Original Author: Śrī Appaṇācārya, a direct disciple of Śrī-Rāghavendra-Tīrtha.
Version: 1.0
Release Date: Śrāvaṇa-Kṛṣṇa-Dvitīyā, Krodhi, Kali-gatābda 5125 (August 21, 2024 CE)
The stotra proper:
śrī-pūrṇa-bodha-guru-tīrtha-payobdhi-pārā
kāmāri-mākṣa-viṣamākṣa-śiraḥ-spṛśantī |
pūrvottarāmita-taraṅga-carat-su-haṃsā
devāli-sevita-parāṅghri-payoja-lagnā || 1 ||jīveśa-bheda-guṇa-pūrti-jagat-su-sattva-
nīcocca-bhāva-mukha-nakra-gaṇaiḥ sametā |
dur-vādy-ajā-pati-giḷair-guru-rāghavendra-
vāg-devatā-sarid amuṃ vimalīkarotu || 2 ||
The words of Guru Śrī Rāghavendra are akin to the divine river Gaṅgā. His words converge into an ocean of texts composed by Guru Śrī Pūrṇaprajña, similar to the divine river culminating in the ocean, the birthplace of the resplendent full moon. His words find approval from sages who have conquered desires and possess an additional divine wisdom-eye, much like the river touching the head of the odd-eyed Rudra, who wields wisdom as his organ and stands as the adversary of Kāmadeva, the god of lust and desires. Within his words reside noble souls, well-versed in Pūrva-pakṣas (objections) and Uttara-pakṣas (responses), much like the river where swans glide atop east and north-moving infinite undulating waves. His words, once more resembling the divine river, are connected to the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, adored by the group of gods. The set of tenets in his words, such as the distinctions between individual souls and the Lord, the Lord’s repleteness with noble virtues, the absolute reality of the external world, and the hierarchical order of souls, can annihilate opponents, much like the group of crocodiles inhabiting the river. These crocodiles have jaws moving up and down, famously known for their skill in subduing even the mightiest of beings and capable of swallowing goats.
May such words of Guru Śrī Rāghavendra, reminiscient of the divine river [Gaṅgā], sanctify this [devotee].[1]
śrī-rāghavendraḥ sakala-pradātā
sva-pāda-kañja-dvaya-bhakti-madbhyaḥ |
aghādri-sam-bhedana-dṛṣṭi-vajraḥ
kṣamā-surendro ’vatu māṃ sadā ’yam || 3 ||
May Śrī Rāghavendra, the saintly lord of this earthly realm, the bestower of all blessings upon those devoted to his lotus feet, whose compassionate gaze is like a Vajra (thunderbolt) that shatters the mountain of sins, eternally protect me.
śrī-rāghavendro hari-pāda-kañja-
niṣevaṇāl labdha-samasta-sampat |
deva-svabhāvo divi-ja-drumo ’yam
iṣṭa-prado me satataṃ sa bhūyāt || 4 ||
May the divine-natured Śrī Rāghavendra, who has acquired boundless wealth by serving the lotus feet of Lord Hari, continually grant my desires, like the wish-fulfilling tree in heaven.
bhavya-svarūpo bhava-duḥkha-tūla-
saṅghāgni-caryaḥ sukha-dhairya-śālī |
samasta-duṣṭa-graha-nigraheśo
dur-atyayopaplava-sindhu-setuḥ || 5 ||
His disposition is truly remarkable, marked by innate bliss and self-control. He effortlessly consumes worldly miseries like a flame devouring cotton. A master at subduing malevolent forces, he serves as a bridge over life’s otherwise insurmountable challenges.
nirasta-doṣo nir-avadya-veṣaḥ
praty-arthi-mūkatva-nidāna-bhāṣaḥ |
vidvat-parijñeya-mahā-viśeṣo
vāg-vaikharī-nir-jita-bhavya-śeṣaḥ || 6 ||
His nature is flawless, his body unblemished. His speech silences adversaries, and his exceptional qualities are comprehensible [only] to scholars. His eloquence surpasses even the mastery of Śeṣa.
santāna-sampat-pari-śuddha-bhakti-
vi-jñāna-vāg-deha-su-pāṭavādīn |
datvā śarīrottha-samasta-doṣān
hatvā sa no ’vyād guru-rāghavendraḥ || 7 ||
May Guru Rāghavendra protect us, bestowing blessings like progeny, wealth, pristine devotion, specialized knowledge, eloquent speech, and a healthy body, while dispelling all bodily ailments.
yat-pādodaka-sañcayaḥ sura-nadī-mukhyāpagāsāditā-
saṅkhyānuttama-puṇya-saṅgha-vilasat-prakhyāta-puṇyāvahaḥ |
dus-tāpa-traya-nāśano bhuvi mahā-vandhyā-su-putra-prado
vy-aṅga-sv-aṅga-sam-ṛddhi-do graha-mahā-pāpāpahas taṃ śraye || 8 ||
I seek refuge in him, whose pādodaka (waters that come into contact with his feet) bestow countless and unparalleled virtues, renowned and glorious, akin to bathing in divine rivers like the sacred Gaṅgā; dispel the afflictions caused by the three worldly troubles; bless the most barren with offspring; grant prosperous wholeness to those with physical handicaps; and eliminate the gravest sins and malevolent forces.
yat-pāda-kañja-rajasā pari-bhūṣitāṅgā
yat-pāda-padma-madhupāyita-mānasā ye |
yat-pāda-padma-pari-kīrtana-jīrṇa-vācas
tad-darśanaṃ durita-kānana-dāva-bhūtam || 9 ||
Even the sight of those is like a forest fire to the thicket of sins, whose bodies are adorned with the dust of his lotus feet, whose minds are craving like bees for his lotus feet, and whose speech is worn out from singing the glories of his lotus feet.
sarva-tantra-sva-tantro ’sau śrī-madhva-mata-vardhanaḥ |
vijayīndra-karābjottha-sudhīndra-vara-putrakaḥ || 10 ||
He is the great disciple of Śrī Sudhīndra Tīrtha, who, in tun, is a product at the lotus hands of Śrī Vijayīndra Tirtha. He has mastered all schools of thought as if they are his own, and he is a promoter of Śrī Madhva tradition.
śrī-rāghavendro yati-rāḍ gurur me syād bhayāpahaḥ |
jñāna-bhakti-su-putrāyur-yaśaḥ-śrī-puṇya-vardhanaḥ || 11 ||
May Guru Śrī Rāghavendra, the king of ascetics, dispel my fears while enhancing my wisdom, devotion, virtuous lineage, longevity, reputation, prosperity, and merits.
prativādi-jaya-svānta-bheda-cihnādaro guruḥ |
sarva-vidyā-pravīṇo ’nyo rāghavendrān na vidyate || 12 ||
There exists no one other than Rāghavendra, who bears the emblem of victory over adversaries, disrupts their thoughts, serves as a teacher, and excels in all forms of knowledge.
aparokṣīkṛta-śrīśaḥ samupekṣita-bhāva-jaḥ |
apekṣita-pradātā ’nyo rāghavendrān na vidyate || 13 ||
There exists no one other than Rāghavendra, who has a direct vision of Lord Nārāyaṇa, has wisely disregarded the god of desires, and bestows blessings upon all that is sought.
dayā-dākṣiṇya-vairāgya-vāk-pāṭava-mukhāṅkitaḥ |
śāpānugraha-śakto ’nyo rāghavendrān na vidyate || 14 ||
There exists no one other than Rāghavendra, adorned with noble qualities like compassion, skilfulness, detachment, and eloquence, and endowed with the power to bless and curse.
ajñāna-vismṛti-bhrānti-saṃśayāpasmṛti-kṣayāḥ |
tandrā-kampa-vacaḥ-kauṇṭhya-mukhā ye cendriyodbhavāḥ |
doṣās te nāśam āyānti rāghavendra-prasādataḥ || 15 ||
By the grace of Rāghavendra, all organic imperfections like ignorance, forgetfulness, illusion, doubt, seizures, decay (such as pulmonary tuberculosis), laziness, trembling, and speech impediments shall be eradicated.
śrī-rāghavendrāya nama ity-aṣṭākṣara-mantrataḥ |
japitād bhāvitān nityam iṣṭārthāḥ syur na saṃśayaḥ || 16 ||
There is no doubt that the eight-syllable mantra ‘śrī-rāghavendrāya namaḥ’ [which translates to ‘I bow down to śrī-rāghavendra (the Lord Rāma residing in Guru Rāghavendra)’] when recited or meditated upon, always fulfils all desires.
hantu naḥ kāya-jān doṣān ātmātmīya-sam-udbhavān |
sarvān api pum-arthāṃś ca dadātu gurur ātma-vit || 17 ||iti kāla-traye nityaṃ prārthanāṃ yaḥ karoti saḥ |
ihāmutrāpta-sarveṣṭo modate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 18 ||
There is no doubt that whoever prays in the following manner thrice every day will fulfil their desires both in this life and the hereafter, and shall experience joy: “hantu naḥ kāya-jān doṣān ātmātmīya-sam-udbhavān | sarvān api pum-arthāṃś ca dadātu gurur ātma-vit||” [which translates to "May the Guru, the knower of the Lord, remove all ailments originating in the body, the self, and its related entities, and also grant all that is desired by human beings (i.e., dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa).]
agamya-mahimā loke rāghavendro mahā-yaśāḥ |
śrī-madhva-mata-dugdhābdhi-candro ’vatu sadā ’naghaḥ || 19 ||
Unfathomable is the glory of Śrī Rāghavendra in this world. He is highly reputed and is without blemish. May he, akin to the moon in the milk ocean of the Śrī Madhva doctrine, protect us always.
sarva-yātrā-phalāvāptyai yathā-śakti-pradakṣiṇam |
karomi tava siddhasya bṛndāvana-gataṃ jalam |
śirasā dhārayāmy adya sarva-tīrtha-phalāptaye || 20 ||
Around you, the revered one, I circumambulate to the best of my abilities, with an intent to obtain the fruits of all pilgrimages. Today, I carry water from your Bṛndāvana on my head, to get the benefits bestowed by all sacred waters.
sarvābhīṣṭārtha-siddhy-arthaṃ namaskāraṃ karomy aham |
tava saṅ-kīrtanaṃ veda-śāstrārtha-jñāna-siddhaye || 21 ||
I bow down seeking the fulfilment of all desired blessings. I chant your [sacred names] with the purpose of acquiring knowledge of the Vedic texts.
saṃsāre ’kṣaya-sāgare prakṛtito ’gādhe sadā dustare
sarvāvadya-jala-grahair an-upamaiḥ kāmādi-bhaṅgākule |
nānā-vibhrama-durbhrame ’mita-bhaya-stomādi-phenotkaṭe
duḥkhotkṛṣṭa-viṣe sam-uddhara guro mā magna-rūpaṃ sadā || 22 ||
Oh Guru, rescue me from the ocean in which I find myself trapped – the relentless ocean of saṃsāra. It is a bottomless abyss, insurmountable by its very nature, teeming with unparalleled aquatic creatures representing our flaws, agitated by waves named desire (kāma), anger (krodha), and others. Within it swirl numerous whirlpools of enticing temptations, foam created by the group of overwhelming fears, and the venom of our severe pains.
Phala-śruti – the fruits of this stotra
rāghavendra-guru-stotraṃ yaḥ paṭhed bhakti-pūrvakam |
tasya kuṣṭhādi-rogāṇāṃ nivṛttis tvarayā bhavet || 23 ||
One who recites this Rāghavendra-Guru-Stotra with devotion, shall quickly be relieved from skin diseases.
andho ’pi divya-dṛṣṭiḥ syād eḍa-mūko ’pi vāk-patiḥ |
pūrṇāyuḥ pūrṇa-sampattiḥ stotrasyāsya japād bhavet || 24 ||
Through the recitation of this stotra, even the blind will be bestowed with divine sight, the born mute shall find eloquence, and all shall live full lives with abundant prosperity.
yaḥ pibej jalam etena stotreṇaivābhi-mantritam |
tasya kukṣi-gatā doṣāḥ sarve naśyanti tat-kṣaṇāt || 25 ||
One who drinks the water sanctified by this Stotra will be swiftly alleviated of all stomach-related ailments.
yad-vṛndāvanam āsādya paṅguḥ khañjo ’pi vā janaḥ |
stotreṇānena yaḥ kuryāt pradakṣiṇa-namaskṛtīḥ |
sa jaṅghālo bhaved eva guru-rāja-prasādataḥ || 26 ||
If an individual, challenged by the absence of one or both legs, comes to this Vṛndāvana, bows and circumambulates while reciting this stotra, they shall, by the grace of Gururāja, undoubtedly transform into an agile runner.
soma-sūryoparāge ca puṣyārkādi-samāgame |
yo ’nuttamam idaṃ stotram aṣṭottara-śataṃ japet |
bhūta-preta-piśācādi-pīḍā tasya na jāyate || 27 ||
Any individual who recites this magnificent Stotra a hundred and eight times during lunar and solar eclipses, or on Sundays under the Pu\d{s}ya star, shall find themselves shielded from the disturbances of ghosts, spirits, and demons.
etat stotraṃ samuccārya guror vṛndāvanāntike |
dīpa-saṃyojanāj jñānaṃ putra-lābho bhaved dhruvam || 28 ||para-vādi-jayo divya-jñāna-bhaktyādi-vardhanam |
sarvābhīṣṭa-pravṛddhiḥ syān nātra kāryā-vicāraṇā || 29 ||
By lighting a lamp near the Guru’s Vṛndāvana after reciting this Stotra, one shall indeed receive blessings of knowledge and progeny. Beyond doubt, they will triumph over opponents, receive heightened divine wisdom and devotion along with an abundance of all desired blessings.
rāja-cora-mahā-vyāghra-sarpa-nakrādi-pīḍanam |
na jāyate ’sya stotrasya prabhāvān nātra saṃśayaḥ || 30 ||
Undoubtedly, the potency of this Stotra shields one from harm inflicted by kings, thieves, tigers, snakes, or crocodiles.
yo bhaktyā guru-rāghavendra-caraṇa-dvandvaṃ smaran yaḥ paṭhet
stotraṃ divyam idaṃ sadā na-hi bhavet tasyāsukhaṃ kiñcana |
kin-tv iṣṭārtha-sam-ṛddhir eva kamalā-nātha-prasādodayāt
kīrtir dig-viditā vibhūtir atulā sākṣī hayāsyo ’tra hi || 31 ||
He who devoutly remembers the lotus feet of Guru Rāghavendra and consistently recite this divine Stotra shall forever be free from sorrow. Instead, with the ushering of Lord Nārāyaṇa’s blessings, their cherished aspirations shall thrive, their renown shall span boundless horizons, and their wealth shall know no limits. “Indeed, Lord Hayagrīva stands as the witness to this.”
iti śrī-rāghavendrārya-guru-rāja-prasādataḥ |
kṛtaṃ stotram idaṃ puṇyaṃ śrīmadbhir hy-appaṇābhidaiḥ || 32 ||
In this way, with the grace of Guru Śrī Rāghavendra, this sacred stotra has been composed by Śrī Appaṇācārya.
|| iti śrī-appaṇācārya-viracitaṃ śrī-rāghavendra-stotraṃ sampūrṇam ||
Thus ends the śrī-rāghavendra-stotra authored by śrī-appaṇācārya.
A few miscellaneous verses on Śrī Rāghavendra Tīrtha
śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇaika-dīkṣām upayāte guru-rāja-sārvabhaume |
*ratir astu nirantarā hi bhūyaḥ karuṇā-śālini rāghavēndra-rāje || ||
Let there be more and steadfast devotion towards the compassionate King Rāghavendra, the sovereign among all Gurus, and who has pledged to protect those who seek refuge.
pūjyāya rāghavendrāya satya-dharma-ratāya ca |
*bhajatāṃ kalpa-vṛkṣāya namatāṃ kāma-dhenave || ||
[I bow down to] Guru Śrī Rāghavendra, the revered one, who is dedicated to truth and righteousness, who is akin to a kalpa-vṛkṣa (a wish-fulfilling divine tree) to those who worship him, and a kāma-dhenu (a wish-fulfilling divine cow) to those who bow down to him.
dur-vādi-dhvānta-ravaye vaiṣṇavendīvarendave |
*śrī-rāghavendra-gurave namo ’tyanta-dayāḷave || ||
I bow down to Guru Śrī Rāghavendra, the one full of boundless compassion, akin to the sun dispelling the darkness of evil debaters and the moon for the blue lotuses called the devotees of Lord Viṣṇu.
mūko ’pi yat-prasādena mukunda-śayanāyate |
*rāja-rājāyate rikto rāghavendraṃ tam āśraye || ||
I take shelter in Rāghavendra, through whose grace, even the mute find eloquence as vast as the thousand-headed Śeṣa, and a pauper ascends to the stature of a king of among kings.
In these two verses, the author weaves a profound tapestry of metaphor and wordplay, ingeniously likening the words of Śrī Rāghavendra to the sacred river Ganga. Such approach, employing the art of ‘alaṅkāras’ (or, poetic embellishments) imparts a poetic grandeur that truly sets them apart. There are two alaṅkāras here: (a) the rūpaka alaṅkāra, the metaphor that draws parallels between the flowing river Gaṅgā and the words of Śrī Rāghavendra. (ii) the ‘śleṣa,’ a wordplay that ingeniously uses the same words to connote multiple meanings. Additionally, within the broader metaphor there are two other minor metaphors: the tenets of Śrī Madhva are compared to crocodiles, and the opponents are compared to goats that get swallowed by crocodiles. ↩︎