ಮೂಕಪಂಚಶತೀ ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಂ,೫೧-೭೫

ಮೂಕಪಞ್ಚಶತೀ (ಮೂಕಕವಿ ಪ್ರಣೀತಾ)  
                             ಆರ್ಯಾಶತಕಮ್
           (slokas ೫೧ to ೭೫ )
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. 
ಅಧಿಕಾಞ್ಚಿಕೇಲಿಲೋಲೈ-
ರಖಿಲಾಗಮಯಂತ್ರತನ್ತ್ರಮನ್ತ್ರಮಯೈಃ| 
ಅತಿಶೀತಂ ಮಮ ಹೃದಯಂ
ವಿಷಮಶರದ್ರೋಹಿಜೀವನೋಪಾಯೈಃ || ೫೧|| 

My mind is made very cool by Goddess Kamakshi who is fond of playing in Kanchi, who is the essence of all Vedas, yantras, trantras and mantras and who is the very life of Shiva, the enemy of Cupid. 




ನನ್ದತಿ ಮಮ ಹೃದಿ ಕಾಚನ
ಮನ್ದಿರಯನ್ತೀ ನಿರನ್ತರಂ ಕಾಞ್ಚೀಮ್| 
ಇನ್ದುರವಿಮಣ್ಡಲಕುಚಾ
ಬಿನ್ದುವಿಯನ್ನಾದಪರಿಣತಾ ತರುಣೀ || ೫೨|| 

Goddess Kamakshi who has made Kanchi her permanent abode,  who has the Sun and the Moon as her breasts and who has transformed herself into the atom, the space and the primal sound  delights in my heart.

ಶಮ್ಪಾಲತಾಸವರ್ಣಂ
ಸಂಪಾದಯಿತುಂ ಭವಜ್ವರಚಿಕಿತ್ಸಾಮ್| 
ಲಿಮ್ಪಾಮಿ ಮನಸಿ ಕಿಞ್ಚನ
ಕಾಮ್ಪಾತಟರೋಹಿ ಸಿದ್ಧಭೈಷಜ್ಯಮ್ || ೫೩|| 

For the effective cure of the fever of samsara (cycle of births and deaths) I apply on my mind the Siddha medicine which grows on the banks of river Kampa and which has the same colour as a streak of lightning (meaning that I always meditate on Goddess Kamakshi
for curing of the samasara fever)

ಅನುಮಿತಕುಚಕಾಠಿನ್ಯಾ-
ಮಧಿವಕ್ಷಃಪೀಠಮಙ್ಗಜನ್ಮರಿಪೋಃ| 
ಆನನ್ದದಾಂ ಭಜೇ ತಾ-
ಮಾನಙ್ಗಬ್ರಹ್ಮತತ್ತ್ವಬೋಧಿಸಿರಾಮ್ || ೫೪|| 

I worship Goddess Kamakshi who delights her consort Shiva, the enemy of Kama,  by the hardness of her breasts pressing against his chest and who imparts to Him the knowledge of Kamasastra (eroticism)

ಐಕ್ಷಿಷಿ ಪಾಶಾಙ್ಕುಶಧರ-
ಹಸ್ತಾನ್ತಂ ವಿಸ್ಮಯಾರ್ಹವೃತ್ತಾನ್ತಮ್| 
ಅಧಿಕಾಞ್ಚಿ ನಿಗಮವಾಚಾಂ
ಸಿದ್ಧಾನ್ತಂ ಶೂಲಪಾಣಿಶುದ್ಧಾನ್ತಮ್ || ೫೫|| 

Goddess Kamakshi,  whose story is wonderful, who is the final conclusion of all the Vedas  and who is the consort of Shiva who holds the trident,  is seen in Kanchi with the rope and the goad in her hands.

ಆಹಿತವಿಲಾಸಭಙ್ಗೀ-
ಮಾಬ್ರಹ್ನಸ್ತಂಬಶಿಲ್ಪಕಲ್ಪನಯಾ | 
ಆಶ್ರಿತಕಾಞ್ಚೀಮತುಲಾ-
ಮಾದ್ಯಾಮ್ ವಿಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿಮಾದ್ರಿಯೇ ವಿದ್ಯಾಮ್ || ೫೬|| 

I take refuge in Kamakshi who is based in Kanchi, who is incomparable and has created this beautiful world by the imaginative sculpting of everything from the highest Brahma to the lowest blade of grass and who is the embodiment of the surge of primeval knowledge.

ಮೂಕೋಽಪಿ ಜಟಿಲದುರ್ಗತಿ-
ಶೋಕೋಽಪಿ ಸ್ಮರತಿ ಯಃ ಕ್ಷಣಂ ಭವತೀಮ್| 
ಏಕೋ ಭವತಿ ಸ ಜನ್ತು-
ರ್ಲೊಕೋತ್ತರಕೀರ್ತಿರೇವ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷಿ || ೫೭|| 

If someone who is dumb or who is suffering or is immersed in sorrow remembers you for a second , that person’s fame,  O Kamakshi!, surpasses the fame of all the others in the world.

ಪಞ್ಚದಶವರ್ಣರೂಪಂ
ಕಞ್ಚನ ಕಾಞ್ಚೀವಿಹಾರಧೌರೇಯಮ್| 
ಪಞ್ಚಶರೀಯಂ ಶಂಭೊ-
ರ್ವಞ್ಚನವೈದಗ್ಧ್ಯಮೂಲಮವಲಮ್ಬೇ || ೫೮|| 

I surrender to Kamakshi who has a fifteen-letter form, whose play field is Kanchi and who is at the root of the skill of Kamadeva (Cupid) in hoodwinking Shiva (into eroticism) 

ಪರಿಣತವತೀಂ ಚತುರ್ಧಾ
ಪದವೀಂ ಸುಧಿಯಾಂ ಸಮೇತ್ಯ ಸೌಷುಮ್ನೀಮ್| 
ಪಞ್ಚಾಶದರ್ಣಕಲ್ಪಿತ-
ಪದಶಿಲ್ಪಾಂ ತಾಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷೀಮ್ || ೫೯|| 

I salute that Goddess Kamakshi who, travelling through   the sushumna nadi of the wise,  transforms herself into four-fold form and whose body is imagined as sculpted out of the fifty one letters of the alphabet.

ಆದಿಕ್ಷನ್ಮಮ ಗುರುರಾ-
ಡಾದಿಕ್ಷಾನ್ತಾಕ್ಷರಾತ್ಮಿಕಾಂ ವಿದ್ಯಾಮ್| 
ಸ್ವಾದಿಷ್ಠಚಾಪದಣ್ಡಾಂ
ನೇದಿಷ್ಠಾಮೇವ ಕಾಮಪೀಠಗತಾಮ್ || ೬೦|| 

My spiritual guru taught me the vidya (knowledge) which is encompassed within the alphabets starting from ‘ಅ’ and ending in ‘ಕ್ಷ’,  the essence of which is Goddess Kamakshi with sugar cane in her hands, abiding in the Kamakoti Peetha,  and is very near (in the cave of my heart)

ತುಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಹರ್ಷಿತಸ್ಮರ-
ಶಾಸನಯಾ ಕಾಞ್ಚಿಪುರಿ ಕೃತಾಸನಯಾ| 
ಸ್ವಾಸನಯಾ ಸಕಲಜಗ-
ದ್ಭಾಸನಯಾ ಕಲಿತಶಮ್ಬರಾಸನಯಾ || ೬೧|| 

My heart fills with happiness when I think of Kamakshi who is the cause of joy of Shiva, who has stationed herself in the city of Kanchi,  who is firmly established in the Self, who illuminates the whole world and who revived Kama,  the enemy of Shambara.  

ಪ್ರೇಮವತೀ ಕಮ್ಪಾಯಾಂ
ಸ್ಥೇಮವತೀ ಯತಿಮನಃಸು ಭೂಮವತೀ| 
ಸಾಮವತೀ ನಿತ್ಯಗಿರಾ
ಸೋಮವತೀ ಶಿರಸಿ ಭಾತಿ ಹೈಮವತೀ || ೬೨|| 

Kamakshi loves the Kampa river, stays firmly in the hearts of sages, pervades the whole earth,  is praised by the Sama Veda,  wears the crescent moon on her head and shines as the daughter of Himavan

ಕೌತುಕಿನಾ ಕಮ್ಪಾಯಾಂ
ಕೌಸುಮಚಾಪೇನ ಕೀಲಿತೇನಾನ್ತಃ
ಕುಲದೈವತೇನ ಮಹತಾ
ಕುಡ್ಮಲಮುದ್ರಾಂ ಧುನೋತು ನಃ ಪ್ರತಿಭಾ || ೬೩|| 

By the grace of our great kuladevata (clan-deity) Kamakshi who is interested in Kampa river and who is pierced inside by the flower arrows of Kama, may our mind (intellect) blossom into a flower from the state of being a bud.

ಕೇನಾಪಿ ಮಿಲಿತದೇಹಾ
ಯೂನಾ ಸ್ವಾಹಾಸಹಾಯತಿಲಕೇನ| 
ಸಹಕಾರಮೂಲದೇಶೇ
ಸಂವಿದ್ರೂಪಾ ಕುಟುಂಬಿನೀ ರಮತೇ || ೬೪|| 

Goddess Kamakshi  whose form is that of Absolute Pure Consciousness revels in the role of a housewife, under the shade of the mango tree,  as the consort of Youthful Shiva who has fire in the centre of  his forehead (third eye).

ಕುಸುಮಶರಗರ್ವಸಂಪ-
ತ್ಕೋಶಗೃಹಂ ಭಾತಿ ಕಾಞ್ಚಿಮಧ್ಯಗತಮ್| 
ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತಮಸ್ಮಿನ್ಕಥಮಪಿ
ಗೋಪಿತಮನ್ತರ್ಮಯಾ ಮನೋರತ್ನಮ್ || ೬೫|| 

Goddess Kamakshi abiding in the cetre of Kanchi is the treasury of riches which is the pride of Kama (Cupid) wherein I have somehow deposited the gem of my mind so that it will remain there concealed and protected.  

ದಗ್ಧಷಡಧ್ವಾರಣ್ಯಂ
ದರದಲಿತಕುಸುಮ್ಭಸಂಭೃತಾರುಣ್ಯಮ್ | 
ಕಲಯೇ ನವತಾರುಣ್ಯಂ
ಕಮ್ಪಾತಟಸೀಮ್ನಿ ಕಿಮಪಿ ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಮ್ || ೧.೬೬|| 

I see before my mind’s eye Goddess Kamkshi on the banks of the Kampa river, who has burnt the forests of six different paths, whose complexion is red as the kusumba flower,  who is of fresh youthfulness and who is the very embodiment of compassion and mercy. 

ಅಧಿಕಾಞ್ಚಿ ವರ್ಧಮಾನಾ-
ಮತುಲಾಂ ಕರವಾಣಿ ಪಾರಣಾಮಕ್ಷ್ಣೊಃ| 
ಆನನ್ದಪಾಕಭೇದಾ-
ಮರುಣಿಮಪರಿಣಾಮಗರ್ವಪಲ್ಲವಿತಾಮ್ || ೬೭|| 
I feast my eyes on Goddess Kamakshi who is growing in Kanchi with different shades of joy every moment, who is beyond comparison and whose red complexion ends the pride of tender leaves.

ಬಾಣಸೃಣಿಪಾಶಕಾರ್ಮುಕ-
ಪಾಣಿಮಮುಂ ಕಮಪಿ ಕಾಮಪೀಠಗತಮ್| 
ಏಣಧರಕೋಣಚೂಡಂ
ಶೋಣಿಮಪರಿಪಾಕಭೇದಮಾಕಲಯೇ || ೬೮|| 

I meditate on Goddess kamakshi who abides in Kamakoti Peetha, who carries in her hands arrows, goad, rope and bow,  who sports the crescent moon on her forehead and whose complexion assumes different shades of red. 

ಕಿಂ ವಾ ಫಲತಿ ಮಮಾನ್ಯೈ-
ರ್ಬಿಂಬಾಧರಚುಮ್ಬಿಮನ್ದಹಾಸಮುಖೀ| 
ಸಂಬಾಧಕರೀ ತಮಸಾ-
ಮಮ್ಬಾ ಜಾಗರ್ತಿ ಮನಸಿ ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷೀ || ೬೯|| 
Mother Kamakshi, whose face is lighted up by a smile kissing her lips which are red as the bimba fruit, dispels the darkness of ignorance. When She awakes (reveals Herself) in my heart,  of what use to me are other things?

ಮಂಚೇ ಸದಾಶಿವಮಯೇ
ಪರಶಿವಮಯಲಲಿತಪೌಷ್ಪಪರ್ಯಙ್ಕೇ| 
ಅಧಿಚಕ್ರಮಧ್ಯಮಾಸ್ತೇ
ಕಾಮಾಕ್ಷೀನಾಮ ಕಿಮಪಿ ಮಮ ಭಾಗ್ಯಮ್ || ೭೦|| 

The bed of flowers which is Parashiva Himself is laid on the cot which is Sadashiva Himself. Goddess Kamakshi who is my fortune  rests at the centre of the chakra (Circle) on this bed.

ರಕ್ಷ್ಯೋಽಸ್ಮಿ ಕಾಮಪೀಠೀ-
ಲಾಸಿಕಯಾ ಘನಕೃಪಾಮ್ಬುರಾಶಿಕಯಾ | 
ಶ್ರುತಿಯುವತಿಕುನ್ತಲೀಮಣಿ-
ಮಾಲಿಕಯಾ ತುಹಿನಶೈಲಬಾಲಿಕಯಾ || ೧.೭೧|| 

May I be protected by Kamakshi, daughter of Himavan,  who dances on the Kama Peetha, who is the ocean of deep compassion, who is the garland of gems worn in the tresses by the young damsels, the Vedas. 

ಲೀಯೇ ಪುರಹರಜಾಯೇ
ಮಾಯೇ ತವ ತರುಣಪಲ್ಲವಚ್ಛಾಯೇ| 
ಚರಣೇ ಚನ್ದ್ರಾಭರಣೆ
ಕಾಞ್ಚೀಶರಣೆ ನತಾರ್ತಿಸಂಹರಣೇ || ೭೨|| 

O Consort of Siva! (destroyer of tripura), who creates the illusion of the samsara, who adorns herself with the crescent moon, who abides in Kanchi and who removes the sufferings of those who bow to her, O Kamakshi! I merge (take refuge) in your lotus feet which is red and soft as the young leaf bud.

ಮೂರ್ತಿಮತಿಮುಕ್ತಿಬೀಜೇ
ಮೂರ್ಧ್ನಿ ಸ್ತಬಕಿತಚಕೋರಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯೇ| 
ಮೋದಿತಕಮ್ಪಾಕೂಲೇ
ಮುಹುರ್ಮುಹುರ್ಮನಸಿ ಮುಮುದಿಷಾಸ್ಮಾಕಮ್|| ೭೩|| 

O Kamakshi!,  who is the embodiment of the seed of mukti (liberation), who wears the crescent moon on her head, who gladdens the hearts of those living on the banks of Kampa, please fill our minds again and again with joy and happiness.

ವೇದಮಯೀಂ ನಾದಮಯೀಂ
ಬಿನ್ದುಮಯೀಂ ಪರಪದೋದ್ಯದಿನ್ದುಮಯೀಂ| 
ಮನ್ತ್ರಮಯೀಂ ತನ್ತ್ರಮಯೀಂ
ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಮಯೀಂ ನೌಮಿ ವಿಶ್ವವಿಕೃತಿಮಯೀಂ || ೭೪|| 

I bow to Goddess Kamakshi who is the essence of the Vedas, who is all sounds, who is at the centre of Sri Chakra, who is the rising moon of the paramapada (the highest abode), who is the essence of all mantra and tantra, who is all nature and also all distortion of nature.

ಪುರಮಥನಪುಣ್ಯಕೊಟೀ
ಪುಞ್ಜಿತಕವಿಲೋಕಸೂಕ್ತಿರಸಧಾಟೀ| 
ಮನಸಿ ಮಮ ಕಾಮಕೊಟೀ
ವಿಹರತು ಕರುಣಾವಿಪಾಕಪರಿಪಾಟೀ || ೭೫|| 
        

May goddess Kamakshi, who is the fruit of the good deeds of Lord Siva, destroyer of the three cities,  who is the inspiration for the compositions of poets full of beautiful rasas (sentiments, emotions) and who is full of kindness,  revel in my heart.