Yoga and its Attainment Narayaneeyam Dashaka -4

The author of "Narayaneeyam", Bhattatiri is talking to the Lord in this episode.

  Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 01

कल्यतां मम कुरुष्व तावतीं कल्यते भवदुपासनं यया ।
स्पष्टमष्टविधयोगचर्यया पुष्टयाशु तव तुष्टिमाप्नुयाम् ॥१॥

kalyataaM mama kuruShva taavatiiM kalyate bhavadupaasanaM yayaa |

spaShTamaShTavidhayOgacharyayaa puShTayaa(a)(a)shu tava tuShTimaapnuyaam || 1

Bhattatiri,implores upon the Lord of Guruvayoor to bless him with normal health necessary to worship Thee. Then he shall practice the eight-limbed yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) and earn Thy grace. As per the  "ASHTANGA YOGA", the purpose of lifeis to worship the Lord through the eight-fold steps leading to spiritual realization.The eight limbs are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama,Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.

 

Dasakam: 04 -- Shlokam: 02

 ब्रह्मचर्यदृढतादिभिर्यमैराप्लवादिनियमैश्च पाविता: ।
कुर्महे दृढममी सुखासनं पङ्कजाद्यमपि वा भवत्परा: ॥२॥

  brahmacharya dR^iDhataadibhiryamairaaplavaadi niyamaishcha paavitaaH |

kurmahe dR^iDhamamii sukhaasanaM pankajaadyamapi vaa bhavatparaaH ||2

O Lord, give me that much of healthwhich will enable me to perform Thy worship.Soon I will observe the disciplines of self -control (Yama)and also follow a code of conduct (Niyama)like taking baths at the proper hour etc.Thereafter I will sit in an appropriate posture (Asana)like Padmasana or Sukhasana etc.I will then control and regulate breathing (Pranayama)and steadily withdraw the sense organs from sense objects (Pratyahara).Afterwards, I will try hard to fix my mind (Dharana)on the lotus feet of the hazily perceived form of the Lord. I (we) will then practice steady postures (Asanaa) like Sukhaasanaa and Padmaasanaa etc. for meditating on.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 03

तारमन्तरनुचिन्त्य सन्ततं प्राणवायुमभियम्य निर्मला: ।
इन्द्रियाणि विषयादथापहृत्यास्महे भवदुपासनोन्मुखा: ॥३॥

taaramantaranuchintya santataM praaNavaayumabhiyamya nirmalaaH |

indriyaaNi viShayaadathaapahR^ityaa(a)(a)smahe bhavadupaasanOnmukhaaH || 3

O Lord! by regulating my breath through Pranayama and having purified myself I will continuously chant the Pranava (Om) mantra mentally. Thus, withdrawing my senses from the sense objects, and being purified, I will prepare myself for meditation on Thee. When I will succeed in this effort,I can go in for meditation (Dhyana) on your beautiful form.This will ultimately lead me to the experienceof the Bliss of Brahmic Realization (Samadhi).

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 04

 अस्फुटे वपुषि ते प्रयत्नतो धारयेम धिषणां मुहुर्मुहु: ।

तेन भक्तिरसमन्तरार्द्रतामुद्वहेम भवदङ्घ्रिचिन्तका ॥४॥

asphuTe vapuShi te prayatnatO dhaarayema dhiShaNaaM muhurmuhuH |

tena bhaktirasamantaraardrataamudvahema bhavadanghrichintakaaH || 4

O Lord! I will then start meditating on Thee. Initially with great effort I shall try to fix my mind on Thy form, which is intangible. But by meditating onThy lotus feet again and again Through repeated effort I shall try to focus my mind on Thy form which I shall try to capture the ecstasy of true devotion. I shall attain bliss of devotion and tenderness of heart.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 05

विस्फुटावयवभेदसुन्दरं त्वद्वपु: सुचिरशीलनावशात् ।
अश्रमं मनसि चिन्तयामहे ध्यानयोगनिरतास्त्वदाश्रयाः ॥५॥

visphuTaavayavabhedasundaraM tvadvapuH suchirashiilanaavashaat |

ashramaM manasi chintayaamahe dhyaanayOganirataastvadaashrayaaH ||5

O Lord! I, By intense and repeated effort I shall be able to visualize through my mind's eye the loveliness of each and every limb of Thy divine form and effortlessly meditate on it. So I will devote myself to meditation, without any effort, always surrendering to Thee.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 06

ध्यायतां सकलमूर्तिमीदृशीमुन्मिषन्मधुरताहृतात्मनाम् ।
सान्द्रमोदरसरूपमान्तरं ब्रह्म रूपमयि तेऽवभासते ॥६॥

dhyaayataaM sakala muurtimiidR^ishiiM unmiShanmadhurataa hR^itaatmanaam |

saandramOda rasa ruupamaantaraM brahmaruupamayi te(a)vabhaasate ||

O Lord! By thus performing dhyaana on Thee and getting captivated by the sweetness of Thy formful aspect (Saguna), and gradually their minds shall enjoy the concentrated bliss of Thy impersonal aspect (Nirguna), which shines as the Brahman or eternal truth and bliss.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 07

तत्समास्वदनरूपिणीं स्थितिं त्वत्समाधिमयि विश्वनायक ।
आश्रिता: पुनरत: परिच्युतावारभेमहि च धारणादिकम् ॥७॥

tatsamaasvadanaruupiNiiM sthitiM tvatsamaadhimayi vishvanaayaka

aashritaaH punarataH parichyutaavaarabhemahi cha dhaaraNaadikam ||

O Lord of the Universe! When I have attained that state of experiencing Thee as the Brahman, i.e. Nirvikalpa Samaadhi, which is supreme bliss ,if I slip down from that state, I shall again start the meditation process from Dhaarana  and follow the same steps in ascending order.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 08

 इत्थमभ्यसननिर्भरोल्लसत्त्वत्परात्मसुखकल्पितोत्सवा: ।
मुक्तभक्तकुलमौलितां गता: सञ्चरेम शुकनारदादिवत् ॥८॥

itthamabhyasana nirbharOllasat tvatparaatmasukha kalpitOtsavaaH |

muktabhaktakulamaulitaaM gataaH sa~ncharema shukanaaradaadivat || 8

Oh Guruvayurappa! The constant practice of this process of concentration is in itself an enjoyableexperience in the attainment of supreme bliss. Our souls will be liberated by thisprocess and be free to wander about like the most exalted devotees. O Lord, Bless me to move about like Narada and Sukadeva who are always established in Thee and are ever singing Thy glory.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 09

त्वत्समाधिविजये तु य: पुनर्मङ्क्षु मोक्षरसिक: क्रमेण वा ।
योगवश्यमनिलं षडाश्रयैरुन्नयत्यज सुषुम्नया शनै: ॥९॥

tvatsamaadhivijaye tu yaH punarma~Nkshu mOksharasikaH krameNa vaa |

yOgavashyamanilaM ShaDaashrayairunnayatyaja suShumnayaa shanaiH || 9

O Lord! the Yogi who attains the final stage of Samadhi, is able to control his life breath and draw it upward long the Sushumna nerve past the six nerve centres in his quest for salvation. Otherwise, he passes through various planes of experiencein higher worlds and finally merges with the Supreme in Kramamukthi.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 10

लिङ्गदेहमपि सन्त्यजन्नथो लीयते त्वयि परे निराग्रह: ।
ऊर्ध्वलोककुतुकी तु मूर्धत: सार्धमेव करणैर्निरीयते ॥१०॥

lingadehamapi santyajannathO liiyate tvayi pare niraagrahaH |

uurdhvalOkakutukii tu muurdhataH saardhameva karaNairniriiyate || 10

Oh Guruvayurappa! One who is leaving this earthly body gives up through his Aagyaa chakra his gross body as well as the subtle bodies and merges in Thee. The one who desires to visit the heavenly regions Kramamukthi"before attaining liberation he passes through various planes of experiencein higher worlds and goes out through the orifice in the crown of the head ( the Brahmarandhra).

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 11

 अग्निवासरवलर्क्षपक्षगैरुत्तरायणजुषा च दैवतै: ।
प्रापितो रविपदं भवत्परो मोदवान् ध्रुवपदान्तमीयते ॥११॥

agnivaasaravalarkshapakshagair uttaraayaNajuShaa cha daivataiH |

praapitO ravipadaM bhavatparO mOdavaan dhruvapadaantamiiyate || 11

O Lord of the Universe, Thy devotee who follows the Krama Mukti path is led by the presiding deities of fire, day time, the bright fortnight, and Uttaraayana to the plane of the sun and enjoying in each of these spheres and goes on to the world of Dhruva.Then  the Yogi is not born again into this world.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 12

आस्थितोऽथ महरालये यदा शेषवक्त्रदहनोष्मणार्द्यते ।
ईयते भवदुपाश्रयस्तदा वेधस: पदमत: पुरैव वा ॥१२॥

aasthitO(a)tha maharaalaye yadaa sheShavaktradahanOShmaNaardyate |

iiyate bhavadupaashrayastadaa vedasaH padamataH puraiva vaa || 12

Oh Guruvayurappa! Reaching the abode of Dhruvapadam Then, after a long sojourn proceeds to Maharloka. Thy devotee, as soon as he is afflicted by the scorching fire eminates from the mouth of Aadishesha, he takes refuge in Thee or even before that, reachesSatyaloka or the world of Brahma.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 13

तत्र वा तव पदेऽथवा वसन् प्राकृतप्रलय एति मुक्तताम् ।
स्वेच्छया खलु पुरा विमुच्यते संविभिद्य जगदण्डमोजसा ॥१३॥

tasya cha kshitipayO mahO(a)niladyOmahatprakR^iti saptakaavR^itiiH |

 svechChayaa khalu puraa vimuchyate sanvibhidya jagadaNDamOjasaa || 13

Oh Guruvayurappa! Residing there in Brahmaloka or in Thy abode, Vaikuntha, he is liberated at the time of Maha Pralaya. Thy devotee attains salvation at his own will, breaking through the Brahmanda and releasing himself by his yogic power and is not born again into this world.

Dasakam: 004 -- Shlokam: 14

तस्य च क्षितिपयोमहोऽनिलद्योमहत्प्रकृतिसप्तकावृती: ।
तत्तदात्मकतया विशन् सुखी याति ते पदमनावृतं विभो ॥१४॥

archiraadigatimiidR^ishiiM vrajan vichyutiM na bhajate jagatpate |

tattadaatmakatayaa vishan sukhii yaati te padamanaavR^itaM vibhO ||14

Oh Lord ! Thy devotee enters each of the seven sheath of the cosmic sphere,i.e. earth, water, fire, air, space, the cosmic intelligence, and primordial nature. Thy devotee breaks through all these barriers and enjoys the bliss and finally  reach Thy unobstructed stateand merge in Thee  and attains salvation at Thy lotus feet.

Dasakam 04    Shlogam-15

अर्चिरादिगतिमीदृशीं व्रजन् विच्युतिं न भजते जगत्पते ।
सच्चिदात्मक भवत् गुणोदयानुच्चरन्तमनिलेश पाहि माम् ॥१५॥

tatra vaa tava pade(a)thavaa vasan praakR^itapralaya eti muktataam |

sachchidaatmaka bhavadguNOdayaanuchcharantamanilesha paahi maam ||15

O Lord of the Universe! The devotee who successfully completes this arduous soul does not fall any more to the netherworlds. O Lord of Guruvaayur! who art the embodiment of truth and reality ; . I am Thy humble devotee singing Thy praises. Please protect me!

Narayaneeyam-Introduction

The Narayaneeyam, a great Sanskrit epic, is a brilliant condensation in 1036 shlokams (stanzas) of the great epic Bhaagavatham composed by Sage Vyaasa. The theme of Narayaneeyam is based on the stories in Bhagavatham; it is, almost, an epitome of the great Purana. But unlike Vyasa, who has introduced in the first 'Skandha' itself, the speaker (Sree Suka Brahmarshi) and the listener (Emperor Pareekshith), the poet himself is the speaker in Narayaneeyam, who sings before the Lord Guruvayurappan, in a sublime tune about His glories and prays to Him to bless him to be cured of his disease.



In literary merit, the Narayaneeyam holds pride of place in Sanskrit poetry, at par with the works of Kalidasa and other eminent poets. It is divided into 100 Dasakams, most of which comprise ten shlokams (verses) each - with a few of them running into 11, 12 or 13 verses; the maximum number being 15 verses in Dasakam 4, and a solitary Dasakam (Dasakam 65) comprising 9 verses. The final verse of every Dasakam concludes with an invocation to the Lord of Guruvayur to cure him of all his illnesses and protect him from all afflictions and sorrows. In all, the Narayaneeyam consists of 1034 verses. Some versions include two extra verses at the end of Dasakam 45, making a total of 1036 verses.



The Narayaneeyam in unique in the conversational mode employed by the poet, of addressing the Lord in the second person from start to finish. According to legend, after setting out certain important incidents, or making bold assumptions of the reason for them, Bhattathiri waited for confirmation of the accuracy by a gesture from the Lord, as an 'asariri' (disembodied voice) or nod of the head, before proceeding further. Two such incidents may be seen in Dasakam 35, Verse 3, and Dasakam 45, Verse 9.


As in the larger epic, the central theme of Narayaneeyam is Bhakti or devotion to the Supreme Power, personified by Bhagavan Shree Mahavishnu. At the same time, adhering to the schema of the Bhagavatham, Narayaneeyam expounds the essence of other systems of Indian philosophy, mainly, Jnyanayoga, Karmayoga and Sankhya, at the appropriate places while laying special emphasis on the over-riding supremacy of Bhaktiyoga, or the path of devotion, over all other means to attain Moksha (Nirvana, or Salvation), which means unification, integration and dissolution of the individual soul or jeeva in the Brahman, the Cosmic Unity, the One without a second.



The ‘Parayana' of Narayaneeyam is believed to possess the wonderful power of healing afflictions, both mental and physical, of the devotees. The personal experiences of the poet himself have proved this beyond doubt.Chanting of the hymn Naarayaneeyam regularly would surely give the devotee to attain ayu arogya souwkyam.


O Lord Guruvayoorappa! You are an ocean of kindness! Let those who read these episodes at this web site with devotion be freed from all diseases, mental and physical Problemsl! Let them have longevity, health,and everlasting happiness --"Ayurarogyasoukhyam"!

With Guruvayoorappan's blessing every alternative days I am writing one dasakam 0f narayannyam slogam from narayaneeyam book.

Narayana Bhattatiri

The devotional epic, Narayaneeyam, was composed by Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri,in the ninth decade of the 16th century A.D. Bhattathiri was born circa 1560 A.D. in a Namboothiri Brahmin family of Kerala, at a place close to the famous temple at Tirunavayi, on the banks of river Bharatpuzha. His father taught him the Mimamsa and the various Sastras. he is said to have mastered the ancient Hindu scriptures, Vedas, Vedangas, etc and studied Mimamsa, Vyakarana (grammar), Tarka (logic), and other subjects, all by the age of sixteen years.He married at the age of 18-20,the niece of Achuta Pisharadi, a celebrated grammarian.

Sri. Bhattathiri after marriage became very lazy and ignored even his Nithya Anushtana etc. It was really surprising to his wife’s uncle Sri. Pisharodi- who was a good Sanskrit -Vyakarana /Grammar teacher. Sri. Bhattathiri would be sleeping when Sri. Pisharodi’s classes were going on . One day Sri. Pisharodi out of compassion and sadness told Sri. Bhattathiri thus “ EVEN AFTER GETTING A GOOD MAASUSHA/BRAHMANA JANMA AND HAVING LEARNT VEDAS YOU ARE WAISTING YOUR TIME ONLY IN WORLDLY PLEASURES. WHY DON’T YOU REALISE THAT.” These words uttered by Sri. Pisharodi before his students had a telling effect on him. The great Achyuta Pisharadi scolded him in the presence of his students for his irreligious life .It touched his heart very much and as a result,he then and there accepted Achyuta Pisharadi as his Guru.He learnt from him Sanskrit Grammar.This was a turning point in Bhattatiri's life.His outlook in life changed completely and he became a serious student.

During this time Achyuta Pisharadi fell a victim to a severe attack of paralysis and suffered unbearable pain.Bhattatiri, the devoted disciple could not breathe suffering of his Guru.He, therefore, fervently prayed that the disease may be transferred to him and his Guru freed of suffering. Bhattatiri accepted the "Karmavipaka Dana"by which the sins of his Guru were transferred to him.It happened as he wantedand soon while Pisharadi recovered,the disease made Bhattatiri a cripple.A "Bhajanam" in the temple of Guruvayoorwas considered as a sure cure for paralysis and so Bhattatiri went to Guruvayoor for 100 days of "Bhajanam"along with his younger brother, Mathrudatta.Before he went the famous Malayalam writerTunchat Ezhuthachan advised him "to start with the fish".Bhattathiri understood the inner meaning of this advice.He wrote the famous hymn "Narayaneeyam"describing the Avatars of Vishnu starting with "fish",i.e. Matsya Avatar.

He chose to write poetry eulogizing the Glory of the Lord Narayana. His Sankalpam was to write in brief the entire Vyasa’s Sri mad Bhagavatham which contained 18000 slokas. As he was a scholar in Rig Veda he chose to write his poetry with different chandas/swara / meters and with each block containing 10 slokas in general.Though with enthusiasm he completed the first two dasakams, his crippling disease prevented him from continuing. It is reported that his young brother- Sri. Matru Dattan Namboodiri who was nursing him, helped him in writing/copying the slokas. From the third Dasakam onwards in each of the Dasakam Sri. Bhattathiri’s prayer to God to cure his disease can be seen. As per his sankalpam in first 36 dasakams he covered the first IXth chapters of the Srimad Bhagavatham. From 37 onwards up to 90 Dasakams he covered the Dasama Skandam ( Krishna Avatara Katha). From the 91 Dasakams he covered XIth Skandam of the epic which contain Uddava Tatwa Upadesa, Jnana/Bakthi/Karma Yogas/Vaishnava Mahatwam/ Brahmopasanam etc etc. In fact he has covered the entire XI th chapter so nicely, precisely in a condensed form without omitting any of the important explanations, this Chapter XI of Bhagavatham and the last 10 dasakams of the Narayaneeyam are worth reading and emulating in once life as far as possible.

Sri. Bhattathiri, completed condensed version of the Srimad Bhagavatham in 100 days in 1034 slokas. As soon as he completed this beautiful Sanskrit literary work with all the ingredients such as Sthoola/Sooshma meanings, Roopa, Bhava, different Chandas and Sabdha Silpams etc. and submitted to the Lord of Guruvayur -- During the hundred days of his Bhajanam at the temple of Guruvayoor he summarized the entire Bhagavata Purana in 1034 versesat the rate of one Dasaka consisting generally of ten verses everyday.Each Dasaka ended with a prayer to the Lord of Guruvayoor to cure him of his illness.Sri. Guruvayurappan- it is reported that Sri. Narayana Bhattathiri had a vision of the Lord. On the hundredth day he had a vision of the Lord in the form of Venugopala.The 100th canto composed on that day gives a graphic description of this form of the Lordf rom the head to the foot.Seeing the Lord before him he chanted the last 10 slokas glorifying His each and every part of body which is called KESADI PAADA VARNANA.

We understand that he got cured of his disease after completion of this Kavya. He named this as Naarayaneeyam as it was written by him and second as it is about the Lord Narayana. This Great Kavya of Naarayaneeyam was completed by him in 100 days at the age of 27, in the year 1587. That day was 27th day of Vruchikam month corresponding to ( Karthika Masa) . On that day he became completely cured of his disease.This immortal composition, Narayaneeyam,is so named for two reasons as mentioned by the poet himself in the 100th canto.It is about Lord Narayana and secondlybecause it was composed by Narayana Bhattatiri.These episodes are now being presented again by yet another Narayana!

Sri. Bhattathiri’s end came in the year 1646 at the age of 86. while praying at Mukkola Bagavathi Temple.

The ‘Parayana' of Narayaneeyam is believed to possess the wonderful power of healing afflictions, both mental and physical, of the devotees. The personal experiences of the poet himself have proved this beyond doubt. The "Nithyaparayana” of Narayaneeyam will enable the devotees to attain " Ayurarogyasoukhyam”.

Narayaneeyam to be cont.....