Prayers of Purifucation
smrite sakala—kalyana
bhajanam yatra jayate
purusham tam ajam nityam
vrajami sharanam harim
"I take shelter of Lord Hari, who is the unborn, eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead. Upon remembering Him, a reservoir of all auspiciousness is produced."
(Om) yam brahma vedanta—vido vadanti
pare pradhanam purusham tathanye
vishvodgateh karanam ishvaram va
tasmai namo vighna—vinashaya
"Obeisances unto Him who is the destroyer of all obstacles, who the knowers of Vedanta describe as the Supreme Brahman, and who others describe as the pradhana, or totality of mundane elements. Some describe Him as the supreme male person, or purusha, while others describe Him as the Supreme Lord and the cause of the creation of the universe." (Vishnu Purana)
om tad vishnoh paramam padam sada
pashyanti surayo diviva chakshur—atatam
tad vipraso vipanyavo jagrivamsaha
samindhate vishnor yat paramam padam
"Just as the sun's rays in the sky are extended to the mundane vision, so in the same way the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brahmanas are able to see the spiritual world, they are also able to reveal that supreme abode of Lord Vishnu." (Rig Veda 1.22.20)
om krishno vai sac—cid—ananda—ghanaha krishna adi—purushaha
krishnaha purushottamaha krishno ha u karnadi—mulam krishnaha sa
ha sarvaih karyaha krishnaha kasham—krid—adisha—mukha—prabhu
pujyaha krishno 'nadis tasminn ajandantar—bahye yan
mangalam tal labhate kriti
"Lord Krishna is the color of a new rain cloud, therefore He is compared to a transcendental cloud full of eternity, bliss and cognizance. He is the original and supreme person. He is the origin of all activities and the one and only Lord of all. He is the worshipful Lord of the best of demigods, the controller of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Krishna is without any beginning. Whatever auspiciousness is found within or beyond this universe the devotee obtains in Krishna alone" (Rig Veda, Krishna Upanishad)
(Om) madhavo madhavo vaci
madhavo madhavo hridi
smaranti sadhavaha sarve
sarva—karyeshu madhavam
"Lord Madhava is in one's words and Lord Madhava is in one's heart. All the saintly persons remember Lord Madhava, the husband of the goddess of fortune, in all their undertakings." (Narasimha Purana)
(Om) svasti no govindah svasti no 'cyutanantau
svasti no vasudvo vishnur dadhatu
svasti no narayano naro vai
svasti nah padmanabhaha puroshottamo dadhatu
svasti no vishvakseno vishveshvaraha
svasti no hrishikesho harir dadhatu
svasti no vainateyo harih
svasti no 'njana—suto hanur bhagavato dadhatu
svasti svasti sumangalaih kesho mahan
shri—krishnaha sac—cid—ananda—ghanaha sarveshvareshvaro dadhatu
"May Lord Govinda, Acyuta, Ananta Shesha, Vasudeva and Lord Vishnu bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Nara—Narayana, Padmanabha and Purushottama bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Vishvaksena, the Lord of the universe, Hrishikesh and Lord Hari bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Garuda and the son of Anjana, who is the great devotee of Lord Rama, Hanuman, bestow auspiciousness upon us. May the great and only Lord of auspiciousness, Sri Krishna, who is like a transcendental cloud full of eternity, knowledge and bliss and who is the Lord of all the demigods, bestow upon us all prosperity and auspiciousness." (Rig Veda, Krishna Upanishad)
karotu svasti me krishnaha
sarva—lokeshvareshvaraha
karshnadayash cha kurvantu
svasti me loka—pavanaha
"May Lord Krishna, the Lord of the demigods, the presiding controller of all the worlds, bestow auspiciousness upon me. May His devotees, who are the saviors of all people, bestow benedictions of auspiciousness upon me." (Sammohana Tantra)
krishno mamaiva sarvatra
svasti kuryat shriya samam
tathaiva cha sada karshnihi
sarva—vighna—vinashanaha
"May Lord Krishna along with His beloved Radha bring about prosperity and auspiciousness at all times. In the same way may the devotee of Krishna, who is able to destroy all obstacles, always bring about auspiciousness." (Vishnu Yamala Samhita)
Atharva Vediya Gopala—tapani Upanishad, Purva Vibhaga,
verses 36—47
om namo vishva—rupaya
vishva—sthity—anta—hetave
vishveshvaraya vishvaya
govindaya namo namaha
"Lord Brahma, speaking to the great sages and saints, prayed to Lord Krishna as follows: I offer my humble obeisances to Lord Krishna, who is the giver of pleasure to the cows, whose external form is the form of the universe, who is the cause of the maintenance and dissolution of the material universe, and who is the Lord of the universe."
namo vijnana—rupaya
paramananda—rupine
krishnaya gopi—nathaya
govindayah namo namah
"I offer my obeisances to Lord Krishna, who is the giver of pleasure to the cows, who is the Lord of the gopis and who is the embodiment of unlimited knowledge and the highest bliss."
namah kamala—netraya
namah kamala—maline
namah kamal—nabhaya
kamala—pataye namaha
"I offer my obeisances to Krishna, who possesses lotus—petal eyes, who wears a garland of sweet—smelling lotus flowers, who has a lotus navel and who is the Lord of the gopis, who are as beautiful as lotus flowers."
barhapidabhiramaya
ramayakuntha—medhase
rama—manasa—hamsaya
govindaya namo namaha
"I offer my obeisances to Lord Govinda, who looks very beautiful wearing a peacock feather upon His head. His plenary expansion is Lord Ramachandra, His intelligence is eternal and ever—fresh, and He is the swan that swims in the mind of Lakshmi—devi."
kamsa—vamsha—vinashaya
keshi—chanura—ghatine
vrishabha—dhvaja—vandyaya
partha—sarathaye namaha
"I offer my obeisances unto Krishna, who is the destroyer of the dynasties of demons headed by King Kamsa. He is the slayer of the Keshi demon and the wrestler Chanura. He is offered prayers by Lord Shiva, whose chariot flag is marked with the insignia of Nandi, the bull, and He is the chariot driver of the son of Pritha, Arjuna."
venu—vadana—shilaya
gopalayahi—mardine
kalindi—kula—lolaya
lola—kundala—dharine
"I offer my obeisances to Krishna, who is accustomed to playing on a flute, who is the protector of the cows and the chastiser of the Kaliya serpent. He is fond of wandering here and there on the banks of the Yamuna and He is beautified by wearing swinging earrings."
ballavi—vadanambhoja—
maline nritya—shaline
namah pranata—palaya
shri—krishnaya namo namaha
"I offer my obeisances again and again unto Shri Krishna, who wears a garland of kisses from the lotus mouths of the gopis. He is conversant with the art of dancing and is the protector of the surrendered souls."
namah papa—pranashaya
govardhana—dharaya cha
putana—jivitantaya
trinavartasu—harine
"I offer my obeisances unto Lord Krishna, who is the destroyer of the sins of the fallen souls. He is the lifter of Govardhan Hill, He brought about the end to the life of Putana and He took away the life of the demon Trinavarta."
nishkalaya vimohaya
shuddhayashuddha—vairine
advitiyaya mahate
shri—krishnaya namo namaha
"I offer my humble obeisances again and again unto the great Lord Krishna, who is beyond the illusion of maya and from whom that illusion comes. He is the supreme pure, the enemy of the demons and is one without a second."
prasida paramananda
prasida parameshvara
adhi—vyadhi—bhujangena
dashtam mam uddhara prabho
"O Supreme Lord, O reservoir of the highest pleasure, be pleased upon me. I have been bitten by the poisonous snake of mental and bodily miseries. Therefore, O Lord, please deliver me."
shri—krishna rukmini—kanta
gopi—jana—manohara
samsara—sagare magnam
mam uddhara jagad—guro
"O Lord Krishna, O lover of Rukmini, O attractor of the minds of the gopis, please uplift me, for I am immersed in the ocean of birth and death, O spiritual preceptor of the universe."
keshava klesha—harana
narayana janardana
govinda paramananda
mam samuddhara madhava
"O Lord Keshava, O destroyer of the three—fold miseries, O only refuge of all souls, O destroyer of the Jana demons, O Govinda, O reservoir of pleasure, please uplift me who am fallen, O husband of the goddess of fortune."
he krishna karuna—sindho
dina—bandho jagat—pate
gopesha gopika—kanta
radha—kanta namo 'stu te
"O my dear Krishna, You are the friend of the distressed, the ocean of mercy, and the Lord of creation. You are the master of the cowherdsmen and the lover of the gopis, especially Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You."
108 Names of Krishna
OM SHRI KRISHNAYA NAMAHA
Salutations to Lord Shri Krishna
OM KAMALA NATHAYA NAMAHA
To Kamala's (Goddess Lakshmi's) spouse
OM VAASUDEVAYA NAMAHA
To Vasudeva (Vasudev's son, Krishna)
OM SANATANAYA NAMAHA
To the Eternal One
OM VASUDEVAYA NAMAHA
To the Son of Vasudeva
OM PUNYAYA NAMAHA
To the Meritorious One
OM LILA—MANUSHA—VIGRAHAYA NAMAHA
To Him who has assumed a human form to perform His pastimes
OM SHRIVATSA KAUSTHUBHA—DHARAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who wears the Shri Vatsa (representing Shri Lakshmi) and the Kaustubha gem
OM YASHODA—VATSALAYA NAMAHA
To Mother Yashoda's darling child
OM HARAYE NAMAHA
To Shri Hari
OM CHATURBHUJATTA—CHAKRASI—GADA—SHANKADHYAYUDHAYA NAMAHA
To the Four—armed One who carries the weapons of disc, conch and club
OM DEVAKI NANDANAYA NAMAHA
To Mother Devaki's son
OM SHRISAYA NAMAHA
To the abode of Shri (Lakshmi)
OM NANDAGOPA PRIYATMAJAYA NAMAHA
To Nanda Gopa's darling child
OM YAMUNAVEGA SAMHARINE NAMAHA
To the Lord who destroyed the speed of the river Yamuna
OM BALABHADRA PRIYANUJAYA NAMAHA
To Balabhadra's (Balarama's) dear younger brother
OM PUTANA JIVITA HARAYA NAMAHA
To the Destroyer of the demoness Putana
OM SHAKATASURA BHANJANAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who destroyed the demon Sakatasura
OM NANDAVRAJA JANA NANDINE NAMAHA
To the Lord who brought great happiness to Nanda and the people of Vraja
OM SACHIDANANDA VIGRAHAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who is the embodiment of Existence, Awareness and Bliss
OM NAVANITA VILIPTANGAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord whose body is smeared with butter
OM NAVANITA NATAYA NAMAHA
To the One who danced to get butter
OM ANAGHAYA NAMAHA
To the sinless One
OM NAVANITA NAVAHARAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who invented a new form of food—butter
(because He consumed large quantities of it)
OM MUCHUKUNDA PRASADAKAYA NAMAHA
to the Lord who blessed (gave salvation) to King Muchukunda
OM SHODASHA STHRI SAHASRESHAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of sixteen thousand wives
OM TRIBHANGI LALITAKRITAYE NAMAHA
To the Lord who poses bent in three places
OM SUKAVAG AMRITABHDHINDAVE NAMAHA
To the ocean of nectar in the form of Sukadeva's words (spoken as Srimad—Bhagavatam)
OM GOVINDAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of the cows
OM YOGINAM PATAYE NAMAHA
To the Lord of the yogis
OM VATSA VATACHARAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who roamed (in Vrindavana) with the company of calves and friendly cowherd boys
OM ANANTAYA NAMAHA
To the Infinite One
OM DHENUKASURA MARDANAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who killed the demon Dhenukasura
OM TRINIKRITA TRINAVARTAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who destroyed the whirlwind demon Trinavarta
OM YAMALARJUNA BHANJANAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who broke the two Yamalarjuna trees
OM UTTALA TALABHETTRE NAMAHA
To the Lord who broke the huge trees
OM TAMALA SHYAMALA KRITAYE NAMAHA
To the Lord who is a beautiful as the dark Tamala tree
OM GOPA GOPISHVARAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of Gopas and Gopis
OM YOGINE NAMAHA
To the greatest Yogi
OM KOTI SURYA SAMAPRABHAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who is as lustrous as a million suns
OM ILAPATAYE NAMAHA
To the Lord of the Earth
OM PARASMAI JYOTISHE NAMAHA
To the One who is the Supreme Light
OM YADAVENDRAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of the Yadavas
OM YADUDVAHAYA NAMAHA
To the Leader of the Yadus
OM VANAMALINE NAMAHA
To the Lord who wears a sylvan garland
OM PITA VASASE NAMAHA
To the Lord who wears yellow robes
OM PARIJATAPA HARAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who removed the parijatha flower (from India's garden)
OM GOVARDHANACHALO DHARTRE NAMAHA
To the Lord who lifted Govardhan Hill
OM GOPALAYA NAMAHA
To the protector of cows
OM SARVA PALAKAYA NAMAHA
To the protector of all beings
OM AJAYA NAMAHA
To the all—victorious Lord
OM NIRANJANAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who is untainted
OM KAMA JANAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who generates desires in the worldly—minded
OM KANCHA LOCHANAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who has beautiful eyes
OM MADHUGHNE NAMAHA
To the Lord who killed the demon Madhu
OM MATHURA NATHAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of the holy place of Mathura
OM DVARAKA NAYAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of Dwaraka
OM BALINE NAMAHA
To the all—powerful Lord
OM BRINDAVANANTA SANCARINE NAMAHA
To the Lord who roamed around Vrindavana
OM TULASIDAMA BHUSHANAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who adorns Himself with tulasi leaf garlands
OM SYAMANTAKA MANER HARTRE NAMAHA
To the Lord who stole the Syamantaka gem
OM NARA NARAYANATMAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who has the twin forms of Nara and Narayana
OM KUBJA KRISHTAMBARADHARAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who wore the ointment offered by Kubja, the hunchbacked lady
OM MAYINE NAMAHA
To the Lord of Maya (the illusion)
OM PARAMAPURUSHAYA NAMAHA
To the Supreme Person
OM MUSHTIKASURA CHANURA MALLAYUDHA—VISHARADAYA NAMAHA
To the expert wrestler who wrestled with the two demons, Mushtika and Chanura
OM SAMSARA VAIRINE NAMAHA
To the enemy of Samsara (the cycle of births and deaths)
OM KAMSARAYE NAMAHA
To the enemy of King Kamsa (who wanted to kill Krishna)
OM MURARAYE NAMAHA
To the enemy of the demon Mura
OM NARAKANTAKAYA NAMAHA
To the destroyer of the demon Naraka
OM ANADI BRAHMACHARINE NAMAHA
To the beginningless Absolute
OM KRISHNA VYASANA KARSHAKAYA NAMAHA
To the One who removed Draupadi's distress
OM SHISHUPALA SHIRASCETTRE NAMAHA
To the Lord who removed Sisupala's head
OM DURYODHANA KULANTAKAYA NAMAHA
To the destroyer of the dynasty of Durodhana
OM VIDURAKRURA VARADAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who gave boons to Vidura and Akrura
OM VISHVARUPA PRADARSHAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who revealed His Viswarupa (the Universal Form)
OM SATYAVACHE NAMAHA
To the Lord who utters only truth
OM SATYA SANKALPAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of true resolve
OM SATYABHAMA RATAYA NAMAHA
To the Lover of Satyabhama
OM JAYINE NAMAHA
To the Lord who is ever victorious
OM SUBHADRA PURVAJAYA NAMAHA
To the elder brother of Subhadra
OM VISHNAVA NAMAHA
To Lord Vishnu
OM BHISHMA MUKTI PRADAYAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who bestowed salvation on Bhishma
OM JAGADGURAVE NAMAHA
To the Lord who is Guru to the whole world
OM JAGANNATHAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord of the whole world
OM VENUNADA VISHARADAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who is an expert in playing flute music
OM VRISHABHASURA VIDHVAMSINE NAMAHA
To the Lord who destroyed the demon Vrishaba
OM BANASURA KARANTAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who chopped off the hands of the demon Banasura
OM YUDHISTHIRA PRATISHTHATRE NAMAHA
To the Lord who established Yudhisthir (as the king)
OM BARHI BARHAVATAMSAKAYA NAMAHA
To the One who is adorned with effulgent peacock feathers
OM PARTHASARATHAYE NAMAHA
To Partha Sarathi, the chariot driver of Arjuna
OM AVYAKTAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who is difficult to comprehend
OM GITAMRITA MAHODADHAYE NAMAHA
To the Ocean containing the nectar of the Bhagavad—gita
OM KALIYAPHANI MANIKYA RANJITA SHRI PADAMBHUJAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord whose lotus feet are adorned with the gems from the hoods of the serpent Kaliya
OM DAMODARAYA NAMAHA
To the One who was tied with a grinding stone around His waist
OM YAJNABHOKTRE NAMAHA
To the Lord who consumes sacrificial offerings
OM DANAVENDRA VINASHAKAYA NAMAHA
To the destroyer of the Lord of Asuras
OM NARAYANAYA NAMAHA
To Lord Narayana
OM PARABRAHMANE NAMAHA
To the Supreme Brahman
OM PANNAGASHANA VAHANAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who has a serpent (Adisesha) as His seat
OM JALAKRIDASAMASHAKTA GOPI VASTRAPAHARAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord who (playfully) hid the clothes (left on the shore) of the Gopis who were engrossed in playing in the waters of the Yamuna river
OM PUNYA—SHLOKAYA NAMAHA
To the Lord whose praises bestow merit
OM TIRTHAPADAYA NAMAHA
To the One whose feet are holy
OM VEDAVEDYAYA NAMAHA
To the source of the Vedas
OM DAYANIDHAYE NAMAHA
To the Treasure of compassion
OM SARVA BHUTATMAKAYA NAMAHA
To the Soul of the elements
OM SARVAGRAHA RUPINE NAMAHA
To the All—formed One
OM PARATPARAYA NAMAHA
To the One who is highest than the highest
Sri Nanda—Nandanastakam
An Old Prayer to Lord Krishna, author unknown
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana (the son of Nanda Maharaja, Krishna), whose face is extremely delightful, from whose beautiful ears hang jewelled earrings, and whose entire body is anointed with fragrant candana.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose eyes are more beautiful than the fully—bloomed lotus, whose head is beautifully adorned with an arrangement of peacock feathers, and who enchants millions of Cupids.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, from whose beautiful nose hangs an elephant—pearl, whose teeth are brilliantly shining, and whose bodily complexion is more beautiful and lustrous than a fresh rain cloud.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose lotus hands hold the flute, whose lingering gait defeats even that of an impassioned elephant, and whose dark limbs are beautified by a yellow shawl.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose three—fold bending posture is exquisitely elegant, the effulgence of whose toe—nails puts to shame even the moon, and who wears invaluable jewels and ornaments.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, whose body exudes an extraordinarily beautiful fragrance and whose broad chest is adorned with the kaustubha jewel and the mark of Srivatsa.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, Vrindavana's expert lover who dresses in a manner that enhances His charming, playful pastimes, and who pulverized the pride of Indra.
I offer pranama to Sri Nandanandana, who as the lover of the Vraja gopis perpetually delights them and who enchants the minds of all living entities.
Whoever regularly recites this Sri Nanda—Nandanastakam with deep faith will easily cross the seemingly insurmountable ocean of material existence and attain eternal residence at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna.