Sarabha Ashtakam

Sarabha Ashtakam
[Octet on Sarabha]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Sarabha is a fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva who subdued the great Narasimha incarnation of Vishnu after he killed Hiranya Kasipu . Sharabha is described in the form of a bird with golden colour, with two uplifted wings, two red eyes, four legs in the form of a lion touching the ground, four legs with claws upwards and with an animal tail. The top part of the body is shown as human but with the face of a lion with an ornamented crown; side tusks are also depicted giving an overall frightening sight. It also shows the Narasimha beneath Sharabha's legs as a human with Anjali (hands folded in prayer). Devotees of Goddess however are of the opinion that Sarabha failed in his mission and Goddess took the form of the thousand headed Prathyangira to do the Job. The followers of Lord Vishnu however are of the opinion that when Lakshmi sat on the lap of Narasimhamurthy, he became calm.]

Dhyanam

Chandrarkagni tri drishti kulisavara vana kachanjala ugra jihwa,
Kali Durga cha pakshou hrudaya jataraghou Bhairavo Badavagni,
Oorusthou vyadhi mruthyu sarabaka vara chandavathaa thileka,
Samhartha chs vachadrun vijayathi Sarabha saluva Pakshi Raja.

With moon, sun and fire as his three eyes, with moving fierce tongue which is like an axe,
With Kali and Durga as his wings, with heart and abdomen as Bhairava and fire in the ocean,
His thighs are diseases and death, the great Saraba is like storm,
He would kill all his enemies and Sarabha is like fierce king of birds.

Jwalana kutila kesam, Surya chadaragni nethram,
Nisitha kara nakha agram, dhootha hemadri deham,
Sarabha madha muneendrai sevyamaana, sithangam,
Pranatha bhaya vinasam Bhavayed Pakshi rajam.

With shining curved hairs, with sun, Moon and Fire as eyes,
With hands ending in very sharp nails, with very strong body like the golden mountain,
Sarabha who is like this is served by king of saints with camphor,
And if your salute him, that king of the birds would destroy all your fears.

Stotram

1. Devadhideva, jagan mayaya,
Shivaya nalika nibhananaya,
Sarvaaya bheemaya saradhipaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who is God of Gods, who is spread all over the world,
Who is Shiva, who is similar to a lotus flower,
And who is like a huge strong cloud.

2. Seethamsu choodaya Digambaraya,
Srushti sthithi dwamsana kaaranaaya,
Jada kalaabhaya, Jithendriyaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who wears the moon, who wears the directions as apparel,
Who is the reason for creation, upkeep and destruction,
Who has a matted hair and who has won over his senses.

3. Kalanga kandaaya bhavananthakaya,
Kapala kalanga karambujaya,
Bhujanga bhooshaya puranthakaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who has blue neck, who is the destroyer of earth,
Who is starved and holds the skull in his lotus like hands,
Who decorates himself with a snake and was the destroyer of three cities.

4. Samadhi shatkaya, Yamanthakaya,
Yamadhi yogashtka sidhidhaya,
Umadhi nathaya purathanaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who is expert in six types of deep meditation, Killer of Yama,
Who has realized the eight type of Yogas like self control,
Who is the Lord of Uma and one who is very old.

5. Grunadhi pasashtaka Varjithaya,
KIlikruthaasmath pathi porvakaaya,
Gunadhi heenaaya, guna thrayaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who avoids the six types of attachments like disgust,
Who makes us powerless as he was our lord earlier,
Who does not have any characteristics like the three types of Gunas. (Sathva, Rajas and Thamas.)

6. Kaaladhivedamrutha khandalaya,
Kalyana anaghou dhoohala karanaya,
Sthoolaya Sookshmaya swaroopakaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who is filled with nectar of Vedas from primeval times,
Who is the reason for freedom from auspiciousness,
And who has both forms of very huge as well as tiny.

7. Panchananaya, akhila bhaskaraya,
Pancha sathkarna paricharaya,
Panchaksharesaya jagasthithaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who has five faces, who gives light for all,
Who is honoured and served in five ways,
Who is the God of five letters and who stays in the universe.

8. Haraya Bheemaya, Haripriyaya,
Bhaavaya, Santhaya, parathparaya,
Mrudaya Rudraya, Trilochanaya,
Namosthu thubhyam Sarabheswaraya

I Salute you God Sarabha,
Who is the destroyer, very huge, one who likes Vishnu,
Who is divine, who is peaceful, who is superior to the best,
Who Is Shiva, Who is Rudra and who is three eyed.

Imam sthavam japedhyasthu Sarabesashtakam nara,
Thasya nasayanthi paavaani, ripavascha Surothama.

If this prayer called octet to Sarabha is chanted by men,
Then the great God will destroy all his sins as well as enemies.