The Bhavani Ashtakam is a rendition of realization and invocation to God. Composed by Adi Shankarachayra, the eight verses (Asktakam) forms part of the ancient 8-stanzas poetry of the ancient times. The skill set required to present a full lesson within eight verses is even more fascinating when we realize that each verse has four lines and each line and stanza fits a certain rhyming pattern with identical letters and sounds are placed at the end of each word in each line, exemplifying the beauty of Sanskrit. The Bhavani Ashtakam recognizes God as our Universal Mother, the caretaker, the Protector…

The आत्मषटकम् Atmashatakam, also known as the निर्वाणषटकम् Nirvaanashatakam was composed by Adi Shankaracharya. These are ideal songs for an enlightened soul. Ultimate realization comes from knowing one's soul. Here we recognize that there is no reality other than the true self. The ultimate "I" is addressed in these shlokas, creating a distinction between the elements which we usually feel are the self versus the Ultimate Self. Everything comes from and merges into Brahman; therefore, everything is Brahman. मनोबुद्धयहंकार चित्तानि नाहं न च श्रोत्रजिव्हे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ Mano-buddhi-ahamkara chittaani…

IN PROGRESS The अच्युताष्टकम् (Achyutashtakam) was composed by Adi Shankaracharya sometime between the years 788-820CE. अच्युतंकेशवंरामनारायणंकृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् ।श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभंजानकीनायकं रामचंद्रं भजे ॥ Achyutam keshavam raama-naaraayannamKrṣhṇa-daamodaram vaasudevam harimShree-dharam maadhavam gopikaa-vallabhamJaanakee-naayakam raamachandram bhaje Homage to achyuta the Infallible One; to keshavam the guide and controller of emotions, to Raama the exemplary one and to Naarayana the perfect one without blemish. Homage to Krishna damodaram the Lord who is unrestricted, vasudeva the father of all, Hari the remover of sins. Homage to the sridharam madhavam beautiful one who upholds all and grants fortune to all and homage to gopika vallabham the one whom everyone loves.  I worship you…

Adi Shankaracharya's Shivashadakshara Stotram शिव षडक्षर स्तोत्रम् is a set of six verses that describes the meaning of the six syllables contained in the mantra, Om namah shivaaya with the first verse describing om and the other five verses describing the five syllables contained in namah shivaaya. The term षडक्षर shadakshara literally means "six letters". The five verses (after first which describes Om) describes the syllables of namah shivaaya (na, ma shi, va, ya) and are usually referred to as the श्रीशिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम् Sri Shiva Panchakshar Stotram, relating to the पञ्चाक्षर panchakshar which literally means five letters. Sanskrit verses written in…

भज गोविन्दं means paise God. The first 12 verses of Bhaja Govindam was composed by Adi Shankaracharya.. The next 14 verses were added by each of his 14 disciples after which Adi Shankaracharya added the 5 concluding verses of the Bhaja Govindam. The Bhaja Govindam is also known as the मोहमुद्गर moha mudgaara (the remover of delusions) भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते ।सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृङ्करणे ॥ १॥ Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam Govindam bhaja mooḍh-mate.Sampraapte sannihite kaale Nahi nahi rakshati ḍukraṇg-karaṇe Spend your time worshipping God instead of being foolishly caught up in arguing about…

The origin of this beautiful Stotram can only be related as follows: Once, during Sage Adi Shankaracharya's visit to a particular village, a brahman named Prabhaakara approached the sage and begged him to assist with his son, who was deemed to be dumb and foolish because he does not speak to anyone or mingle with friends or family. The great Sage, upon meeting the boy, knew that he was a great and noble soul and that his aloofness and silence were a choice of meditative contemplation. To display the young boy's greatness, the sage conversed thus, कस्त्वं शिशो कस्य कुतोऽसि…