vishnukrishnaguruvayurguruvayurappan

Vatapuranatha Ashtakam (Guruvayurappan)

श्री वातपुरनाथाष्टकम्

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Morning after bath, or during darshan; especially Ekadashi, Ashtami Rohini (Krishna Janmashtami) and Guruvayur festival days·📜 Sri Vatapuranatha Ashtakam (hymn to Guruvayurappan)

Also known as: vatapuranatha ashtakam · vatha pura nadha ashtakam · guruvayurappan ashtakam · guruvayur ashtakam · kundasumavrnda samamandahasitasyam · vatapuresha ashtakam

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Vatapuranatha Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn to Vatapuranatha — the Lord of Vatapura, that is, Guruvayurappan, the form of Krishna-Vishnu enshrined at the great Guruvayur temple in Kerala. Composed by the renowned scholar Mahamahopadhyaya Ganapati Sastri while at Guruvayur, every verse closes with the refrain 'establish this Lord of Guruvayur in the lotus of your heart'. It lovingly describes the Lord's jasmine-soft smile, cloud-dark beauty and protecting, healing grace.

Origin & Story

Sri Vatapuranatha Ashtakam (hymn to Guruvayurappan) · Mahamahopadhyaya Brahmasri Ganapati Sastri · Modern (composed at Guruvayur)

This ashtakam was composed by the great Sanskrit savant Mahamahopadhyaya Ganapati Sastri during his stay at the Guruvayur temple in Kerala, overwhelmed by the beauty of Lord Guruvayurappan. Set in an intricate, musical metre, its eight verses describe the Lord's jasmine-soft smile, His cloud-dark form, His childhood sports, and His grace as protector and healer of His devotees, each verse ending with the loving instruction to enshrine Him in the heart-lotus.

✦ As told in scripture

Guruvayur is renowned for miraculous cures: the saint-poet Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri is said to have been freed of crippling paralysis by composing the Narayaniyam before Guruvayurappan, and countless devotees through the centuries have reported the Lord of Vatapura healing their ailments when they took refuge in Him.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

कुन्दसुमवृन्दसममन्दहसितास्यं नन्दकुलनन्दभरतुन्दलनकन्दम् । पूतनिजगीतलवधूतदुरितं तं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ १ ॥

kundasumavṛndasamamandahasitāsyaṃ nandakulanandabharatundalanakandam | pūtanijagītalavadhūtaduritaṃ taṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 1 ||

Meaning:Establish in the lotus of your heart that Lord of Vatapura (Guruvayur), whose face wears a gentle smile soft as a cluster of jasmine blossoms, who is the abundant delight of Nanda's clan, and who washes away sin from those who sing His glory in purity. (1)

Verse 2

नीलतरजालधरभालहरिरम्यं लोलतरशीलयुतबालजनलीलम् । जालनतिशीलमपि पालयितुकामं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ २ ॥

nīlatarajāladharabhālahariramyaṃ lolataraśīlayutabālajanalīlam | jālanatiśīlamapi pālayitukāmaṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 2 ||

Meaning:Establish in your heart's lotus that Lord of Guruvayur, lovely and dark as a deep rain-bearing cloud, given to the sweet sports of childhood, who longs to protect even those who but slightly bow to Him. (2)

Verse 3

कंसरणहिंसमिह संसरणजात- क्लान्तिभरशान्तिकरकान्तिझरवीतम् । वातमुखधातुजनिपातभयघातं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ ३ ॥

kaṃsaraṇahiṃsamiha saṃsaraṇajāta- klāntibharaśāntikarakāntijharavītam | vātamukhadhātujanipātabhayaghātaṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 3 ||

Meaning:Establish in your heart that Lord of Guruvayur, the slayer of Kamsa, who is bathed in a peace-giving cascade of radiance that stills the weariness of the round of births, and who destroys the fear of afflictions arising from the (three) humours such as wind. (3)

Verse 4

जातुधुरिपातुकमिहातुरजनं द्राक् शोकभरमूकमपि तोकमिव पान्तम् । भृङ्गरुचिसङ्गरकृदङ्गलतिकं तं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ ४ ॥

jātudhuripātukamihāturajanaṃ drāk śokabharamūkamapi tokamiva pāntam | bhṛṅgarucisaṅgarakṛdaṅgalatikaṃ taṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 4 ||

Meaning:Establish in your heart that Lord of Guruvayur, ever ready to protect the suffering, swiftly guarding even the soul rendered mute by the weight of grief as a parent guards a child — He whose body is graceful as a creeper with the dark lustre of a bee. (4)

Verse 5

पापभवतापभरकोपशमनार्था- श्वासकरभासमृदुहासरुचिरास्यम् । रोगचयभोगभयवेगहरमेकं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ ५ ॥

pāpabhavatāpabharakopaśamanārthā- śvāsakarabhāsamṛduhāsarucirāsyam | rogacayabhogabhayavegaharamekaṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 5 ||

Meaning:Establish in your heart that one Lord of Guruvayur, whose radiant face, lovely with a soft, reassuring smile, is bent on quelling the heat and anger born of sin and worldly life, and who removes the onrush of disease, fear and harmful pleasures. (5)

Verse 6

घोषकुलदोषहरवेषमुपयान्तं पूषशतदूषकविभूषणगणाढ्यम् । भुक्तिमपि मुक्तिमतिभक्तिषु ददानं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ ६ ॥

ghoṣakuladoṣaharaveṣamupayāntaṃ pūṣaśatadūṣakavibhūṣaṇagaṇāḍhyam | bhuktimapi muktimatibhaktiṣu dadānaṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 6 ||

Meaning:Establish in your heart that Lord of Guruvayur, who appears in a guise that removes the troubles of the cowherd folk, rich with ornaments that outshine a hundred suns, and who bestows upon the deeply devoted both worldly enjoyment and liberation. (6)

Verse 7

पापकदुरापमतितापहरशोभ- स्वापघनमामतदुमापतिसमेतम् । दूनतरदीनसुखदानकृतदीक्षं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ ७ ॥

pāpakadurāpamatitāpaharaśobha- svāpaghanamāmatadumāpatisametam | dūnataradīnasukhadānakṛtadīkṣaṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 7 ||

Meaning:Establish in your heart that Lord of Guruvayur, whose beauty is hard for the wicked to attain and dispels great anguish — a very rain-cloud of repose — present here with the Lord of Uma (Shiva), and consecrated to granting happiness to the deeply afflicted and the destitute. (7)

Verse 8

पादपतदादरणमोदपरिपूर्णं जीवमुखदेवजनसेवनफलाङ्घ्रिम् । रूक्षभवमोक्षकृतदीक्षनिजवीक्षं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे ॥ ८ ॥

pādapatadādaraṇamodaparipūrṇaṃ jīvamukhadevajanasevanaphalāṅghrim | rūkṣabhavamokṣakṛtadīkṣanijavīkṣaṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 8 ||

Meaning:Establish in your heart that Lord of Guruvayur, brimming with delight at the reverence of those who fall at His feet — whose feet are the fruit of all service offered by living beings and the gods — and whose very glance is vowed to liberating souls from harsh worldly existence. (8)

Verse 9

॥ इति महामहोपाध्याय ब्रह्मश्री गणपतिशास्त्रिविरचितं श्रीवातपुरनाथाष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥

|| iti mahāmahopādhyāya brahmaśrī gaṇapatiśāstriviracitaṃ śrīvātapuranāthāṣṭakam sampūrṇam ||

Meaning:Thus is completed the Sri Vatapuranatha Ashtakam composed by Mahamahopadhyaya Brahmasri Ganapati Sastri.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

कुन्दसुमवृन्दसम🔊kundasumavṛndasamaLike a cluster of jasmine flowers

मन्दहसितास्यं🔊mandahasitāsyaṃWhose face wears a gentle smile

नन्दकुलनन्द🔊nandakulanandaThe joy/delight of the clan of Nanda (the cowherds)

वातपुरनाथम्🔊vātapuranāthamThe Lord of Vatapura (Guruvayur) — i.e. Guruvayurappan

इमम् आतनु हृदब्जे🔊imam ātanu hṛdabjePlace (establish) Him in the lotus of (your) heart — the refrain of every verse

नीलतरजालधर🔊nīlatarajāladharaDark like a deep-blue rain cloud

बालजनलीलम्🔊bālajanalīlamWho sports with childlike beings / engaged in childhood play

पालयितुकामं🔊pālayitukāmaṃDesirous of protecting (those who bow to Him)

कंसरणहिंसम्🔊kaṃsaraṇahiṃsamThe slayer of Kamsa in battle

संसरणजातक्लान्ति🔊saṃsaraṇajātaklāntiThe weariness born of the cycle of worldly existence (samsara)

शान्तिकरकान्तिझरवीतम्🔊śāntikarakāntijharavītamPervaded by a peace-bestowing cascade of radiance

आतुरजनं द्राक् ... पान्तम्🔊āturajanaṃ drāk ... pāntamWho at once protects the afflicted, as a parent protects a child

तोकमिव पान्तम्🔊tokamiva pāntamProtecting (the devotee) as one would protect one's own child

पापभवतापभर🔊pāpabhavatāpabharaThe burning weight of sin and worldly existence

मृदुहासरुचिरास्यम्🔊mṛduhāsarucirāsyamWhose face is lovely with a soft, gentle smile

रोगचयभोगभयवेगहरम्🔊rogacayabhogabhayavegaharamWho removes the onrush of disease, fear and (harmful) indulgence

घोषकुलदोषहरवेषम्🔊ghoṣakuladoṣaharaveṣamWhose very appearance removes the troubles of the cowherd folk

भुक्तिमपि मुक्तिम् ... ददानं🔊bhuktimapi muktim ... dadānaṃWho grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation to His devotees

अतिभक्तिषु ददानं🔊atibhaktiṣu dadānaṃBestowing (these gifts) upon those of deep devotion

उमापतिसमेतम्🔊umāpatisametamAccompanied by the Lord of Uma (Shiva) — alluding to the Lord's grace upon Shiva at Guruvayur

मोक्षकृतदीक्ष🔊mokṣakṛtadīkṣaVowed/consecrated to granting liberation

जीवमुखदेवजनसेवनफलाङ्घ्रिम्🔊jīvamukhadevajanasevanaphalāṅghrimWhose feet are the very fruit of service rendered by living beings and the gods

Benefits of Chanting Vatapuranatha Ashtakam (Guruvayurappan)

✦

Invokes the grace of Guruvayurappan, the beloved Lord of Guruvayur (Kerala)

✦

Each verse anchors the Lord's beautiful form firmly in the devotee's heart through meditation

✦

Traditionally cherished for invoking the Lord's healing power over disease and affliction

✦

Cultivates deep, childlike devotion (bhakti) to Krishna-Vishnu

✦

Brings peace by stilling the weariness and fear born of worldly existence (samsara)

✦

Believed to grant both worldly well-being (bhukti) and liberation (mukti) to the devout

How to Chant Vatapuranatha Ashtakam (Guruvayurappan)

Repetitions8times

Best TimeMorning after bath, or during darshan; especially Ekadashi, Ashtami Rohini (Krishna Janmashtami) and Guruvayur festival days

Bathe and sit calmly facing an image of Guruvayurappan or Krishna. Recite the eight verses slowly and melodiously, and at each refrain 'vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje' visualise the dark-hued, smiling Lord and lovingly install Him in the lotus of your heart. It is especially dear to those who pray at Guruvayur for health and protection. Reciting all eight verses daily with devotion is the traditional practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vatapuranatha means 'the Lord of Vatapura'. Vatapura (the town of the wind-god Vayu) is Guruvayur, so Vatapuranatha is Guruvayurappan — the enchanting form of Krishna-Vishnu (holding conch, discus, mace and lotus) enshrined at the famous Guruvayur temple in Kerala, often called the 'Bhuloka Vaikuntha' (Vaikuntha on earth).

It was composed by Mahamahopadhyaya Brahmasri Ganapati Sastri, a celebrated Sanskrit scholar, who wrote this melodious eight-verse hymn while staying at Guruvayur, a disciple of Mannargudi Raja Sastrigal.

Every verse ends with 'vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje' — 'establish this Lord of Guruvayur in the lotus of your heart'. The whole ashtakam is thus a guided meditation that paints the Lord's beauty and gently installs Him within the devotee's heart.

Guruvayurappan is traditionally revered as a healer (the temple is linked with Dhanvantari and Ayurveda). The third and fifth verses specifically praise the Lord as one who removes the fear of diseases arising from the bodily humours and who quells the onrush of illness, so devotees seeking health hold this hymn especially dear.