Madhurasthakam

Madhurasthakam, composed by Sri Vallabhacharya

Janmashtami is also known as Gokulashtami, Krishnasthami, Srijayanti. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna took birth in the most auspicious composition of stars, and, on the eighth day of Bhadrapad month (Ashtmi).That is why this festival that celebrates the birth of Shri Krishna is called Janamashtmi. According to the Christian calendar, it is celebrated in the months of July-August and in 2009 it will fall on 14th August.

On this occasion of Janmashtami, it would be appropriate to recall one of the most illustrious devotees of Lord Krishna who was born in 1479-1531.His name is Mahaprabhu Srimad Vallabhacharya.

Mahaprabhu Srimad Vallabhacharya (1479-1531)is one of the greatest sage- philosophers of India, who belonged to a Telugu family. Vallabha Acharya occupies a unique place in Indian culture as a scholar, a philosopher and devotional (bhakti) preacher. He is especially known as a lover and a propagator of Bhagavata Dharma, teaching the path of Pushti-Marga, or the "path of grace", during the 16th century.His Bhakthi was much more than devotion.It was becoming mad in the thought of God.According to him the devotee does not see anything except his Lord everywhere.

The Madhurasthakam, composed by Sri Vallabhacharya, is a unique stotra, describing the Sweetness of Lord Sri Krishna. Madhurashtakam was originally written in Sanskrit and is easily understood. Ashtakam means poem with eight verses.

The Madhurasthakam uses just one adjective, "Maduram", meaning sweet or beautiful etc., to describe the lovely attributes of Lord Sri Krishna's beautiful form, who is the master of Sweetness and Sweetness personified.

The ashtakam look at not only the beautiful divine sweet form [sarvanga sundara rupam] of Lord Krishna but also the very existence of the Lord -- by way of His moves, plays, pastimes, etc. .I enjoy while reciting this ashtakam. It is one of my favourite sloga.

Adharam Madhuram, Vadanam Madhram,

Nayanam Madhuram, Hasitham Maduram,

Hrudhayam Madhuram, Gamanam Maduram,

Madhuradhipather Akhilam Madhuram. 1

Krishna your lips are sweet, your face is sweet,

your eyes are sweet, your smile is sweet,

your loving heart is sweet, your gait (walk) is sweet,

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet . You are king of all sweetness in this world.

Vachanam Madhuram, Charitham Madhuram,

Vasanam Madhuram, Valitham Madhuram,

Chalitham Madhuram, Bramitham Maduram,

Madhurathipather Akhilam Madhuram. 2

Krishna your words are sweet, Your story is sweet,

Your dress (garment) is sweet, Your posture is sweet,

Your movements are sweet, Your wandering /movements is sweet,

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet. You are king of all sweetness in this world. ..

Venur Madhura, Renur Madhura,

Panir Madhura, Padhou Madhura,

Nrithyam Madhuram, Sakhyam MadhuraM,

Madurathipather Akhilam Maduram. 3

Krishna your flute-playing is sweet, Your foot-dust is sweet,

Your hands are sweet, Your feet are sweet,

Your dancing is sweet, Your friendship is sweet,.

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet. You are king of all sweetness in this world.

Geetham Madhuram, Peetham Madhuram,

Bhuktham Madhuram,Suptham Madhuram,

Roopam Madhuram, Thilakam Madhuram

Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram. 4

Krishna your song is sweet, Your drinking is sweet,

Your eating is sweet, Your sleeping is sweet,

Your beautiful form is sweet, Your Tilaka (mark on the forehead) is sweet,.

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet. You are king of all sweetness in this world.

Karanam Madhram, Tharanam Madhuram,

Haranam Madhuram, Ramanam Madhuram,

Vamitham Madhuram, Samitham Maduram,

Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.

Krishna your deeds (activities) are sweet, Your conquest (liberating) is sweet,

Your thieving (stealing) is sweet, Your love is sweet,

Your oblations (offerings) are sweet, Your countenance is sweet,

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet. You are king of all sweetness in this world.

Gunja Madhura, Mala Madhura,

Yamuna Madhura, Veechi Madhura,

Salilam Madhuram, Kamalam Madhuram,

Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram. 6

Krishna your necklace is sweet, Your flower garland is sweet,

the Yamuna river is sweet, and sweet are her rippling waves,

so the water is sweet, and So sweet are the lotus flowers also,

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet. You are king of all sweetness in this world

Gopi Madhura, Leela Madhura,

Yuktham Madhuram, Muktham Madhuram,

Drishtam Madhuram,Sishtam Madhram,

Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram7

Krishna your gopis (cowherd girlfriends) are sweet, Your leela(plays) are sweet,

His union (meeting him) is sweet, You salvage is sweet,

You glances are sweet (Sweet is what you see), Krishna,, Your politeness (etiquette) is sweet,

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet. You are king of all sweetness in this world.

Gopa Madhura, Gavo Madhura,

Yashtir Madhura, Srushtir Madhra,

Dhalitham Madhram, Phalitham Madhuram,

Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram. 8

Krishna your gopas (cowherd boyfriends) are sweet, Your cows are sweet,

Your cane (herding-stick) is sweet, Your creation is sweet,

Your victory is sweet, Your fulfilment is sweet,

The Lord of Mathura Everything in the world is completely sweet. You are king of all sweetness in this world.