Hari Aum.
I recently discovered the beautiful poem 'Krishnashtakam'. This consists of 8 verses (ashtakam) in praise of Lord Krishna and was composed by the great Guru, saint and poet Adi Shankara. He composed many exquisitely beautiful prayers including the Soundariya Lahiri, Mahishasura Mardini, and many more.
The Krishnashtakam is, in my view, one of Adi Shankara's most wonderful compositions. This brings to life the form of Lord Krishna in the mind's eye. As one recites these verses with knowledge of their meaning, one is effectively meditating on the form of Sri Krishna. One naturally would like to see the beautiful form described. Although we may not be able to see Krishna right away with our physical eyes, we can take comfort in His promise that He will be present where His name is sung. And Krishna's words are ever true as He is the embodiment of Truth itself. Fire may burn downwards, water may flow upwards, anything can happen but the words of Lord Krishna cannot be false. Let us therefore sing these verses knowing that He is with us when we call His names.
Krishnashtakam by Adi Shankaracharya
1. Vasudeva sutam devam (Salutations to the Supreme Being who is son of Vasudeva)
Kamsa Chanura mardanam (The Destroyer of the demons Kamsa and Chanura)
Devaki paramanandam (The supreme delight of Devaki)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
2. Athasi pushpa sankasham (The one who is radiant wearing Atasi flowers)
Haar nupura shobhitam (Who is beautiful with garland and anklets)
Ratna kankana keyuram (Who wears a jeweled bracelet and armlet)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
3.Kutilalaka samyuktam (Who has curly locks of hair)
Purna chandra nibhananam (Whose face is beautiful like the full moon)
Vilasat kundaladharam (Who wears gleaming ear ornaments)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
4.Mandargandha samyuktam (Who is fragrant with the scent of mandara flowers)
Charu hasam charturbhujam (Who has a sweet smile, the four-armed One)
Barhi pichava chudangam (Whose wears a peacock feather in His crown)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
5. Utphulla padma patraksham (Who has beautiful eyes like a full-blown lotus)
Neelajimutha sannibham (Who is dark-hued like a rain cloud)
Yadavanam shiroratnam (Who is the crest-jewel of the Yadava clan)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
6. Rukminikeli samyuktam (Who is involved in sportive play with Rukmini)
Pitambara sushobhitam (Who is glorious in a yellow silken garment)
Avapta tulasigandham (Who is fragrant with the scent of the Tulasi leaves)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
7. Gopikanam kuchadvanda (From the chest of the gopis)
Kumkumankita vakshasam (Who is covered in kumkuma)
Shriniketam Maheshvasam (Who is the residence of the auspicous Shri and the divine Mahesha)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
8. Shrivatsankam mahoraskam (Who has the Srivatsa mark on His chest)
Vanamala virajitham (Who wears a garland of wild flowers from the forest)
Shanka chakra dharam devam (Who holds the celestial conch and discus)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
Krishnashtakam idam punyam (These sacred eight verses)
Pratharuthyaya yah pateth (When read by one in the morning)
Koti janmam kritam papam (Destroys their accumulated sins of crores of births)
Smaranena vinashyati (Simply by their mere remembrance)
A most beautiful rendition of the above prayer (a group of women singing the song- sounds like the gopis calling out to Krishna)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z89j6NR4aME
Hari Aum Tat Sat
I recently discovered the beautiful poem 'Krishnashtakam'. This consists of 8 verses (ashtakam) in praise of Lord Krishna and was composed by the great Guru, saint and poet Adi Shankara. He composed many exquisitely beautiful prayers including the Soundariya Lahiri, Mahishasura Mardini, and many more.
The Krishnashtakam is, in my view, one of Adi Shankara's most wonderful compositions. This brings to life the form of Lord Krishna in the mind's eye. As one recites these verses with knowledge of their meaning, one is effectively meditating on the form of Sri Krishna. One naturally would like to see the beautiful form described. Although we may not be able to see Krishna right away with our physical eyes, we can take comfort in His promise that He will be present where His name is sung. And Krishna's words are ever true as He is the embodiment of Truth itself. Fire may burn downwards, water may flow upwards, anything can happen but the words of Lord Krishna cannot be false. Let us therefore sing these verses knowing that He is with us when we call His names.
Krishnashtakam by Adi Shankaracharya
1. Vasudeva sutam devam (Salutations to the Supreme Being who is son of Vasudeva)
Kamsa Chanura mardanam (The Destroyer of the demons Kamsa and Chanura)
Devaki paramanandam (The supreme delight of Devaki)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
2. Athasi pushpa sankasham (The one who is radiant wearing Atasi flowers)
Haar nupura shobhitam (Who is beautiful with garland and anklets)
Ratna kankana keyuram (Who wears a jeweled bracelet and armlet)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
3.Kutilalaka samyuktam (Who has curly locks of hair)
Purna chandra nibhananam (Whose face is beautiful like the full moon)
Vilasat kundaladharam (Who wears gleaming ear ornaments)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
4.Mandargandha samyuktam (Who is fragrant with the scent of mandara flowers)
Charu hasam charturbhujam (Who has a sweet smile, the four-armed One)
Barhi pichava chudangam (Whose wears a peacock feather in His crown)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
5. Utphulla padma patraksham (Who has beautiful eyes like a full-blown lotus)
Neelajimutha sannibham (Who is dark-hued like a rain cloud)
Yadavanam shiroratnam (Who is the crest-jewel of the Yadava clan)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
6. Rukminikeli samyuktam (Who is involved in sportive play with Rukmini)
Pitambara sushobhitam (Who is glorious in a yellow silken garment)
Avapta tulasigandham (Who is fragrant with the scent of the Tulasi leaves)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
7. Gopikanam kuchadvanda (From the chest of the gopis)
Kumkumankita vakshasam (Who is covered in kumkuma)
Shriniketam Maheshvasam (Who is the residence of the auspicous Shri and the divine Mahesha)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
8. Shrivatsankam mahoraskam (Who has the Srivatsa mark on His chest)
Vanamala virajitham (Who wears a garland of wild flowers from the forest)
Shanka chakra dharam devam (Who holds the celestial conch and discus)
Krishnam vande Jagadgurum (Obeisances to Krishna, the Guru of the Universe)
Krishnashtakam idam punyam (These sacred eight verses)
Pratharuthyaya yah pateth (When read by one in the morning)
Koti janmam kritam papam (Destroys their accumulated sins of crores of births)
Smaranena vinashyati (Simply by their mere remembrance)
A most beautiful rendition of the above prayer (a group of women singing the song- sounds like the gopis calling out to Krishna)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z89j6NR4aME
Hari Aum Tat Sat
