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Vatapuranatha Ashtakam (Guruvayurappan) Meaning — Line by Line

श्री वातपुरनाथाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. kundasumavṛndasamamandahasitāsyaṃ
  2. Verse 2. nīlatarajāladharabhālahariramyaṃ
  3. Verse 3. kaṃsaraṇahiṃsamiha saṃsaraṇajāta-
  4. Verse 4. jātudhuripātukamihāturajanaṃ drāk
  5. Verse 5. pāpabhavatāpabharakopaśamanārthā-
  6. Verse 6. ghoṣakuladoṣaharaveṣamupayāntaṃ
  7. Verse 7. pāpakadurāpamatitāpaharaśobha-
  8. Verse 8. pādapatadādaraṇamodaparipūrṇaṃ
  9. Verse 9. || iti mahāmahopādhyāya brahmaśrī gaṇapatiśāstriviracitaṃ śrīvātapuranāthāṣṭakam sampūrṇam ||
Verse 1#

kundasumavṛndasamamandahasitāsyaṃ

कुन्दसुमवृन्दसममन्दहसितास्यं नन्दकुलनन्दभरतुन्दलनकन्दम् पूतनिजगीतलवधूतदुरितं तं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

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

MeaningEstablish 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#

nīlatarajāladharabhālahariramyaṃ

नीलतरजालधरभालहरिरम्यं लोलतरशीलयुतबालजनलीलम् जालनतिशीलमपि पालयितुकामं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

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

MeaningEstablish 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#

kaṃsaraṇahiṃsamiha saṃsaraṇajāta-

कंसरणहिंसमिह संसरणजात- क्लान्तिभरशान्तिकरकान्तिझरवीतम् वातमुखधातुजनिपातभयघातं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

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

MeaningEstablish 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#

jātudhuripātukamihāturajanaṃ drāk

जातुधुरिपातुकमिहातुरजनं द्राक् शोकभरमूकमपि तोकमिव पान्तम् भृङ्गरुचिसङ्गरकृदङ्गलतिकं तं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

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

MeaningEstablish 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#

pāpabhavatāpabharakopaśamanārthā-

पापभवतापभरकोपशमनार्था- श्वासकरभासमृदुहासरुचिरास्यम् रोगचयभोगभयवेगहरमेकं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

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

MeaningEstablish 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#

ghoṣakuladoṣaharaveṣamupayāntaṃ

घोषकुलदोषहरवेषमुपयान्तं पूषशतदूषकविभूषणगणाढ्यम् भुक्तिमपि मुक्तिमतिभक्तिषु ददानं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

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

MeaningEstablish 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#

pāpakadurāpamatitāpaharaśobha-

पापकदुरापमतितापहरशोभ- स्वापघनमामतदुमापतिसमेतम् दूनतरदीनसुखदानकृतदीक्षं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

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

MeaningEstablish 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#

pādapatadādaraṇamodaparipūrṇaṃ

पादपतदादरणमोदपरिपूर्णं जीवमुखदेवजनसेवनफलाङ्घ्रिम् रूक्षभवमोक्षकृतदीक्षनिजवीक्षं वातपुरनाथमिममातनु हृदब्जे

pādapatadādaraṇamodaparipūrṇaṃ jīvamukhadevajanasevanaphalāṅghrim | rūkṣabhavamokṣakṛtadīkṣanijavīkṣaṃ vātapuranāthamimamātanu hṛdabje || 8 ||

MeaningEstablish 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#

|| iti mahāmahopādhyāya brahmaśrī gaṇapatiśāstriviracitaṃ śrīvātapuranāthāṣṭakam sampūrṇam ||

इति महामहोपाध्याय ब्रह्मश्री गणपतिशास्त्रिविरचितं श्रीवातपुरनाथाष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम्

|| iti mahāmahopādhyāya brahmaśrī gaṇapatiśāstriviracitaṃ śrīvātapuranāthāṣṭakam sampūrṇam ||

MeaningThus is completed the Sri Vatapuranatha Ashtakam composed by Mahamahopadhyaya Brahmasri Ganapati Sastri.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

कुन्दसुमवृन्दसम
kundasumavṛndasama
Like a cluster of jasmine flowers
मन्दहसितास्यं
mandahasitāsyaṃ
Whose face wears a gentle smile
नन्दकुलनन्द
nandakulananda
The joy/delight of the clan of Nanda (the cowherds)
वातपुरनाथम्
vātapuranātham
The Lord of Vatapura (Guruvayur) — i.e. Guruvayurappan
इमम् आतनु हृदब्जे
imam ātanu hṛdabje
Place (establish) Him in the lotus of (your) heart — the refrain of every verse
नीलतरजालधर
nīlatarajāladhara
Dark like a deep-blue rain cloud
बालजनलीलम्
bālajanalīlam
Who sports with childlike beings / engaged in childhood play
पालयितुकामं
pālayitukāmaṃ
Desirous of protecting (those who bow to Him)
कंसरणहिंसम्
kaṃsaraṇahiṃsam
The slayer of Kamsa in battle
संसरणजातक्लान्ति
saṃsaraṇajātaklānti
The weariness born of the cycle of worldly existence (samsara)
शान्तिकरकान्तिझरवीतम्
śāntikarakāntijharavītam
Pervaded by a peace-bestowing cascade of radiance
आतुरजनं द्राक् ... पान्तम्
āturajanaṃ drāk ... pāntam
Who at once protects the afflicted, as a parent protects a child
तोकमिव पान्तम्
tokamiva pāntam
Protecting (the devotee) as one would protect one's own child
पापभवतापभर
pāpabhavatāpabhara
The burning weight of sin and worldly existence
मृदुहासरुचिरास्यम्
mṛduhāsarucirāsyam
Whose face is lovely with a soft, gentle smile
रोगचयभोगभयवेगहरम्
rogacayabhogabhayavegaharam
Who removes the onrush of disease, fear and (harmful) indulgence
घोषकुलदोषहरवेषम्
ghoṣakuladoṣaharaveṣam
Whose very appearance removes the troubles of the cowherd folk
भुक्तिमपि मुक्तिम् ... ददानं
bhuktimapi muktim ... dadānaṃ
Who grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation to His devotees
अतिभक्तिषु ददानं
atibhaktiṣu dadānaṃ
Bestowing (these gifts) upon those of deep devotion
उमापतिसमेतम्
umāpatisametam
Accompanied by the Lord of Uma (Shiva) — alluding to the Lord's grace upon Shiva at Guruvayur
मोक्षकृतदीक्ष
mokṣakṛtadīkṣa
Vowed/consecrated to granting liberation
जीवमुखदेवजनसेवनफलाङ्घ्रिम्
jīvamukhadevajanasevanaphalāṅghrim
Whose feet are the very fruit of service rendered by living beings and the gods

Origin & History

Source: Sri Vatapuranatha Ashtakam (hymn to Guruvayurappan)

Author: Mahamahopadhyaya Brahmasri Ganapati Sastri

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Vatapuranatha?
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).
Who composed the Vatapuranatha Ashtakam?
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.
What is the recurring line in the hymn?
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.
Why is the Lord associated with healing in this hymn?
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.

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