Ayyaval’s aarthi hara Stotram
Ayyaval’s aarthi hara Stotram
By
Sridhara Ayyaval
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(The great saint Sridhara Ayyaval was the son Sri Sridhara Padmanabha who was a high ranking officer in the court of the king of Mysore. He was offered the post of his father , when his father attained salvation and he rejected that offer as he was spiritually oriented and took his residence in Thiruvisainallur in the banks of river Cauvery. You can read about this great savant inHere is a remarkable stotra , where he Tells God Shiva that he is not protecting him and pleads with him in various ways to protect him. There is a story given about the need to compose this stotra given in
“Ayyaval used to visit the temple of Mahalinga on a daily basis as a routine to have the darshan of the Lord Mahalinga. He loved the deity very much that rain or shine he would not miss visiting the temple. To reach the temple he used to cross River Kaveri. One particular day there was a huge rain and the river kaveri was flooded. The boatmen refused to ferry the boat to cross the river. Ayyaval was saddened as he could not visit the temple that day and gazing the tower of the temple on the other shore Ayyaval stood with tear-filled eyes. He went back home and composed a soulful prayer “Aarthi Hara Stotra”. Later that day the priest of the Shiva temple visited his house and gave the sacred ash “Vibhuthi” prasada. Ayyaval felt it was Lord Shiva himself had come in the guise of the priest. Overwhelmed he then composed “Dayasathakam” i.e. 100 verses glorifying the compassion of the Lord.”
I have translated this STotra with the help of Tamil Translation of Sengalipuram Anantharama Deekshithar.)
1.Sri Shambo, mayi karunaa sisiraam drushtim disan Sudha vrushtim,
Santhapamapakuru may manthaa paramesa! Thava dhayaayasyam.
1.Oh Lord Shiva, by turning your merciful glance on me, create a rain of nectar,
And remove all my sorrows and Oh Lord of all, by doing It I would know your mercy.
2.Avaseedhaami yadhaarthibhir anu gunamidham moha somahasaam kalu may,
Thava sannava seedhaami yadhanthaka saasana, na thathavanu gunam.
2.it seems appropriate for me who is the seat of sins, to undergo such sufferings,
But Oh God who punished Yama, but it is not proper for you to see a devotee like me suffer.
3.Deva, smaranthi thava ye theshaam smarathopi naarthireethi keerthim,
Kalayasi Shiva paaheethi krandhan seedhamyaham kimuchitham idham.
3.Oh God , you have the fame that even devotees who think of your devotees do not suffer,
But I , in spite of keeping on appealing to you, “please save me “, undergo suffering. Is it Ok for you?
4,Aadhisyagha kruthou maam antharyamin nasaa vaga athmethi,
Aarthishu majjayase maam kim broyaam krupaika pathramaham.
4.Oh Lord who enthuses from inside, after encouraging me to do sins,
You drown me in sorrow as I have done sin and What can I do as your devotee?
5.Mandhaagraneer aham thava mayi karunaam ghatayithum vibho, naalam,
Aakrushtam thaanthu baladhala miha madhainyamithi samasvasimi.
5.I am the best among fools and so “Oh Lord, it is not proper for you show mercy on me.”
But I am satisfied feeling that my suffering is capable of pulling you forcefully.”
6.Thwam sarvajnohaam punarajno aniso aham easwarasthwam asi,
Thwam mayi dhoshaan ganayasi kim kadhaye thudathi kim dhayaa na thwaam.
6.You all knowing one and I am an idiot, you are God and I am bereft of strength,
In spite of that you find fault with me and what shall I do if you do not like mercy.
7.Aasritham aartha tharam maam upekshase kimathi Shiva, na kim Dhaya se,
Sritha gopthaa deenarthi hrudhithi khalu samsanthi jahathi sanathasthwaam.
7.Oh Lord Shiva, why are you neglecting me who depends on you and Is in great pain, Why no mercy?
Though the great sages say that you protect those who surrender to you and remove their sufferings.
8.Praharaa harehi vadhi banitha madhaakhya ithi paalitho Bhavatha,
Shiva, Paahithi vadho aham sritho na kim thwaam kadham na palyasthe.
8.You have even protected people who said “Prahara, Aahara” as some one who told your name,
And how can I who have surrendered to you saying ‘hey Lord Shiva protect me.”, is not being protected by you.
9.Saranam Vraja Shiva marthossa thava harethithi sadaam giraam thwaam,
Saranam gathosmi palaya khalamapi theshveesa, pakshapaathaan maam.
9.Obeying the words of sages that”surrender to him, He will protect you, I have surrendered to you,
And even though I am a great sinner , due to your partiality to those sages, Please protect me.