Krupa Samudram

Gita Dhyanam is a set of slokas from various sources that are compiled together. These slokas tell about the glory of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the divine song sung by Bhagavan Sri Krishna himself. The slokas talk about the essence of Gita, the greatness of Bhagavan Veda Vyasa, the gunas of Sri Krishna and also about Arjuna. These slokas help in knowing the greatness of the Gita and help us appreciate...

Devaraja Ashtakam, in the glory of Devaraja perumal of Thirukachi (Kanchipuram) was composed by Thirukachi Nambigal. Thirukachi Nambigal, also known as Kanchi Poorna, was born in a village called Poovirunthamalli, now known as Poonthamalli. He was an ardent devotee of Kanchi Devaraja Perumal. He did the Aalavatta Kainkaryam (fanning) to the lord. He was the devotee of Swami Alavandar. Swami Ramanu...

Vairagya Panchakam, literally translating to five slokas about the quality of not having desire for worldly things. This stotra was composed by Swami Vedanta Desika, when a king offered him with wealth. In this wonderful stotra, Swami Desika says that Parthasarathy (Krishna) himself is the wealth for him. He also mentions that Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal is the wealth that was acquired by his grandf...

Ashtabhujaashtakam is a beautiful work by Swami Vedanta Desika. This stotra comprises of eight slokas in the glory of Ashtabhuja perumal, who is the deity of Ashtabhujakaram. Ashtabhujakaram is a Divya Desam located in Kanchipuram. Ashtabhuja Perumal is the only form of Bhagavan with 8 hands (among the 108 Srivaishnava Divya Desams). The Phala Shruthi says that whoever recites this sloka, all thei...

Sri Krishnashtakam was composed by one of the greatest ever saints in Sanatana Dharma, Adi Shankaracharya. He was the propagator of the Advaita philosophy. He won over the Buddhists and Jains to establish the supremacy of Vedas. In this stotra, he portrays Lord Krishna as the universal preceptor, the Jagadguru. Whoever recites this stotra will be cleared from their sins.

Kamasikaashtakam was composed by Swami Vedanta Desika. This stotra has eight beautiful Slokas about the greatness of the deity at a Divya Desam known as Thiruvelukkai, located in Kanchipuram. The deity of this temple is Sri Narasimha, known as Aalari (ஆளரி). Aal means human and Ari means animal. The deity is also known by other names such as Azhagiya Singar (அழகிய சிங்கர்) and Kamasika. Reciting t...

The word Ratna means a gem. This wonderful stotra contains five (pancha) gem like Slokas in praise of Nayaka Shreshta, Sri Ramachandra Moorthy. Reciting this stotra, which is pleasing to the years, is said to clear off the sins and give salvation

One of the greatest works of all times in this world is Thirukkural. Thirukkural was composed by the Tamil saint Thiruvallur. Thirukkural has 1330 verses, separated into 133 Adhikarams. These Adhikarams belong to larger groups known as Paal. Thirukkural has three Paal - Aram (righteousness), Porul (wealth), and Inbam (pleasure). All the verses are in the Kural Venba meter of Tamil grammar. The fir...

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam consists of eight Slokas praising Godess Mahalakshmi. This stotra was told by Indra, when he lost all his wealth due to the curse of Sage Durvasa. This stotra is present in Padma Purana, one of the 18 major Puranas. Reciting this Stotra gives lots of benefits and brings changes in one's life. PS: In the cover image is the deity of Mahalakshmi, present in Kanchipuram with the n...

Sri Ranganatha Ashtakam is a collection of eight Slokas about Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam. This stotra was composed by the great saint Adi Shankaracharya. He lived in the 8th century. He did great service to Sanatana Dharma and propagated and established the authority of Vedas all around Bharat. In this stotra, he praises the beauty of Sri Ranganatha. Whoever recites this Stotra everyday will get...

Sri Ranganatha Stotram was composed by Swami Parashara Bhattar. He was the son of Sri Koorathaazhwan. Bhattar was known as the Abhimaana Putra of lord Sri Ranganatha himself. Bhattar once had to leave Srirangam due to some threats. After the threats were over, while returning to Srirangam, Bhattar sang this Stotram. This Stotram describes the beauty and greatness of Kaveri, Srirangam and Sri Ranga...

In this episode of Kamba Ramayanam, we are going to listen to the second chapter (Padalam) of the first Kandam, known as Balakandam. This chapter is called Aatru Padalam, which tells about the beauty and wealth of the river Sarayu. This chapter has 20 verses. First 12 verses are in Kalivirutham meter and the remaining 8 are in Aruseer Aasiriya Virutham meter.

Kambar was a great Tamil poet who lived in the place called Therazhundhur. He lived from 1180 to 1250. He was patronized by a king named Thiruvennai Nallur Sadayappa Vallal. His major literary work is Ramavataram, which is now popularly known as Kamba Ramayanam. It is also known as Raama Kaathai His other works are Sadagopar Andhadhi, Erezhupadhu, Silaiezhupadhu, Thirukkai Vazhakkam, Saraswathi An...

Sudarshanaashtakam was composed by Swami Vedanta Desika. It is about the holy discus that Lord Vishnu holds in this right hand. The holy discus is known as Sudarshana, Chakra, Hethiraja or Rathanga in Sanskrit. It is known as Aazhi in Tamil. This stotra contains eight Slokas in the praise of Sudarshana. This stotra is in the Vrutham (meter) of "Thagana Nagana Bhaganaathmakam". This stotra was writ...

Chatushloki was composed by Alavandar, one of the great Acharyas of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya. His original name of Yamunacharya. He was the first in Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya to stotra granthas. Chatushloki is the first stotra work about Sri Mahalakshmi Devi, the concert of Sriman Narayana. This stotra contains four Slokas singing the praise of Mahalakshmi. This is very simple to learn and reci...

Pasurapadi Ramayanam was compiled by Swami Periyavachan Pillai. He was a stalwart in the Srivaishnava Siddhanta. He was very proficient in Naalayira Divya Prabandham. He took phrases from Azhwars' pasurams and put them together to form a Ramayanam, known as Pasurapadi Ramayanam or Divya Prabandha Ramayanam. This is a very beautiful text and soothing to ears.

In order to make the learning of Naalayira Divya Prabandham, our Poorvacharyas (ancient preceptors) have formulated a method of learning known as Santhai. It is a 4 or 5 step process (depending on the length of the verse), which enables one to memorize these verses. Sanskrit Slokas are repeated twice and Tamil Pasurams are repeated thrice. In this episode, we have presented the third stage Santhai...

The word Dhatee means victory and Panchakam means a set of five. These five Slokas tell about the victory and glory of Swami Ramanuja. Swami Ramanuja was born in the year 1017 at a place called Sriperumbudur on Thiruvadhirai (aardra) nakshatra (star), Chithirai (Mesha) maasam (month). The first sloka if this tells how he won over other Paashandis (those who did not accept vedas) and Kudrushtis (th...

In order to make the learning of Naalayira Divya Prabandham, our Poorvacharyas (ancient preceptors) have formulated a method of learning known as Santhai. It is a 4 or 5 step process (depending on the length of the verse), which enables one to memorize these verses. Sanskrit Slokas are repeated twice and Tamil Pasurams are repeated thrice. In this episode, we have presented the second stage Santha...

In order to make the learning of Naalayira Divya Prabandham, our Poorvacharyas (ancient preceptors) have formulated a method of learning known as Santhai. It is a 4 or 5 step process (depending on the length of the verse), which enables one to memorize these verses. Sanskrit Slokas are repeated twice and Tamil Pasurams are repeated thrice. In this episode, we have presented the first stage Santhai...

The holy hymns sung on Lord Vishnu, by 12 divine souls, called as Azhwars is compiled together known as NAALAYIRA DIVYA PRABANDHAM. As the name suggests, the total compilation consists of 4000 hymns. In this episode, I have recited the Podhu Thaniyan, which invokes the blessing of Lord Vishnu, the Azhwars and the Acharyas, who have brought down these hymns for generations. PS: The cover image of t...