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Bhramaramba Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

भ्रमराम्बाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Bhramaramba Ashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. cāñcalyāruṇalocanāñcitakṛpācandrārkapaṭṭodarāṃ
  2. Verse 2. kastūrītilakāñcitenduvilasatprodbhāsiphālasthalīṃ
  3. Verse 3. rājanmattamarālamandagamanāṃ rājīvapatrekṣaṇāṃ
  4. Verse 4. ṣaṭtāraṅgaṇadīpikāṃ śivasatīṃ ṣaḍvairivargāpahāṃ
  5. Verse 5. śrīnāthādṛtapālitatribhuvanāṃ śrīcakrasañcāriṇīṃ
  6. Verse 6. lāvaṇyādhikabhūṣitāṅgalatikāṃ lākṣārasārañjitāṃ
  7. Verse 7. dhanyāṃ somavibhāvanīyacaritāṃ dhātrādisampūjitāṃ
  8. Verse 8. gāyatrīṃ garuḍadhvajāṃ gaganagāṃ gāndharvagānapriyāṃ
Verse 1#

cāñcalyāruṇalocanāñcitakṛpācandrārkapaṭṭodarāṃ

चाञ्चल्यारुणलोचनाञ्चितकृपाचन्द्रार्कपट्टोदरां चारुस्मेरमुखीं चराचरजगत्संरक्षणीं तत्पराम् नित्यं चिन्मयकौस्तुभप्रभृतिभिर्भूषामणीभूषितां श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये १॥

cāñcalyāruṇalocanāñcitakṛpācandrārkapaṭṭodarāṃ cārusmeramukhīṃ carācarajagatsaṃrakṣaṇīṃ tatparām | nityaṃ cinmayakaustubhaprabhṛtibhirbhūṣāmaṇībhūṣitāṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 1||

Meaning1. I meditate on the Goddess, the divine Mother who dwells at Srisailam — with restless reddish eyes brimming with grace, her form like a tablet of moon and sun, with a lovely smiling face, ever intent on protecting the whole world of moving and unmoving beings, adorned with jewels such as the Kaustubha of pure Consciousness.

Verse 2#

kastūrītilakāñcitenduvilasatprodbhāsiphālasthalīṃ

कस्तूरीतिलकाञ्चितेन्दुविलसत्प्रोद्भासिफालस्थलीं कर्पूरद्रवमिश्रचूर्णखदिरामोदोल्लसद्वीटिकाम् लोलापाङ्गतरङ्गितैरधिकृपासारैर्नतानन्दिनीं श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये २॥

kastūrītilakāñcitenduvilasatprodbhāsiphālasthalīṃ karpūradravamiśracūrṇakhadirāmodollasadvīṭikām | lolāpāṅgataraṅgitairadhikṛpāsārairnatānandinīṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 2||

Meaning2. I meditate on the divine Mother of Srisailam — her brow shining with a musk tilaka bright as the moon, enjoying a betel-roll fragrant with camphor and catechu, gladdening those who bow with waves of abundant grace flowing from the corners of her rolling eyes.

Verse 3#

rājanmattamarālamandagamanāṃ rājīvapatrekṣaṇāṃ

राजन्मत्तमरालमन्दगमनां राजीवपत्रेक्षणां राजीवप्रभवादिदेवमकुटैराराधितांघ्रिद्वयाम् राजीवायतमन्दहासवदनां राकेन्दुबिम्बाननां श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये ३॥

rājanmattamarālamandagamanāṃ rājīvapatrekṣaṇāṃ rājīvaprabhavādidevamakuṭairārādhitāṃghridvayām | rājīvāyatamandahāsavadanāṃ rākendubimbānanāṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 3||

Meaning3. I meditate on the divine Mother of Srisailam — moving gently as a regal, joyful swan, with eyes like lotus petals, her pair of feet worshipped by the crowns of Brahma and the foremost gods, her face bearing a soft lotus-like smile, radiant as the orb of the full moon.

Verse 4#

ṣaṭtāraṅgaṇadīpikāṃ śivasatīṃ ṣaḍvairivargāpahāṃ

षट्तारङ्गणदीपिकां शिवसतीं षड्वैरिवर्गापहां षट्चक्रान्तरसंस्थितां वरसुधां षड्योगिनीवेष्टिताम् षट्कोणान्तरवर्तिनीं सुरनुतां षड्भावगां षण्मुखीं श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये ४॥

ṣaṭtāraṅgaṇadīpikāṃ śivasatīṃ ṣaḍvairivargāpahāṃ ṣaṭcakrāntarasaṃsthitāṃ varasudhāṃ ṣaḍyoginīveṣṭitām | ṣaṭkoṇāntaravartinīṃ suranutāṃ ṣaḍbhāvagāṃ ṣaṇmukhīṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 4||

Meaning4. I meditate on the divine Mother of Srisailam — the lamp of the six stars, the chaste consort of Shiva, remover of the six inner foes (lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, envy), abiding within the six chakras as the supreme nectar, encircled by the six yoginis, dwelling within the six-cornered yantra, praised by the gods, present in the six states, the six-faced one.

Verse 5#

śrīnāthādṛtapālitatribhuvanāṃ śrīcakrasañcāriṇīṃ

श्रीनाथादृतपालितत्रिभुवनां श्रीचक्रसञ्चारिणीं ज्ञानासक्तमनोजयोगमहितां श्रीबिन्दुनादप्रियाम् मातंगीं मधुपानलोलमनसं माहेश्वरीं श्रीप्रदां श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये ५॥

śrīnāthādṛtapālitatribhuvanāṃ śrīcakrasañcāriṇīṃ jñānāsaktamanojayogamahitāṃ śrībindunādapriyām | mātaṅgīṃ madhupānalolamanasaṃ māheśvarīṃ śrīpradāṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 5||

Meaning5. I meditate on the divine Mother of Srisailam — who, cherished by the Lord of Shri (Vishnu/Shiva), protects the three worlds, who moves within the Sri Chakra, honoured by the yoga of the mind devoted to knowledge, beloved of the Bindu and Nada, who is Matangi, her mind delighting in the nectar-draught, the great Maheshwari, bestower of prosperity.

Verse 6#

lāvaṇyādhikabhūṣitāṅgalatikāṃ lākṣārasārañjitāṃ

लावण्याधिकभूषिताङ्गलतिकां लाक्षारसारञ्जितां सेवायातसमस्तदेववनितां सीमातिगास्थां शिवाम् वाणीवल्लभवासवप्रभृतिभिः संसेविताङ्घ्रिद्वयां श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये ६॥

lāvaṇyādhikabhūṣitāṅgalatikāṃ lākṣārasārañjitāṃ sevāyātasamastadevavanitāṃ sīmātigāsthāṃ śivām | vāṇīvallabhavāsavaprabhṛtibhiḥ saṃsevitāṅghridvayāṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 6||

Meaning6. I meditate on the divine Mother of Srisailam — her creeper-like body adorned with surpassing loveliness, tinged with red lac, attended by all the women of the gods who come to serve her, abiding beyond all bounds, the auspicious Shiva-Shakti, her two feet served by Brahma, Indra and the rest.

Verse 7#

dhanyāṃ somavibhāvanīyacaritāṃ dhātrādisampūjitāṃ

धन्यां सोमविभावनीयचरितां धात्रादिसम्पूजितां वेदान्तप्रतिपादितां भगवतीं श्रीशम्भुसम्मानिताम् नित्यं ब्रह्ममुखप्रकीर्तितयशां श्रीनारदाद्यैः स्तुतां श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये ७॥

dhanyāṃ somavibhāvanīyacaritāṃ dhātrādisampūjitāṃ vedāntapratipāditāṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīśambhusammānitām | nityaṃ brahmamukhaprakīrtitayaśāṃ śrīnāradādyaiḥ stutāṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 7||

Meaning7. I meditate on the divine Mother of Srisailam — the blessed one whose deeds are worthy of contemplation like the moon, worshipped by Brahma and the gods, expounded by Vedanta, honoured by Shri Shambhu (Shiva), her fame ever sung by the mouth of Brahma, praised by Narada and the other sages.

Verse 8#

gāyatrīṃ garuḍadhvajāṃ gaganagāṃ gāndharvagānapriyāṃ

गायत्रीं गरुडध्वजां गगनगां गान्धर्वगानप्रियां गम्भीरां गजगामिनीं गिरिसुतां गन्धाक्षतालङ्कृताम् गङ्गागौतमगर्गसन्नुतपदां गां गौतमीं गोमतीं श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीं भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये ८॥

gāyatrīṃ garuḍadhvajāṃ gaganagāṃ gāndharvagānapriyāṃ gambhīrāṃ gajagāminīṃ girisutāṃ gandhākṣatālaṅkṛtām | gaṅgāgautamagargasannutapadāṃ gāṃ gautamīṃ gomatīṃ śrīśailasthalavāsinīṃ bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye || 8||

Meaning8. I meditate on the divine Mother of Srisailam — who is Gayatri, who bears Garuda on her banner, who moves through the sky, who loves celestial (Gandharva) song, the profound one, moving with an elephant's grace, the daughter of the mountain, adorned with sandal and sacred rice, whose feet are praised by Ganga and sages Gautama and Garga — who is the Earth (Go), the Gautami (Godavari) and the Gomati.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

चाञ्चल्यारुणलोचनाम्
cāñcalya-aruṇa-locanāṃ
with restless, reddish (compassionate) eyes
अञ्चितकृपाम्
añcita-kṛpāṃ
full of (curved with) grace
चारुस्मेरमुखीम्
cāru-smera-mukhīṃ
with a lovely, smiling face
चराचरजगत्संरक्षणीम्
carācara-jagat-saṃrakṣaṇīṃ
the protectress of the whole world of moving and unmoving beings
श्रीशैलस्थलवासिनीम्
śrīśaila-sthala-vāsinīṃ
she who dwells in the holy place of Srisailam
भगवतीं श्रीमातरं भावये
bhagavatīṃ śrīmātaraṃ bhāvaye
I meditate on the Goddess, the divine Mother
कस्तूरीतिलकाञ्चितेन्दु
kastūrī-tilaka-añcita-indu
her brow graced with a musk tilaka, shining like the moon
नतानन्दिनीम्
nata-ānandinīṃ
she who delights those who bow to her
राजन्मत्तमरालमन्दगमनाम्
rājan-matta-marāla-manda-gamanāṃ
with a gait gentle as a regal, exultant swan
राकेन्दुबिम्बाननाम्
rāka-indu-bimba-ānanāṃ
with a face like the orb of the full moon
षट्चक्रान्तरसंस्थिताम्
ṣaṭ-cakra-antara-saṃsthitāṃ
established within the six chakras
षड्योगिनीवेष्टिताम्
ṣaḍ-yoginī-veṣṭitāṃ
surrounded by the six yoginis
श्रीचक्रसञ्चारिणीम्
śrī-cakra-sañcāriṇīṃ
she who moves within the Sri Chakra
श्रीबिन्दुनादप्रियाम्
śrī-bindu-nāda-priyāṃ
beloved of the Bindu and Nada (the subtle point and sound)
मातंगीम्
mātaṅgīṃ
Matangi (the Goddess as the daughter of sage Matanga)
माहेश्वरीं श्रीप्रदाम्
māheśvarīṃ śrī-pradāṃ
the great sovereign Goddess, bestower of prosperity
लावण्याधिकभूषिताङ्गलतिकाम्
lāvaṇya-adhika-bhūṣita-aṅga-latikāṃ
whose creeper-like body is adorned with surpassing loveliness
वाणीवल्लभवासव
vāṇī-vallabha-vāsava
by Brahma (beloved of Vani/Saraswati), Indra (Vasava) and others
वेदान्तप्रतिपादिताम्
vedānta-pratipāditāṃ
she who is expounded by Vedanta
गायत्रीं गरुडध्वजाम्
gāyatrīṃ garuḍa-dhvajāṃ
who is Gayatri, who bears Garuda on her banner
गजगामिनीं गिरिसुताम्
gaja-gāminīṃ giri-sutāṃ
with the gait of an elephant, the daughter of the mountain (Parvati)
गङ्गागौतमगर्गसन्नुतपदाम्
gaṅgā-gautama-garga-sannuta-padāṃ
whose feet are praised by Ganga and by sages Gautama and Garga

Origin & History

Source: Devotional hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (associated with the Srisailam Shakti Peetha)

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: c. 8th century CE (traditional attribution)

Srisailam, on the banks of the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh, is unique as both a Jyotirlinga (Mallikarjuna) and a Maha Shakti Peetha (Bhramaramba). The Goddess is celebrated as Bhramari, who took the form of a swarm of bees to slay the demon Arunasura. Adi Shankaracharya, on his pilgrimage to this great kshetra, is traditionally said to have composed the Bhramaramba Ashtakam in her praise, weaving together her beauty, her presence in the Sri Vidya tradition, and her identity with the cosmic Mother.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Bhramaramba?
Bhramaramba (Bhramarambika) is the Goddess enshrined at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh as the consort (Shakti) of Lord Mallikarjuna, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Srisailam is also one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas. 'Bhramaramba' means 'the Mother of bees', recalling the legend in which the Goddess took the form of bees to destroy a demon.
Who composed the Bhramaramba Ashtakam?
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, said to have been composed during his pilgrimage to Srisailam. He composed several hymns to the Divine Mother at the holy sites he visited.
What is the refrain of the Bhramaramba Ashtakam?
Every verse ends with 'Sri-shaila-sthala-vasinim Bhagavatim Sri-mataram bhavaye' — 'I meditate on the Goddess, the divine Mother who dwells at Srisailam.' The repeated 'bhavaye' makes the whole hymn a sustained meditation.
Why is the eighth verse special?
The eighth verse is a beautiful alliterative garland in which nearly every epithet of the Goddess begins with the syllable 'ga' — Gayatri, Garuda-dhwaja, Giri-suta (Parvati), Gautami (Godavari), Gomati and more — a poetic flourish typical of Shankaracharya.

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