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Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Lakshmi Narayana Hrudayam
[Heart of Lakshmi and Narayana]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
Introduction
This great prayer has two distinct parts viz Narayana Hrudayam and Lakshmi Hrudayam and occurs
in a book called Atharva Rahasya [the secret Atharva]. For thousands of years this great prayer was
kept as extremely secret as the prayer itself tells that it should not be taught indiscriminately. With the
opening up of Hinduism, this book is available now. The stotras have been published in Sanskrit as
well as Tamil by Lifco Publishers, Chennai. An extensive commentary of this great work has been
done by a team of great Vaishnavite scholars headed by Dr. Saroja Ramanujam:
www.ibiblio.org/sadagopan/ahobilavalli/lakshminarayanahridayam.pdf
My attempt in translation is based on the book published by Lifco Publishers with lot of help from the
translation and commentary of Dr. Saroja Ramanujam.
The book has two parts viz Narayana Hrudayam and Lakshmi Hrudayam. It is told in the book itself
that the proper method of reading it is to first read Narayana Hrudayam, then Lakshmi Hrudayam and
then again Narayana Hrudayam. It is suggested that these should be got from a great Guru. If this is
not possible, it would be better to go to a temple where there is a Sannidhi of Swami Hayagreevar
along with Lakshmi, offer salutations and create a belief in your mind that you have learnt it from that
God i. e. assume that God is your Guru.
In the last stanzas of this great work, the benefits of which would accrue on reading this prayer, is
mentioned. Apart from being showered all types of wealth, it also is capable of making timid children
intelligent.
I have included the Dhyana, Nyasa etc. from the Lifco publication. I do not know the correct way in
doing them. So if you are going to chant them it would be better to know the procedure from a Vedic
Scholar. There is no harm to leave them out or read them without any actions.
Nyasam
Anga Nyasa
Dhyanam (Meditation)
Sun shines because of Narayana and moon gets light from Narayana,
And the fire is really Narayana and I salute Narayana.
Oh God, who is not touched by birth, death, old age and diseases,
Which arise out of the bondage, my salutations to Narayana.
Oh God, who protects the world, chanting, whose name leads to blessings,
Oh God, who sleeps on the ocean of milk at deluge, my salutations to Narayana.
Oh God, who removes all defects and showers good characters on us,
I salute Narayana because I do not have any other refuge other than him.
Oh God, who bestows Purusharthas like Dharma, wealth, passion and salvation,
My salutations to Narayana, Again and again my salutations to him.
I am a very great sinner and you the top among the merciful,
And in all the three worlds none deserves your mercy more than me.
If you had not created me, there would not be any client for your mercy,
Similar to the fact that if there were no diseases, there is no need for medicine.
If the ten verses of prayer as well as the basic octet describing Narayana
Are read or heard daily, it would make Goddess Lakshmi live permanently be there.
This prayer should be kept secret and should not be told to everyone,
As this is a very secret treatise was expounded in ancient times by Brahma.
Thus ends the book called Narayana Hrudaya from the later part of Atharva Rahasya.
Hari om, for the great prayer called "Maha Lakshmi's heart", the sage is Bhargava, meter is Anushtup
and others; this is being chanted to please Goddess Maha Lakshmi.
The root is Sreem, the power is Hreem, Iym is the stopper And this is being chanted to please
Goddess Maha Lakshmi.
Atha Dhyanam
I think about Maha Lakshmi, who holds lotus flowers in her two hands,
And who wears necklaces and anklets.
Manthra [Chant]
She shines holding a citrus fruit, mace, and a shield in her hands,
She shines on the forehead of the king, who respects Vaaga Linga.
Salutations to Lakshmi, who is personification of divinity, who is of the colour of pure Gold,
Who has a shining form, who cloths herself in gold colour apparel, who wears all ornaments,
Who holds a golden pot full of pomegranate seeds, as also a lotus made of gold,
Who is the primeval power, mother of all and who has all auspicious things.
I praise Goddess Lakshmi, who is the progenitor of all luck, who existed always,
Who gives us happiness and pleasure by fulfilling all our wishes.
I bow before you Oh lotus eyed one, who is pleased by the praise of Vishnu,
Who is of golden colour and who gives refuge and blesses.
I salute the peaceful one, who protects those, who surrender to her,
I salute the shining one, who is adorned by attractive qualities,
I salute the patient one, who removes sufferings in a second,
I salute the Goddess earth, who blesses people with money and food.
Victory and Victory to the pretty one, who is within precious gems,
Victory and Victory to the pure one, who shines like unalloyed gold,
Victory and Victory to the Vishnu's consort, who has shining limbs,
Victory and Victory to the peaceful one, with a request to come quickly.
Oh Goddess, who grants all comforts and who provides refuge to her devotees,
When you make your crescent enter in me, make it very stable.
Oh Goddess in, whom everything good exists and who has all sorts of wealth,
Oh Primeval Maha Lakshmi, may your crescent be within me.
Let your crescent which is capable of giving all types of wealth be in me,
And let its divine brilliance destroy the cataract of ignorance in me.
Oh Lakshmi, who is in white island, please come quickly with good resolution,
Along with Lord Vishnu and become pleased with me, Oh Mother of the world.
Oh Lakshmi, who is the sparkle within gems and who is completely golden,
Come, come quickly and stand in front of me.
Oh Goddess Maha Lakshmi, who has all the wealth, extract all those great treasures,
And come quickly in front of me and give them to me.
Oh Goddess earth, oh treasure, make the flow of your riches, merciful one,
And show me all the wealth that you have and bestow them on me.
Come with the speed of mind and speedily come before me,
Please protect me like the wish giving cow and tell me,
"Dear son, do never be afraid" and protect me.
Rise up, wake up, become alert and with pure intentions,
Bring the perennial golden pot filled with gold,
From the bowels of earth outside,
And present them to me with extreme pleasure.
Oh Goddess Lakshmi of the golden colour, come and sit before me,
And be firm and stable, be dear to me and give me blessings.
Please stay within me like your usual stay with Indra and others,
Give me refuge, oh Goddess, my salutations to Maha Lakshmi.
Become pleased with me Maha Lakshmi, who is pleasant and greatly peaceful,
Who is a dear and has a stable character, please stay always in my home.
Vedanta Spiritual Library | www.celextel.org Page 18 of 27 Lakshmi Narayana Hrudayam
60. Yavathishtanthi Vedascha yavad chandra divakarou,
Yavad vishnuscha yavad thwam thwad kuru krupaam mayi.
As long as Vedas are there, as long as Sun and moon are there,
As long as Lord Vishnu and you are there, please show mercy on me.
Like a mother storing milk in her due to the affection towards the son,
Rushes towards him and satisfies him speedily,
If you think that I am your son as you are mother of all,
Make me drown in the nectar like milk of your mercy.
Like the dust particles in the rain drops are beyond counting,
I too am the abode of faults without even a single good quality.
As I am the greatest sinner and you the first among the merciful,
You would not find any one more deserving than me to receive your mercy.
Had I not been created, there would be no need for your mercy,
For if there are no diseases in the world, medicines would not be needed.
Om Gram Greem Grom Graim Groum Gra, Hum Phat Kuru Kuru Swaha.
Oh Goddess, who gives all types of wealth, who gave birth to this world,
Oh Goddess of everything, who destroys all types of fear,
You are the greatest, most pleasant looking and Goddess Lakshmi,
Oh Golden one become pleased with me.
Your glance is the wish giving cow, your mind is the wish giving gem,
Your hand is the wish giving tree and oh Indire you are the treasure,
Your elixir of mercy is my elixir that always is effective,
Your face is the treasure of crescents that fulfils all type of my desires.
The very pretty Goddess Lakshmi along with the wish giving gem,
Touches one with her crescents and like the touch of fluid of alchemy,
All the eyes, hands, arms and feet of all beings,
Who are mobile and immobile becomes gold and gets stable.
He, who reads this Hrudaya of the Aadhi Lakshmi and others,
Would completely posses the grace of Rajya Lakshmi,
And even though he is very poor, he would become rich,
And Lakshmi will stay with him and his descendents permanently.
I meditate on Lakshmi, who has a smiling face, who has the light of crores of suns,
Who wears cloth of the colour of lightning, who wears ornaments, who dazzles,
Who carries a golden put full of pomegranate seeds, who carries two lotus flowers,
Who is accompanied by her husband who grants refuge again and again
And, who is the great glory of God Achyutha.
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