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Sri Guru Devashtakam

By

Sri Viswanatha Chakravarthi Thakura

 

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

 

(Known also as Haricharan das, Takura belonged to the Guru lineage of Sri Chaithanya Maha Prabhu.  This great prayer is addressed to his Guru.  I became aware of it from a tamil translation of this prayer done by Sri Kannan of Navi  Mumbai and published in MUkthi Priya August , 2011 issue. I have also used the translation given to this octet in 

http://www.stephen-knapp.com/standard_hare_krishna_songs.htm)

 

 

1.Samsara davanala leeta loka thraanaya  karunya ghanaghanathwam ,

Prapthasya , kalyani gunarnavasya  Vande Guro , Sri Charanaravindham

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru,

Who saves people  who are being burnt in the forest fire of Samasra,(domestic life)

Who is the rich  cloud which showers mercy,

And who is the sea of endless auspicious qualities.

 

2.Maha prabho,keerthava , nruthya , githa vadhithra maadhyan manaso rasena.

Romancha kampasru tharangabhajo, Vande Guro  Sri Charanaravindham.

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru,

Who sings songs of the great Lord* while dancing and playing musical instruments,

While  his mind  is full of the nectar of love towards him,

Making his hairs stand erect , his body shiver and his tears flow like waves.

     *Refers to Sage Chaithanya Maha Prabhu/Lord Krishna

 

3.Sri Vigraharadhana nithya naanaa srungara thanmandhira marjannadhi,

Yukthasya  bhakthamscha niyymjathopi, Vandhe Guro Sri Charanaravindham.

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru who is engaged in worship of God’s idol,

Though several devotees have been appointed,

For  various decorative works washing and cleaning the temple .

 

4.Chathurvida Sri bhagawat prasda, swadannathrupthaan hari bhaktha sanghaan,

Kruthyaiva  thrupthi bhajatha  sadaiva, Vandhe Guro Sri Charanaravindham

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru,  who used to get satisfied ,

By offering  to the God four types of offerings(That which can be chewed, sucked, licked and drunk)

And see the crowds of devotees taking these offerings  and getting satisfied.

 

5.Sri Radhika  madhavayor apara  madhurya leelaa guna roopa naamnaam,

Pratheekshan aswadhana  lolulupasya, Vandhe Guro Sri Charanaravindham

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru,  who was interested in enjoying,

The very  great sweet plays of Krishna and Radha ,

Their auspicious forms as well  as  their divine names.

 

6.Nikujjayoono  rathi keli  sidhayai yaayalibhir yukthir apekshaneeya,

Thathraathi dakshayadhathi  vallabhasya ,Vandhe Guro Sri Charanaravindham

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru,   because  he was an expert ,

In assisting the friends of  Radha and Krishna in making arrangements,

For their enjoyable love play .

 

7.Sakshaad harithwena  samastha  sasthrair rukthasthadha bhavyatha  yeva sadabhi,

Kinthu prabhorya  Priya yeva  thasya, Vandhe Guro Sri Charanaravindham

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru,  Who is considered equal to Hari,

By all Sasthras , which is agreed upon by greatly good people,

But he himself  only thinks  that he is one dear  to the Lord.

 

8.Yasya prasadath bhagawath prasado , yasya aprasadaan na  gathi kuthopi,

Dhyayamsthvam  thasya  yasas thri sanadhayam, Vandhe Guro Sri Charanaravindham

 

I salute the lotus like feet of the Guru,  Whose joy is the joy of the God,

And whose displeasure   shuts off all further path,

And who Sould be  meditated  three times at dawn, noon and dusk.

 

9.Srimadh gurorashtakam yethad uchai  brahme muhoorthe padathi prayathnaath

Yasthena vrundavana nadha  sakshaath sevaiva labhyaajanushonthi yeva.

 

Effort of  reading loudly this octet  addressed to the Guru, in very early morning,

Would  lead devotes  at the end of their lives,  to become servants  of the real Lord of Brindavan.