India Temple Tour

Sri Mukundamala composed by Sri Kulashekara Alwar !! Lyrics & Meanings 1 -10

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

My salutations to Sri Ramanujacharya & Sri Nigamanthamaha Desika, I prostrate before King Kulashekara.

Oh! Lord Mukunda, I earnestly pray to show mercy on me to recite your holy names such as Sri Vallabha/who is cherished by Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi, Varada/bestower of benedictions, Dayapara/merciful, Bhaktha Priya/ who is very dear to His devotees, Bhavalundana Kovida/provider of salvation from the repeated cycles of birth & death, Natha/Supreme Lord, Jagannivasa/resort of cosmos and Nagashayana/who is reclining on the serpent Adishesha.

Victories to the Supreme Lord, who is the son of Sri Devaki ! Victories to Lord Krishna, who is the radiant light of Vrishni dynasty! Victories to the Supreme Lord who has the enthralling skin tone of cloud! Victories to Lord Mukunda, who is the remover of burden of Prithvi/Earth!

Oh! Lord Mukunda, I am bowing down my head and earnestly pray to you to constantly shower mercy on me and fulfill my only desire that in my future births I should always remember and never forget your lotus feet.

Oh! Supreme Lord Hari, I earnestly pray for no reasons to protect me from the material world or tortures from Kumbhipaka hell or gratify my senses in the pleasure derived out of the association of soft-toned young maidens resides in the gardens of heaven. I venerate your lotus feet so that I could immerse in your thoughts with in the bottom of my heart birth after birth.

Oh! Supreme Lord Hari, I earnestly pray for stanch devotion at your lotus feet birth after birth and perform selfless service at your lotus feet. I have no righteousness, or desire for accumulation of wealth or desire for gratifying senses, let all those occur to me in accordance to my past deeds.

Oh! Lord Hari, slayer of the demon Narakasura, let me reside in any of the abode of deities, or Earth or hell as you desired, I would earnestly pray to show mercy on me to remember your lotus feet which has the resemblance of lotus flower of Sarat season, at the time of my death.

Oh! Lord Hari, I should constantly immerse in your thoughts and your enthralling lotus face bears gentle smile always. Oh! Lord Hari, son of cowherd Nandagopa who is the Supreme Lord worshipped by Maharishi Narada and Rishis and Sages.

Oh! Supreme Lord Hari, I have completely exhausted due to the material life, I will keep myself away from all those troubles by diving in to the Hari Saras, freely drinking the water of His splendor. The lotuses in the lake of Harisaras are his hands and feet and fish are His dazzling eyes. The water from the lake and the waves created by his arms would gush into the depth and satiate my fatigue.

Oh! Mind; never put an end to the extreme bliss derived from the thoughts of Supreme Lord, who is the slayer of the demon Murari, who has beautiful lotus eyes and carries conch and disc in his hand. I know of nothing that would provide immense bliss other than the memories of lotus feet of supreme Lord.

Oh! Foolish mind, stop worrying about the hellish tortures in the abode of Lord Yama, none of your enemies or the sins accumulated would do harm to you when you have the Master, the supreme Lord Sridhara, consort of Srimahalakshmi to protect you. Get rid of all your fears and immerse in the thoughts of Lord Narayana who is easily attainable through devotional service and He will dispel the worries and grief of his devotees.

Sri :

Srimathey Ramanujaya Nama:

Srimathey Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Nama:

Ghushyathey Yasya Nagarey Rangayathra Dhiney Dhiney

Thamaham Shirasa Vandhey Rajanam Kulashekaram ||

Srivallabhethi Varadhethi Dhayaparethi

Bhakthapriyethi Bhava Lundana Kovidhethi |

Nathethi Nagashayanethi Jagannivasethi

Alapanam Prathipadham Kuru Mey Mukunda ||

Jayathu Jayathu Devo Devaki Nandhanoyam

Jayathu Jayathu Krishno Vrishni Vamsha Pradheepa: |

Jayathu Jayathu Megha Shyamala: Komalango

Jayathu Jayathu Prithvi Bharanasa: Mukunda: ||

Mukunda Murdhna Pranipathya Yachey

Bhavanthamekantha Miyanthamartham |

Avismrithi Thvaccharanaravindhey

Bhavey Bhavey Mesthu Bhavath Prasadhath ||

Naham Vandhey Thava Charanayor Dhwandhamadhvandha Heytho:

Kumbhipakam Gurumapi Harey Narakam Napanothum |

Ramya Rama Mrudhuthanulatha Nandaney Napi Ranthum

Bhavey Bhavey Hrudaya Bhavaney Bhavayeyam Bhavantham ||

Nastha Dharmey Na Vasunichaye Naiva Kamopabhogey

Yadhyath Bhavyam Bhavathu Bhagavan Poorva Karmanuroopam |

Yethath Prarthyam Mama Bhahumatham Janma Janmantharepi

Thavath Padhamboruha Yugagatha Nischala Bhakthirasthu ||

Dhivi Va Bhuvi Va Mamasthu Vaso

Narakey Va Narakanthaka Prakamam

Avadheeritha Sharaharavindhou

Charanou They Maranepi Chinthayami ||

Krishna Thwadheeya Padha Pankaja Panjarantham

Adhaivamey Vishathu Manasa Rajahamsa: |

Prana Prayana Samaye Kapha Vatha Piththai:

Kandavarodhanavidhou Smaranam Kuthasthey ||

Chinthayami Harimeva Santhatham

Mandha Mandha Hasithananambujam |

Nanda Gopa Thanayam Parathparam

Naradadhi Muni Brundha Vandhitham ||

Kara Charana Sarojey Kanthimanneythrameeney

Shramamushi Bhujaveechi Vyakuley Agadhamargey

Hari Sarasi Vigahyapeeya Thejo Jalougham

Bhavamaru Parikhinna: Khedhamadhya Thyajami ||

Sarisija Nayaney Sa Shangha Chakrey

Murabhidhi Ma Viramaswa Chiththa Ranthum |

Sugatharamaparam Na Jathu Janey

Hari Charana Smarana Amruthena Thulyam ||

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Pradosham on 26th May 2014 !! 108 Shivalayas !! Sri Kshetra Gokarna/ Gokarnam Sri Mahabaleshwar Temple !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Adi Gokarna/Sri Kshetra Gokarna/Gokarnam Sri Mahabaleshwar Temple/Dakshina Kashi is one of the 108 Shivalays located on the coastal areas in Karwar District, Mangalore Karnataka. It is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam glorified by the Shivaite Nayanmars, one of the 7 Mukthisthalam located in Karnataka and others are Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple, Kukke Subramnya Swami Temple, Koteswara Temple and Sankaranarayana Temple. It is prominently known as one of the Siddhi Kshetram and others are Pushkar and Shaligrama respectively. In this temple Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a self-manifested Athmalinga. Sri Mahabaleshwara is also one of the Pancha Maha Kshetrams of Lord Shiva and others are Ejjeshwara, Gunavantheshwara, Murudeshwara and Dhareshwara.

Presiding deity – Sri Mahabaleshwar in the form of Athmalinga

Theertham – Koti Theertham

Festivals – Maha Shivaratri, Karthika Amavasya, Karthika Shukla Purnima Deepostav, Ananga Tryodhashi, Shivadhamanostav, Shiva Pavithraropanam, Dhadhi Shikhyostav, Vijayostav, Shivaganga Vivaha Nischayostav, Prathistosthav, Tripuradeepostav, Shiva Parvati Vivahostav, Maharathostav, Avabhrutha, Angurarpanam,

Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Goddess Sri Parvati as Thamra Gowri, Chandikeshwara, Adi Gokarneshwara, Dathathreya,

Worshipped by – Sri Adishankara, King Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj, Kalidasa

The legend has that in Thretha Yuga the demon King Ravana underwent severe penances worshipping Lord Shiva. Lord was pleased at the devotion of Ravana and offered him an ‘Athmaling’/ Linga which possess the presence of Lord, instructed him that the Athmalinga will be wedged on the Earth once it is placed. Lord Vishnu and all the deities were worried of the boon provided to Ravana and appealed to Lord Ganesha to retain the Athmalinga on the sacred land of Gokarna. Thus, Lord Ganesha disguised in the form of a shepherd and followed Ravana all his way to Lanka. During the journey, Ravana realized the need for oblation, was not willing to keep the Athmalinga on the Earth. Eventually, it was handed to the shepherd for safe custody with a condition that the Athmalinga would be in his safe hands and when it becomes too heavy to carry, he will call for Ravana thrice. If Ravana fails to return within the time frame, it would be placed on the Earth. Ravana returned from ablutions and found that the Athmalinga was kept on the Earth; he tried all his effort to pull out from the ground but all his efforts were ended in vain. Consequently, Athmalinga wedged on this sacred land is famously known as Sri Kshetra Gokarna and the presiding deity Athma Linga as Mahabaleshwar.

Gokarna stands for the ‘Ear of Cow’, located on the ear shaped confluence of river Gangavali and Agnashini. Lord Shiva underwent severe penance in the Patal Loka at the advice of Lord Brahma and emerged out through the ear of Mother Earth.

Worship of Lord Mahabaleshwara in this temple would eradicate all the sins committed and provides salvation, liberates from the cycles of birth and death to the worshipper.

This temple remains open from 6.00 AM to 12.30 PM in the morning and 5.00 PM and 8.00 PM in the evenings.