Mythological Blog.

 Mythological Blogs

Mythology is obviously a curious thing and many people have been loving it , even I am a big fan of "Indian Mythology" I have read many books,watched many shows,searched many facts but trust me there were different answers for same question it was so difficult to find out the answer and believe which one is true, let me give you a example, the question was "Did Draupadi ever said to Duryodhan andhe ka putra andha?" Some said YES and some said that she was not even present in that scene according to Ved Vyasa's Mahabharat, but also in some cases the answers were same for the same question."Mahabharat" is my faviourate mythological epic I have learnt many things through it, also got tears in my eyes for some characters, felt bad for them specially for Drupad kanya "Draupadi" the "Panchal Kumari" Panchali , my favourite character in the epic.My second favourite character was "Lord Krishna" of course I am a KrishnBhakt. I chant the fruitful "Achyutashtakam" every day, Achyuta is the another name of Lord Krishna, but today's topic is not about Mahabharat, it is about Achyutashtakam.Famous singer Anup Jalota has composed a song on this shlok and the tagline is "Kaun Kehta Hai Bhagwan" but let me go through you the original shlok with lyrics in Sanskrit/English and also with meanings in English.

अच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणं

कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् ।

श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभं

जानकीनायकं रामचंद्रं भजे ॥

Acyutam Keshavam Raama-Naaraayannam
Krssnna-Daamodaram Vaasudevam Harim |
Shrii-Dharam Maadhavam Gopikaa-Vallabham
Jaanakii-Naayakam Raamacamdram Bhaje ||

Meaning:
1.1: I Worship You O Acyuta (the Infallible One), I Worship You O Keshava (Who Controls everyone, Who has beautiful Hair and Who killed demon Keshi), I Worship You O Rama the Incarnation of Narayana (Who is without any blemish),
1.2: I Worship You O Krishna (Who attracts others by His Divine Attributes and Beauty) Who is known as Damodara (because of being tied by Mother Yashoda around the waist) , I Worship You O Vasudeva (Who was the Son of Vasudeva), I Worship You O Hari (Who takes away the Sins, Who Receives the Offerings of the Yagna),
1.3: I Worship You O Sridhara (Who Bears Sri on His Chest), I Worship You O Madhava (Consort of Mahalakshmi), I Worship You O the One Who was the most Beloved of the Gopikas (the Cowherd Girls of Vrindavana) 
1.4: I Worship You O Ramachandra the Lord of Devi Janaki.

अच्युतं केशवं सत्यभामाधवं

माधवं श्रीधरं राधिकाराधितम् ।

इन्दिरामन्दिरं चेतसा सुन्दरं

देवकीनन्दनं नन्दजं सन्दधे ॥

Acyutam Keshavam Satyabhaamaa-Dhavam
Maadhavam Shrii-Dharam Raadhika-araadhitam |
Indiraa-Mandiram Cetasaa Sundaram
Devakii-Nandanam Nanda-Jam San-Dadhe ||

Meaning:
2.1: I Worship You O Acyuta (the Infallible One), I Worship You O Keshava (Who Controls everyone, Who has beautiful Hair and Who killed the demon Keshi), I Worship You O the One Who was the Lord of Satyabhama,
2.2: I Worship You O Madhava (Consort of Mahalakshmi), I Worship You O Sridhara (Who Bears Sri on His Chest), I Worship You O the One Who was Worshipped by Radhika,
2.3: I Worship You O the One Who is the Temple of Indira ( the Sacred Abiding Place of Devi Mahalakshmi in His Heart), I Worship You O the One Who has a Beautiful Splendour,
2.4: I Worship You O the One Who was the Son of Devaki and I Worship You O the One Who became the Son of Nanda by being Given to him.

विष्णवे जिष्णवे शाङ्खिने चक्रिणे

रुक्मिणिरागिणे जानकीजानये ।

बल्लवीवल्लभायार्चितायात्मने

कंसविध्वंसिने वंशिने ते नमः ॥

Vissnnave Jissnnave Shaangkhine Cakrinne
Rukminni-Raaginne Jaanakii-Jaanaye |
Ballavii-Vallabhaay-Aarcitaay-Aatmane
Kamsa-Vidhvamsine Vamshine Te Namah ||

Meaning:

3.1: I Worship You O Vishnu (the All-Pervading One), I Worship You O Jishnu (the ever Victorious One), I Worship You O the holder of Sankha (the Conch-Shell), I Worship You O the holder of Chakra (the Discus),

3.2: I Worship You O the One Who was extremely Dear to Rukmini (as Sri Krishna), and I Worship You O the One Who had Devi Janaki as His Wife (as Sri Rama),

3.3: I Worship You Who was Worshipped by the beloved Cowherd Girls of Vrindavana in their Hearts,

3.4: I reverantially Salute You O the One Who Destroyed Kamsa and Who Played beautiful Tunes in His Flute.

कृष्ण गोविन्द हे राम नारायण
श्रीपते वासुदेवाजित श्रीनिधे ।
अच्युतानन्त हे माधवाधोक्षज
द्वारकानायक द्रौपदीरक्षक ॥

Krssnna Govinda He Raama Naaraayanna
Shrii-Pate Vaasudeva-Ajita Shrii-Nidhe |
Acyuta-Ananta He Maadhava-Adhokssaja
Dvaarakaa-Naayaka Draupadii-Rakssaka ||

Meaning:

4.1: I Worship You O Krishna, the Incarnation of Govinda (Who can be known through Vedas), I Worship You O Rama, the Incarnation of Narayana (Who is without any blemish),

4.2: I Worship You O Sripati (the Consort of Sri), I Worship You O Vasudeva (Who was the Son of Vasudeva), the Unconquerable One, and I Worship You O Srinidhi (Who is the Storehouse of Sri),

4.3: I Worship You O Acyuta (Who is the Infallible One) and Endless, and I Worship You O Madhava (Consort of Mahalakshmi) the Incarnation of Adhokshaja (Who can be known only through Agamas),

4.4: I Worship You O the Lord of Dwaraka and One Who Saved Draupadi.

राक्षसक्षोभितः सीतया शोभितो
दण्डकारण्यभूपुण्यताकारणः ।
लक्ष्मणेनान्वितो वानरौः सेवितो_
ऽगस्तसम्पूजितो राघव पातु माम् ॥

Raakssasa-Kssobhitah Siitayaa Shobhito
Dannddakaarannya-Bhuu-Punnyataa-Kaarannah |
Lakssmannen-Aanvito Vaanarauh Sevito-
gasta-Sampuujito Raaghava Paatu Maam ||

Meaning:
5.1: I Worship You O the One Who Agitated the Rakshasas (as Sri Rama), and I Worship You O the One Who is Adorned by Devi Sita at His side,
5.2: I Worship You O the One Who was the Cause of Purification of the Land of Dandakaranya,
5.3: I Worship You O the One Who was Attended by Lakshmana, and Served by the Vanaras (Monkeys) ,
5.4: I Worshipped You O the One Who was Worshipped by sage Agastya; O Raghava please Protect Me.

धेनुकारिष्टकानिष्टकृद्द्वेषिहा

केशिहा कंसहृद्वंशिकावादकः ।

पूतनाकोपकःसूरजाखेलनो

बालगोपालकः पातु मां सर्वदा ॥

Dhenuka-Arissttaka-Anisstta-Krd-Dvessihaa
Keshihaa Kamsa-Hrd-Vamshikaa-Vaadakah |
Puutanaa-Kopakah-Suura-Jaa-Khelano
Baala-Gopaalakah Paatu Maam Sarvadaa ||

Meaning:
6.1: I Worship You O the One Who killed the Ass-demon Dhenuka and Bull-demon Aristaka who came with Evil intentions,
6.2: I Worship You O the One Who killed Horse-demon Keshi and took away the life of Kamsa, and I Worship You Who was a Player of beautiful Tunes in Flute,
6.3: I Worship You O the One Who showered His anger on Putana (by killing Her) and Who Played on the bank of river Yamuna, the river born of the Sun god,
6.4: I Worship You O Balagopala, Please Protect Me Always (by thwarting my dangers as You thwarted the attacks of the demons).

विद्युदुद्योतवत्प्रस्फुरद्वाससं

प्रावृडम्भोदवत्प्रोल्लसद्विग्रहम् ।

वन्यया मालया शोभितोरःस्थलं

लोहिताङ्घ्रिद्वयं वारिजाक्षं भजे ॥

Vidyud-Udyota-Vat-Prasphurad-Vaasasam
Praavrdd-Ambhoda-Vat-Prollasad-Vigraham |
Vanyayaa Maalayaa Shobhito rahsthalam
Lohita-Angghri-Dvayam Vaarija-Akssam Bhaje ||

Meaning:
7.1: I Worship You O the One Whose Garments Flashed like the Rise of Lightning in the Sky,
7.2: I Worship You O the One Whose Handsome Form moved like the Clouds of the Rainy Season,
7.3: I Worship You O the One Whose Chest is Adorned with Vanamala (Garland of Wild Flowers) and
7.4: I Worship You O the One Whose Pair of Feet is Beautiful Reddish and Whose Eyes are Beautiful like Lotus.

कुञ्चितैः कुन्तलैर्भ्राजमानाननं

रत्नमौलिं लसत्कुण्डलं गण्डयोः ।

हारकेयूरकं कङ्कणप्रोज्ज्वलं

किङ्किणीमञ्जुलं श्यामलं तं भजे ॥

Kun.citaih Kuntalair-Bhraajamaana-Ananam
Ratna-Maulim Lasat-Kunnddalam Gannddayoh |
Haara-Keyuurakam Kangkanna-Projjvalam
Kingkinnii-Man.julam Shyaamalam Tam Bhaje ||

Meaning:
8.1: I Worship You O the One Whose Shining Face is Adorned with Beautiful Locks of Curly Hairs,
8.2: I Worship You O the One Whose Head is Adorned with Shining Gem, and Whose Face is Adorned with Shining Ear-Rings,
8.3: I Worship You O the One Whose Arms and Waist are Adorned with Shining Bracelets,
8.4: I Worship You O the One Whose Dark Body is Adorned with Tiny Bells making Pleasing Sounds.

अच्युतस्याष्टकं यः पठेदिष्टदं

प्रेमतः प्रत्यहं पूरुषः सस्पृहम् ।

वृत्ततः सुन्दरं कर्तृविश्वम्भरस्तस्य

वश्यो हरिर्जायते सत्वरम् ॥

Acyutasyaassttakam Yah Patthed-Isstta-Dam
Prematah Pratyaham Puurussah Sasprham |
Vrttatah Sundaram Kartr-Vvishvambharas-Tasya
Vashyo Harirjaayate Satvaram ||

Meaning:
9.1: Whoever Recites this Acyutashtakam, which is the Giver of Istha (Chosen Desire or nearness to Chosen Deity),
9.2: With Devotion, Everyday and with Longing for the Purusha (the Supreme Being),
9.3: This Acyutashtakam which Beautifully Encircles the All-Sustaining Being (with His various Names and Qualities),
9.4: (That Person) by the Will of Hari, will Quickly reach the Abode of Hari.