Mangala Ashtakam
Jesper Sahu
Mangalashtakam
[The Octet of the Good]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[This great prayer praying for all that is good addresses itself to all Gods,sages, beings, places and sacred waters. It is remarkable in the sense that manyof them addressed are great human beings known to the Hindus. People readingthis rare stotra (prayer) would definitely lead a life of fulfillment and reachthe land of Vishnu.]
Brahma Vishnur Gireesa sura pathir anala prethatyathunatha,
Sthoyadeescha vayur danada guha Ganesarka Chandrascha Rudraa,
Viswadhithyaa asvisadhya vasa pithru maruth sidha vidhyarthaa yaksha,
Gandharva kinnardhy akhila, gagana chara, Mangalam may dhisanthu. 1
Let me be blessed with all that is good,
By Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva,
By Indra, Fire, Yama and Niryathi,
By Varuna, Wind and Khubera,
By Lord Subrahmanya and Ganesa,
By Sun, moon, Rudras and Vasus,
By Adithyas, Aswini devas, and Sadhyas,
By cows, manes, Maruths and Sidhas,
By Vidhyadharas, Yakshas, Gandharwas and Kinnaras,
Who are all those who travel in the sky.
Vani, Lakshmi, darithri, hima giri thanaya, Chandika, bhadrakali
Brahmyadhya mathru sanga, Adithi Thithi satheethyadhayo daksha puthrya,
Savithri Jahnu kanya, Dinakarathanata, Arundathi, Deva pathnya,
Phoulomyadhyasthadhanya, khachara yuvathayo Mangalam may dhishanthu. 2
Let me blessed with all that is good,
By Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Goddess earth and Parvathi,
By Chandika, Kali and the mother goddesses like Braahmi,
By Adithi, Thidhi and Sathi, who are daughters of Daksha,
By Savithri, Ganges the daughter of Jahnu and Yamuna the daughter of Sun,
By Arundathi and other deva maidens and all those maidens who travel on the sky.
Mathsya, koormo, varaho, nruhariradha vatur bhargavo, Ramachandra,
Seeri Krishnascha, Kalki cha Kapila, nara Narayanaa threyanavadhya,
Anye nanavathara naraka vijayi naschakra mukhyayudhani.
Thath pathnyas thath suthaschapya akila harikula, Mangalam may dhisanthu. 3
Let me blessed with all that is good,
By incarnations of fish, turtle, boar, lion man, Vamana, Parasurama and Rama,
By Sri Krishna, Kalki, Kapila, Nara, Narayana, Dathathreya and others,
And other incarnations which won over Narakasura and have wheel as their weapon,
And their wives, sons, who are all rebirths of Lord Vishnu
Viswamithro, Vasishta, Kalasa bhava uchathya, angira kaasyapascha,
Vyasa, kanva, Mareechi Krathu, Bhrugu, pulaha sounakathri pulasthya,
Anye sarve muneendraa, Kuja, Budha, Guru, shukra arka jathya grahaaye,
Nakshthrani prajesa phanigana manavo, Mangalam may dhisanthu. 4
Let me blessed with all that is good,
By Viswamithra, Vasishta, Agasthya, Uchathya, Angeerasa and Kasyapa,
By Vyasa, Kanva, Marrechi, Krathu, Bhrugu, Pulaha, Sounaka, Athri and Pulasthya,
By other great saints and Planets round the sun like Mercury, Jupiter and Venus,
By all stars, great kings and other serpents like Nagaraja.
Tharkshyanantho Hanuman Balirapi Sanakadhyasuko Naradascha,
Prahladha, Pandu puthra nruga Nala Nahusha, Vishnuratho Ambareesha,
Bheeshma Akruro Udhavosi nara bharatha harischanda Rukhmangadhadhya,
Anye sarve narendra Ravi sasi kulaja, Mangalam may dhisanthu. 5
Let me blessed with all that is good,
By Garuda, Adhisesha, Hanuman, Mahabali, Sanaka and others, Shuka and Narada,
By Prahladha, Sons of Pandu, Nruga, Nala, Nahusha, Parikshit and Ambareesha,
By Bheeshma, Akroora, Udhava, Bharatha, Harischandra and Rukhmangadha,
And all other great kings, belonging to the Sun and moon dynasties.
Aahuthyadhischa thisra sakula muni kalathrani dara manoonaam,
Thara, Kunthi cha Panchalyadha Nala dayitha Rukmani Sathyabhama,
Devakyadhyascha sarva yadu kula vanitha raja bharyasthadhanya,
Gopya scharithra yuktha sakala yuva thayo, Mangalam may dhisanthu. 6
Let me blessed with all that is good,
By Aahuthi, Devahuthi and Praseethi, the three daughters of Manu,
By the wives of all great sages and the wives of all Manus,
By Thara, Kunthi, Panchali, Damayanthi, Rukhmani and Sathyabhama,
By Devaki and all the ladies of Yadu clan as well as all the king's wives,
And Gopis as well as all virtuous wives who are young.
Vipra gavascha Veda Smruthirapi Thulasi Sarva theerthani Vidhya,
Nana Sasthra ithihasa aapi sakala puranaani varnasramascha,
Sankhyam, Jnanam cha Yoga api yama niyamou sarva karmani kalaa,
Sarve dharmascha sathyadhyavayava sahitha, Mangalam may disanthu. 7
Let me blessed with all that is good,
By Brahmins, cows, Vedas, Smruthis, Thulasi, all sacred waters and knowledge,
By Various sciences, history, all epics and the various stages of life,
By Sankhya, Wisdom, Yoga, rules governing life, and all actions,
And by all religions, truth and all the organs of the body.
Lokaa dweepa samudhra kshithi dara pathauo, Meru Kailasa Mukhya,
Kaveri, narmadhadhya, shubha jala saritha swardhruma diggajendra,
Megha jyotheemshi nana nara mruga pasu pakshyadhaya prani nonye,
Sarvaoushadhyancha vruksha sakala thruna latha, Mangalam may disanthu. 8
Let me blessed with all that is good,
By different worlds, islands, oceans and mountains like Kailasa and Merusupporting the world,
By divine rivers like Kaveri and Narmadha, the wish giving tree and the eightelephants,
By clouds, different luminous bodies, different men, beasts, birds and otherliving things,
And by different medicinal plants, trees and all grasses and climbers.
Bhakthya samyuktha chithaa prathi divasa miman mangala stotra mukhyan,
Ashtou slokaan prabathe divasa parinathou ye cha marthya padanthi,
They nithyam poorna kaama iha bhuvi sukhinaschartha vandhobhi bhoothwa,
Nirmuktha sarva paapair vayasi cha charame Vishnu lokam prayanthi. 9
If that gentleman with devotion and concentrated mind reads this mangala prayerdaily,
Which has eight stanzas in the morning as soon as the day breaks,
He would lead a full life and live with pleasure, wealth and saluting beings,
And would get rid of all their sins and on death would reach the land of Vishnu.
"My ideal indeed can be put into a few words and that is: to preach unto mankind their divinity, and how to make it manifest in every movement of life.
This world is in chain of superstition. I pity the oppressed, whether man or woman, and I pity more the oppressors.
One idea that I see clear as daylight is that misery is caused by ignorance and nothing else. Who will give the world light? Sacrifice in the past has been the Law, it will be, alas, for ages to come. The earth's bravest and best will have to sacrifice themselves for the good of many, for the welfare of all. Buddhas by the hundred are necessary with eternal love and pity."
Swami Vivekananda
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda - Vol-7
Mangala Chandika Stotram
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[The text of this stotra is given in various ways in different places and I havepieced out the complete prayer by consulting various places. The text inSanskrit is given at: shivu360.blogspot.com/2011/02/mangala-chandika-stotram.html.Slightly different text is given at: ioustotra.blogspot.com/2011/09/mangal-chandika-stotram.htmlalong with meaning in Marathi and English (incomplete). There are many claimsthat this stotra is an antidote to the Mangalya dosha in the horoscopes. Thereis no mention about this in the text. The word "Mangala" indicates"Auspiciousness" as well as "Planet Mars" and this prayer is recommended to bechanted on Tuesdays. The confusion must have come from this.]
Om Hreem sreem kleem sarva poojye devi Mangala Chandike,
Iym kroom phat swahethyevam cha apya ekavinsakharo Manu.
Poojya kalpa tharuschaiva Bhakthaanaam sarva kamadha,
Dasa laksha jape naiva manthra sidhir bhave nrunaam,
Manthra sidhir bhavedh sa Vishnur Sarva Kamadha,
Dhyanam cha sruyathaan Brahman Vedoktham sarva sammatham,
If Man worships with the twenty one lettered Chant,
"Om Hreem, Sreem, Kleem Sarva poojaye devi Mangala Chandike, Iym kroom phatswaha"
She who is like the wish fulfilling tree to him who worships, would fulfill allthe wishes of that devotee,
And if he chants it ten lakh times, he would be able to master all occultpowers,
For with the mastery of this chant, Lord Vishnu attained all his wishes,
And Lord Brahma meditating and hearing it, was recognized by the Vedas.
Dhyanam
Devim Shodasa varsheeyaam, sarva susthira youvanam,
SArva roppa gunadyaam cha komalaangim manoharaam,
Swetha champaka varnaam, Chandra koti SAmaprabham,
Vahni shudhaam sukhaadhaanaam, rathna bhooshana bhooshithaam,
Bibrathim Khabari baaraam mallika malya vibhooshithaam,
Bimbhoshtim sudathim shudhaam sarad Padma nibhaananaam,
Eesha dwasya prasannasyaam Suneelothphala lochanaam,
Jagat dhatrim cha dhatrim cha Sarvebhya sarva sampadaam
Samsara sagare ghore potha roopaam varaam bhaje.
Deyascha dhyana mithyevam sthavanam sryathaam mune,
Prayatha sankata grastho yena thushtava Sankara.
The goddess is of sixteen years age, and is blessed with permanent youth,
She is blessed with all forms and all good qualities, she has pretty form, shesteals the mind,
She is of the colour of White Champa flower, she has the sparkle of billions ofmoons,
She wears cloth purified by fire and wears ornaments studded with gems,
She is bent due to the weight of her breasts and wears the garland of jasmine,
She has lips of the colour of Bimba fruit, she has good teeth, she is pure andis like the lotus flower of autumn.
She looks pleased with a slow smile and has eyes which are like blue lotus,
She is the mother of the universe, she is the mother and always gives wealth toall,
And she is a boat to cross the ocean of domestic life and is blessed and Isalute her.
Oh sage let the meditation and worship for her begin and please hear her prayer,
And thus Shankara made those caught by sorrow as happy.
Sankara Uvacha:-
Lord Shiva said:-
1. Raksha raksha jagan mathar devi Chandike,
Harike vipadam raser harsha mangala Karike.
Protect, protect, oh Goddess Chandika, who is the mother of universe,
Who defeats dangers and one *who makes mars happy in all rasis.
*(or one who is general makes things happily auspicious)
2. Harsha mangala dakshecha, mangala chandike,
Shubhe mangala dakshecha, shubha mangala chandike.
She who is the auspicious Chandika is the happy auspicious earth
And the pure auspicious earth is the pure auspicious Chandika.
3. Mangale, mangalarhe cha, mangalabheeshta devathe,
Sathaam mangaladhe devi, sarveshaam mmangalalaye.
She is the Auspicious one who merits auspiciousness,
She is the goddess who fulfills auspicious wishes,
She who is always auspicious blesses all with auspiciousness.
4. Poojaye mangala vare cha, mangalabheeshta devathe,
Poojya mangala bhoopasya, manu vamsaya santhatham.
When the goddess is worshipped on Tuesdays she fulfills all auspicious wishes,
And she is always worshipped by auspicious kings, who are from the clan ofManus.
5. Mangalaa dishtathrudevi, Mangalaanaam mangale,
Samsara mangalaadhare, moksha mangala dhayini.
Please make me auspicious, Oh auspicious one among auspicious,
Oh bearer of auspiciousness in this world, who grants auspiciousness andsalvation.
6. Sare cha mangaladhare pare cha sarva karmanaam,
Prathi mangalavare cha poojye cha Mangalapradhe.
She who has auspiciousness at all times makes us succeed in all our actions,
She who is being worshipped on all tuesdays grants auspiciousness.
7. Stotranaanena Shambuscha sthuthwaa Mangala Chandikam,
Prathi mangala vare cha poojayaam thath vaa gatha shiva,
After praising Mangala Chandika using this prayer,
Every tuesday he worshipped her, and how much greatness did Lord shiva attainbecause of it?
8. Prathame poojitha devi, Shive na sarva mangala,
Dwitheeye poojithaa sa cha mangalena grahena cha,
9. Thritheeye poojitha Bhadraa mangalena nrupena cha,
Chathurthe Mangala vaare cha Sundari bhi prapoojitha,
10. Panchame Mangala kamkshi r narai mangala Chandika,
First Lord Shiva worshipped the Goddess Sarva Mangala,
Second she was also worshipped the planet Mangal (mars),
Third she was worshipped by Bhadra Kali and also the king in auspiciousness,
Fourth on a Tuesday she was also worshipped by the pretty women,
Fifth she was worshipped my men who wanted auspiciousness,
11. Poojitha prathi visweshu viswesa poojitha sadaa.
Thatha sarvathra sampoojyaa babhuva sureswari.
She is worshipped in every world and the lord of the universe worships her.
And thus that Goddess became one who is worshipped everywhere.
12. Devadhibischa munibhir manubhir manavai mune,
Devyascha mangala stotram, ya srunothi samahitha.
13. Than mangalam bhaveth thasya, na bhaveth thath amangalam,
Vardanthe thath puthra pouthrascha, mangalam cha dhine dhine.
If the prayer of auspiciousness of the goddess is heard with quite devotion,
BY devas, sages, kings as well as men, oh sage.
Good events will happen in their life and nothing which is not auspicious willever happen to them.
And the number of his sons and grandsons will increase and day after day, therewould only be auspiciousness.
Ithi sri Brahma Vaivarthe, Prakruthi Khande, Mangala Chandika stotram sampoornam
Thus ends the prayer addressed to Mangala Chandika occurring in the Chapter onnature in Brahma vaivartha Purana.