ತ್ವಂ
ಜನ್ತುತತೇರನ್ತಕಾನ್ತಕೃದಹಂತೇ| 
ಚಿನ್ತಿತಸನ್ತಾನವತಾಂ
ಸಂತತಮಪಿ ತನ್ತನೀಷಿ ಮಹಿಮಾನಮ್ || ೯೮|| 

Kamakshi! You are inside and outside of every thing.  You are the death to him who brings death to all beings. And to those who always think about you, meditate on you and worship you, you reveal Yourself, the Ultimate Reality.




ಕಲಮಞ್ಜುಲವಾಗನುಮಿತ-
ಗಲಪಞ್ಜರಶುಕಗ್ರಹೌತ್ಕಣ್ಠ್ಯಾತ್
ಅಮ್ಬ ರದನಾಮ್ಬರಂ ತೇ
ಬಿಮ್ಬಫಲಂ ಶಮ್ಬರಾರಿಣಾ ನ್ಯಸ್ತಮ್ || ೯೯|| 

O Kamakshi! Cupid has placed a bimba fruit  covering your teeth in his anxiety to get hold of the parrot which,  he thinks,  is producing those sweet beautiful sounds from your throat.



ಜಯ ಜಯ ಜಗದಮ್ಬ ಶಿವೇ
ಜಯ ಜಯ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ ಜಯ ಜಯಾದ್ರಿಸುತೇ| 
ಜಯ ಜಯ ಮಹೇಶ ದಯಿತೇ
ಜಯ ಜಯ ಚಿದ್ಗಗನಕೌಮುದೀಧಾರೇ || ೧೦೦|| 

Victory, victory to the consort of Shiva, mother of the Universe;   victory,victory to Kamakshi; victory, victory to daughter of Himavan; victory, victory to darling of Mahesha; Victory, victory to the one who is the flood of moonlight in the consciousness-space.

ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಂ ಭಕ್ತ್ಯಾ
ಪಠತಾಮಾರ್ಯಾಕಟಾಕ್ಷೇಣ | 
ನಿಃಸರತಿ ವದನಕಮಲಾ-
ದ್ವಾಣೀ ಪೀಯೂಷಧೋರಣೀ ದಿವ್ಯಾ || ೧.೧೦೧|| 

Whosoever chants this Arya Satakam with devotion to Kamakshi,  from his mouth-lotus will flow, by the grace of Kamakshi,  words as sweet as divine nectar.